40 Pasta Recipes for Dinner

Here’s a cozy, flavor-packed pasta recipe that satisfies every time: Penne Pomodoro! This classic pairing of pomodoro sauce and short-cut pasta exemplifies the simplicity of Italian cuisine: juicy tomatoes, garlic, vegetables and herbs simmered until they meld into a pure, rich sauce. Add penne and top with Parmesan cheese, and there’s really nothing like digging into a steaming bowl. 

Here’s one of those “back pocket” recipes to bookmark for when you’re short on time: Garlic Butter Noodles! This easy pasta uses mostly pantry ingredients and is quick and simple to whip up in just 20 minutes. Take a bite from this pile of warm, buttery pasta and it’s pure bliss! This one works for both kids and adults: it’s both sophisticated and elegant yet at the same time buttery and savory.

Looking for a pasta recipe to impress? Try the signature Italian dish Pasta alla Norma! This impressive recipe hails from Sicily and like any classic Italian dish, it’s all about elegant simplicity. Sauteed eggplant tastes savory and meaty against a tangy tomato sauce, al dente pasta and salty ricotta salata cheese. The combination of flavors and textures is a true masterpiece! 

You know those recipes where people rave and only you know the secret that it’s actually easy to make? That’s the case with this Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta! There’s major wow-factor to this pasta recipe, which comes together in just 30 minutes. Earthy, fruity sundried tomatoes lend a meaty quality to this easy vegetarian dish, which is bathed in a Parmesan cream sauce. 

The best way to eat mac and cheese, in our opinion? Broccoli mac and cheese! Why eat broccoli on the side when you can stir it right in? This makes a tasty one pot meatless meal that kids and adults alike will go mad for. It comes out creamy, cheesy, and loaded with broccoli for a dose of nutrients and fiber. What’s not to love?

Everyone loves this easy baked gnocchi recipe! It features the doughy pasta baked in tangy marinara, layered with two types of gooey cheese. You don’t even have to boil the gnocchi: just throw it in the pan and bake.

Want to eat your greens and love it? Try this creamy spinach pasta recipe, starring chewy al dente pasta and an irresistible Parmesan garlic cream sauce! The way the creamy sauce and garlic accentuate the leafy greens makes it one of our top vegetarian pasta recipes to date. Cozy up to a bowl and it’s positively life-giving. You’ll never love spinach more!

Here’s an Italian pasta recipe that’s simple, hearty and pleases a crowd: Stuffed Shells! Stuff pasta shells with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and spinach, then bake them up in a bath of garlicky tomato sauce. It makes your kitchen smell heavenly, and the first bite into one of those jumbo shells confirms it’s just as tasty as the smell. 

There’s something intoxicating about this shallow bowl of steaming pasta covered in salty, creamy sauce, black pepper and fluffy bits of Pecorino Cheese. Yes, it’s cacio e pepe, that famous Roman pasta that’s blown up in world-wide popularity. Turns out, this pasta is beyond simple to whip up at home: it’s got a short ingredient list and takes just minutes to make. 

Looking for a cozy pasta bake? Try this manicotti recipe, classic Italian American comfort food at its finest! There’s something so irresistible about pasta tubes filled with three cheeses and bathed in garlicky, tangy tomato sauce. This recipe is truly the easiest way to make manicotti: you don’t even have to boil pasta!

Try whipping up a pan of lasagna roll ups! This unique spin on the iconic Italian dish is a fun way to put a spin on dinner. This recipe features a comforting vegetarian filling of spinach, basil and ricotta, topped with a garlicky easy homemade tomato sauce. Roll up the noodles and cover them in melty mozzarella cheese, and it’s fun, a crowd-pleasing dinner recipe. 

Some pasta recipes stand a head above the rest, and this is one of them. Try this cheese tortellini in creamy marinara sauce! In just 15 minutes, you’ve got a pasta skillet that’s a literal symphony flavor. The fresh basil-infused marinara sauce is perfectly complimented with pillows of tangy goat cheese. (In fact, it’s like this baked goat cheese dip made into a main dish.)

Also try: Tortelloni with Tomato Cream Sauce

Here’s a dinner to impress that doubles as an easy weeknight meal: try this Cajun Shrimp Pasta! This one scores major points with kids and adults alike at our table. It features irresistibly seasoned Cajun shrimp, colorful veggies, and a rich garlic Parmesan flavoring that lightly seasons the entire batch.

Instead of the standard spirals, here’s a shape that will capture your heart: gemelli pasta! The unique corkscrew not only looks beautiful, but its twists and turns are key to holding onto the flavor of sauces. Here’s our favorite way to serve it: smothered in a rich, garlicky Parmesan cream sauce. Tender spinach wilts into the mix, adding a pop of color and dose of vegetables. It’s creamy, cheesy, and oh-so-satisfying in just 20 minutes!

Here’s a quick and simple pasta recipe that’s the perfect shortcut for weeknights: Lemon Ricotta Pasta! Mixing ricotta cheese with olive oil, Parmesan and a little pasta water makes a makeshift white sauce that’s ideal for coating on long noodles (who knew!). This quick weeknight trick has become a staple over here: the zing of the lemon zest makes it absolutely irresistible not to keep slurping down noodles.

Here’s a pasta recipe that marries basic Italian flavors into a mess of garlicky, gooey goodness: baked rigatoni! It’s a pasta bake that’s got all the comfort of tomato sauce and cheese, but has intrigue and uniqueness in the flavors. The tomato sauce is full of garlic and a little fennel for meatiness, and it’s got lots of fresh peppery basil for a herbaceous kick. Cover it in gooey mozzarella cheese and you’ve got a dish that’s hearty enough to please any eater.

Looking for a vegetarian pasta recipe to impress? Try Pasta Primavera, the Italian-sounding American dish from the 1970’s that’s here to liven up your mealtimes! There are many ways to make a primavera, so here’s our spin. Tender pasta is mixed with spring vegetables like asparagus, broccolini, peas and carrots, then tossed with a creamy, luxurious Parmesan sauce.

Try this simple and delicious linguine recipe with garlic and herbs! Parmesan cheese, fragrant garlic, and fresh herbs flavor a luscious cream sauce that perfectly coats the pasta. Stir in cooked protein to turn it into dinner!

Corkscrew-shaped cavatappi is perfect for pasta’s partner: basil pesto! This pesto cavatappi recipe is a tasty way to enjoy them both that everyone around the table will love. You’ll make a quick and easy pesto cream sauce, then drench the curly noodles and add a few handfuls of shredded Parmesan cheese. It’s simple, but it’s got mighty big flavor!

Craving a simple, cozy pasta recipe? Try this Classic Red Sauce Pasta! Like any great Italian recipe, it features simple, classic ingredients simmered until they meld into a savory, velvety tomato sauce. This one is based on a real Italian grandmother’s recipe (so you know it’s good!). Throw it onto pasta with a little salty Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese, and it’s simply divine. 

Looking for easy dinner ideas? Here’s one to add to your regular rotation: try this baked Salmon Pasta recipe! This recipe is bursting with flavor, from tender flakes of salmon, zingy lemon and capers, and mix of Mediterranean-style vegetables. Salty feta cheese crumbles are baked right along with the salmon, and when you mix it all together it’s a true symphony of flavor.

Here’s a tasty recipe that makes any dinnertime special: Pasta Pomodoro! This classic Italian recipe is all about simplicity. The luxurious, slow-cooked tomato sauce is based on a handful of quality ingredients with big flavor. Pour the tangy sauce over long or short noodles, add a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and it tastes like pure gold.

You’ll want to bookmark this recipe: Creamy Shrimp Pasta! It’s ultra classic: juicy, savory shrimp and al dente pasta swimming in a creamy sauce. Because we love options, we’ve got two sauce ideas for you: a white wine sauce, bursting with tangy flavor. Or try our easy cream sauce, a creamy Parmesan sauce that’s actually made with no cream at all. Dinner time win.

Also try: Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Here’s a dish that will be a winner any day of the week: Baked Ziti! This Italian American casserole is packed with savory flavor and cozy nostalgia. Its surface is filled with pockets of seasoned ricotta, lakes of garlicky tomato sauce, and punctuated by strands of gooey mozzarella. Side benefit: the wafting aroma makes your kitchen smell like a dream!

Try this pasta puttanesca recipe! It’s a spicy Italian pasta sauce with a spicy namesake. Not only is it easy to make, but its incredibly robust flavor also makes for a flavorful and satisfying meal. It’s a perfect, simple meal to whip up for guests, or even on a weeknight. 

Want the secret to Italian grandmother style vodka sauce pasta? Simmer the sauce. This vodka sauce pasta is so seriously full of flavor, it’s worth every second of that 1 hour simmer! Make it in advance, then whip up the pot of right before serving.

Got a bit of zucchini on hand? Here’s one way to turn it into dinner: this Creamy Zucchini Pasta recipe! It’s luxuriously creamy, coating the noodles in a silky Parmesan and Pecorino sauce. Add rounds of savory sautéed zucchini, garlic, lemon zest and a pop of herbaceous basil, and each bite is a symphony of flavor.

Here’s a fast and easy dinner recipe that’s always a hit in our house: shrimp pesto pasta! Coat long noodles in silky basil pesto, then add juicy, succulent shrimp. Turns out, the garlicky pesto is the perfect pair for the savory pop of shrimp. 

Got tagliatelle? This long noodle is delightfully chewy and one of our favorites for a satisfying pasta dinner. It’s slightly wider than linguine, making it a more substantial bite of doughy pasta. Covered in a tangy homemade marinara sauce and topped with fresh basil and Parmesan, it’s a stunning meal with little effort.

Ready for the best ever homemade mac and cheese? We promise: it’s really worth pulling out the superlatives here! Making this comfort food from scratch makes it taste infinitely better than the kind from a box. Want to impress everyone? This homemade mac and cheese tastes homey and cozy, with the best gooey, cheesy sauce and crunchy breadcrumbs. It's a family favorite!

Also try: Truffle Mac and Cheese, Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, Gouda Mac and Cheese, or White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Here’s a great way to use those popular bright green spears: Asparagus Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan! This one pairs chewy tagliatelle noodles with lemony roasted asparagus, garlic, and Parmesan. Topped seasoned breadcrumbs and peppery basil leaves, the combination of flavors is unbelievably fresh and savory.

Burrata cheese is one of life’s greatest pleasures. One of the best ways to make it into a meal? This Burrata Pasta, a beautiful example of Italian-style culinary simplicity. The majestic balls of fresh mozzarella sit atop a pasta twirls entwined with a rustic tomato basil sauce. Breaking into the cheese releases its creamy, rich interior into each bite.

It’s hard to tire of the rich, buttery goodness of smoked salmon: it’s ideal for pairing with everything from bagels to dip to appetizers. Here’s the newest way we’ve fallen hard for it: Smoked Salmon Pasta! Chewy al dente pasta is bathed with a creamy sauce punctuated by lemon zest, herbaceous dill, and smoked salmon. 

There are recipes that taste good…and then there are recipes that taste amazing. Sometimes, that amazing flavor doesn’t take much effort at all. Such is the case with this mushroom pasta recipe! It is so seriously good, it's become a fan favorite recipe. Truth: my mom makes this almost every week! It pairs savory mushrooms with bright lemon, creamy goat cheese, and fresh thyme and oregano. And it’s done in less than 30 minutes. Boom!

Looking for a cozy, easy dinner idea where you barely have to think? Try this Baked Tortellini! This one is so simple, you don’t even have to boil the pasta. That’s right: throw the refrigerated tortellini into a dish with a tomato pasta sauce and top with melty cheese. It comes out bubbly and warm, with perfectly tender pasta pillows. 

Dinnertime just got easier. This vegan fettuccine alfredo is a winner with everyone from kids to meat lovers: it’s just that good! The impossibly creamy sauce is a healthy spin on the traditionally rich pasta recipe. It’s made with nutrient-dense cauliflower and protein-packed cashews instead of dairy. Make it with any type of noodle you choose (legume noodles, zoodles, etc) and it’s an easy 30-minute plant based dinner. Ready for all the secrets?

This 20-minute creamy goat cheese pasta recipe is so tangy and creamy, sweet from the tomatoes and lightly peppery from the fresh basil. The secret to the creaminess is that goat cheese, which brings a body to the sauce that’s almost like a vodka sauce. Combined with chewy penne, it’s out of this world! And best of all, you barely have to think to make it.

Oh hey there, creamy pesto mac and cheese! This seriously cozy comfort food is just as gooey as it looks, and adding a swirl of bright green basil pesto is a total genius move. The way the Havarti cheese melts into the creamiest sauce makes it our new favorite. Suffice it to say, this one is a serious winner.

Meet your new favorite pasta recipe. Yes, this eggplant pasta has got it all! It’s packed with savory and zesty flavor: tender roasted eggplant, zesty marinara sauce, and peppery basil. It’s 100% plant-based, but lacking nothing in the flavor department. Even better, this Mediterranean-style dinner is incredibly versatile: it works for weeknights and for serving to company! There’s something about it that’s cozy but elegant at the same time. 

Hello, pasta lovers. You never need to make box mac and cheese again. Enter this basic White Sauce Pasta! This pasta recipe is a staple recipe in our house. The simple cream sauce is so creamy and full of flavor, and get this: it doesn’t even use cream! All you need is a handful of ingredients you probably already have on hand. It takes just 10 minutes: enough time to make the pasta. Eat it straight up, or add more raw or cooked veggies to the sauce. A quick dinner idea made in minutes!

Also try: Pasta with White Wine Sauce

Here’s a meal that’s simple, stunning, and highlights the very best summer ingredients: Cherry Tomato Pasta! (Yes: it tastes as good as it looks.) This easy dinner idea stars blistered tomatoes, a technique of cooking tomatoes in a hot pan until the skin blisters and blackens. Mix the tomatoes with tangy balsamic vinegar, then add al dente pasta and peppery fresh basil.

Here’s a stunning dinner recipe that’s elegantly easy to whip up: Scallop Pasta! Whether you want to impress dinner guests, have a romantic dinner, or just feed your family on a weeknight: this pasta recipe is the perfect fit. The seared scallops are sweet, buttery and delicate, set atop tender noodles and accented with flavors of lemon, garlic and herbs.

Here’s a lusciously creamy pasta that will become the meal of your dreams. Try this Lemon Pasta! It’s rich and silky, with just the right balance of sharp citrus from loads of lemon zest. Don’t consider this a health food or even a healthy spin: it’s here for when you need a properly indulgent bit of pasta. 

When it comes to pasta recipes…well, this one is tops. Meet our best vegetarian lasagna with ricotta! This one is the culmination of all of our research: and damn, is it good (if we may say so ourselves). The tomato sauce has just the right zing and garlic nuance, and the spinach ricotta cheese filling is classic and creamy. It’s scented with fresh thyme and a little lemon zest, which takes it to over the top status. There’s no one who will turn down a piece! 

Also try: Gluten Free Zucchini Lasagna or Favorite Vegan Lasagna