We all have those nights when the day has already drained every ounce of brainpower, and the thought of figuring out dinner feels impossible. A made-from-scratch meal sounds lovely, but it’s certainly not coming out of your kitchen in the next hour. And on these occasions, most of us probably find ourselves reaching for pasta.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of—even the pros do it. Martha Stewart has a “lazy girl” pasta recipe she makes from time to time, while Alex Guarnaschelli has figured out a five-ingredient pasta masterpiece that can make it to the table in less than 15 minutes.
Now joining that list of convenience-dinner champions is Jenna Bush Hager, who recently shared how pasta has become her saving grace—especially on one of the most stressful nights of the year: the night before Thanksgiving.
Jenna Bush Hager’s Night-Before-Thanksgiving Dinner
Let’s be honest—if there’s ever a night you really don’t feel like cooking, it’s Thanksgiving Eve. After days of chopping, prepping, cleaning, and coordinating incoming guests—not to mention the pressure of making sure everything goes smoothly the next day—adding “cook dinner” to the list might just push anyone over the edge.
So, when we sat down with “Today” host Jenna Bush Hager through her partnership with Rao’s Homemade, we asked what her go-to meal is before the holiday madness—and the answer practically rolled off her tongue.
“Every single night before Thanksgiving, we have pasta. I want to create something I know my kids will eat, which is pasta,” she said.
But, as it turns out, it’s not just her pre-holiday tradition: Pasta night is Jenna’s go-to any time she doesn’t feel like cooking.
“My kids love rigatoni and the Rao’s vodka sauce,” she shared (Oh, yes, we know the one). “If I could bathe in that vodka sauce, I would,” she laughed. “They have one that’s a little spicier, but just the plain vodka is so delicious. That with a rigatoni—just straight-up simple.”
Chef John
Rao’s has long been one of our favorite store-bought pasta sauces. From the rich Arrabbiata to the classic pizza sauce and award-winning Alfredo, Rao’s jars are among the few we’d happily pass off as homemade. So, we completely get where Jenna’s coming from—and we’re right there with her.
With a little garlic bread, a ball of burrata, and a side salad, you’ve got a full, homestyle meal on the table in no time. Sometimes, Jenna adds ground beef or turkey to make it heartier, but more often than not, her kids prefer the sauce just as it is. “They’re kind of purists,” she said.
Still, she does have one simple trick to elevate it: buying a whole block of Parmesan cheese and grating it over the finished plate. “Then, they kind of feel like they’re at a restaurant and it’s special,” she shared.
We’re never ones to shame a store-bought shortcut—far from it—but this is one we fully stand behind. Whether it’s the night before Thanksgiving or the typical weeknight, there’s never a bad time to have a jar of sauce and a box of pasta on hand—Jenna Bush Hager can attest.
Dining and Cooking