THE ONE DINNER RACHAEL RAY SAYS HER HUSBAND ALWAYS REQUESTS

Considering Rachael Ray’s extensive catalog of recipes, you might assume that the former Food Network star rarely makes the same thing twice. I mean, she’s constantly testing new dishes for her Meals in Minutes reboot. But even a chef with her culinary knowledge has at least a few tried-and-true recipes—and there’s one her husband, John Cusimano, still requests on the regular.

“John always wants pasta night,” Ray tells Delish in an interview promoting her partnership with Feeding America, which runs the largest food rescue operation in the country. “Usually something simple and cozy like carbonara or a spicy tomato sauce. It’s comfort food, it’s easy to share, and honestly, it feels like home to both of us.”

When it comes to finishing off their pasta, there’s one ingredient that’s never skipped: “Parmigiano-Reggiano. Always,” Ray emphasizes. But that rule of thumb applies to more than just your typical bowl of spaghetti.

“It can enhance so many dishes. Pasta, risotto, soups, salads, scrambled eggs,” she continues. “I even save the rinds for broths and soups. It adds instant depth and flavor to almost anything.”

If anyone knows, it’s Rachael. But while a sprinkle of Parm-Reg is a good start to elevating a meal, it’s not her only advice to home chefs.

Ray’s biggest lesson? Don’t treat recipes like they’re science. “[They] are guides, not laws,” she says. “Taste as you go, use what you have, and trust yourself a little more.”

That “use what you have” philosophy applies to so much more than just Ray’s cooking approach. It’s also at the heart of her philanthropic work. For her, food is about so much more than just what’s on the plate; it’s about bringing people together and ensuring no one goes without—hence why she’s so passionate about Feeding America’s mission to repurpose food and keep it out of landfills.

“Food is connection, comfort, and dignity. I’ve always believed everybody deserves a good meal and the confidence to make one at home,” she says, adding that it’s the entire reason she wanted The Rachael Ray Foundation to partner with Feeding America. “Hunger isn’t just about food; it impacts health, education, opportunity, everything. If we can help families put nourishing meals on the table and stretch what they have a little further to make ends meet, that matters.”

Mic drop, Rachael!

2026-07-13T21:23:52Z