101 Classic, Simple and Easy Pasta Recipes That Are Worthy of Dinner Tonight

Hello, pasta lovers! We've put together Parade's best pasta recipes in one easy spot. This list of our best pasta dishes includes easy chicken pasta salad, shrimp noodle meals, tasty lasagnas, mac and cheese of all kinds and healthy vegetarian options.

How Much Pasta Do You Need to Make Per Person?

If you are making dried pasta, figure each person will eat 2 to 4 ounces. If each person eats 4 ounces, here is how much you’ll need per person:

4 people – 16 ounces
6 people – 24 ounces
12 people – 48 ounces

Related: 50 Best Penne Pasta Recipes

Easy Pasta Recipes

These simple pasta recipes are just the thing to make your dinner a whole lot easier. So whether you're looking for some fun pasta dinner ideas for tonight, or want to plan ahead for a big meal in the future, we've got all types of dishes in this roundup of our best pasta recipes.

Speedy Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

This genius one-skillet spin delivers all the hearty appeal of traditional lasagna in an easy weeknight-friendly (and kid-friendly) format. You make a tomato sauce right in the same skillet you use to bake the whole thing, and the ravioli—layered with mozzarella and parm, cooks and soaks up the tomato flavor at the same time the starch from the pasta thickens the sauce. Truly, one of our favorite pasta dishes.

Get the recipe: Speedy Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

Related: 30 Best Lasagna Recipes

Greek Chicken and Feta Pasta

Have we got a pasta recipe for you! This time-saving chicken pasta dinner from Joanna Cismaru, author of 30-Minute One-Pot Meals, will satisfy all your cravings.

Get the recipe: Greek Chicken and Feta Pasta

Cheesy Pasta with Sausage and Spinach

All you need is five ingredients (plus salt, pepper and oil) to put a balanced, satisfying pasta dinner on the table—fast! Use your favorite pasta and any flavor of precooked low-fat chicken sausage for this creamy, satisfying meal. It'll be one of the best pasta dishes you've ever had.

Get the recipe: Cheesy Pasta with Sausage and Spinach

Quick and Easy Chicken Caprese Pasta Bake

Apply the best summer flavors into a pasta bake recipe using some really good pasta, a bit of cream to flavor it up, some pepperoncini to give it some heat and tons of fresh mozzarella to hold it all together. 

Get the recipe: Easy Caprese Pasta Bake

Chicken Tetrazzini

Chicken Tetrazzini is the perfect dish to use up leftover chicken and tetrazzini itself is fantastic as leftovers. We like angel hair or vermicelli compared to spaghetti in chicken tetrazzini because the thinner the pasta, the better. 

Get the recipe: Chicken Tetrazzini

Thai Noodle Salad

Not only is this Thai Noodle Salad a tasty side dish, but it would also be a great dinner on those hot summer nights when you are starving, but don't want to cook. Serve it as is, or maybe add some grilled chicken to it.

Get the recipe: Thai Noodle Salad

Broccoli Alfredo Baked Pasta

This low-stress supper is made in one dish and parboiled pasta helps it come together in a snap. Broccoli Alfredo pasta gets a hearty addition of Italian chicken sausage and mozzarella cheese for a filling casserole.

Get the recipe: Broccoli Alfredo Pasta Bake

Related: 10 Crowd-Pleasing Baked Pasta Dishes

30-Minute Meat Lover's Pizza Pasta Bake

Feel guilty about serving your kids pizza again? Enter Meat Lover's Pizza Pasta Bake loaded with ooey-gooey cheese, fun twisty pasta, seasoned beef, pepperoni, sausage and bacon. Like pizza, but better.

Get the recipe: 30-Minute Meat Lover's Pizza Pasta Bake

 3-Cheese Lasagna Skillet

Have you ever wanted lasagna on a weeknight? This simple 3-Cheese Lasagna Skillet is the perfect homemade answer you have been looking for. Just one skillet and 30 minutes from prep to plate and you will be eating a fantastic weeknight lasagna dinner. 

Get the recipe: 3-Cheese Lasagna Skillet

Related: Jessie James Decker's Ground Beef Lasagna Recipe

Asian Cucumber Chicken Pasta Salad

A refreshingly quick salad that can be made ahead and enjoyed after a busy day.

Get the recipe: Asian Cucumber Chicken Pasta Salad

Related: 65 Best Summer Time Pasta Salads

Spinach Fettuccine with Basil Pesto Shrimp

Fresh spinach fettuccine (find it at an Italian store, or use dry pasta) is tossed with shaved zucchini, basil pesto shrimp and baby arugula. It’s a pasta dish for enjoying summer’s vibrant vegetables.

Get the recipe: Spinach Fettuccine with Basil Pesto Shrimp

Quick Vegetable Lo Mein

This Quick Vegetable Lo Mein is a great weeknight meal or side. You can add meat for a heartier dish or leave it with veggies only. Make a double batch for a main dish option, or prepare a smaller one for a side to go with store-bought egg rolls. 

Get the recipe: Quick Vegetable Lo Mein

Pasta Bolognese

Try this easy-to-follow recipe for a hearty, meaty and filling bolognese sauce. Together, the meat, spices and tomatoes create a rich and complex flavor that's perfect for piling on top of a plate of whatever pasta you have in the pantry (we used rigatoni). 

Get the recipe: Pasta Bolognese

Chicken Penne with Grilled Zucchini

Eggplant and zucchini are grilled and tossed with shredded chicken, tomatoes and whole wheat penne pasta. It's an easy pasta dish everyone loves.

Get the recipe: Chicken Penne with Grilled Zucchini

Rachael Ray's Fettuccine Alla Vodka

This recipe, from the cookbook, Rachael Ray 50, was the first meal the celebrity chef made on Oprah and features what she winsomely called; "You Won't Be Single for Long Vodka Sauce." "The show claimed the recipe requests jammed up their site for a bit, and the team might just have been polite to me," says Ray. "But it was popular, as over the years I've heard from many ladies that the promise worked and the sauce produced many proposals—most, I assume, for marriage." Bright, rich and a little spicy, it's easy to see why this sauce could win over anyone.

Get the recipe: Rachael Ray's Fettuccine Alla Vodka

Penne with Cauliflower and Breadcrumbs

It's hard not to crave satisfying dishes like this penne with cauliflower and breadcrumbs.

Get the recipe: Penne with Cauliflower and Breadcrumbs

Veggie Tortellini with Basil

For this tortellini dish, you can use a variety of fresh vegetables. Don’t be afraid to use all frozen ones though—and be sure to add some shrimp or chicken. The star here is really the basil.

Get the recipe: Veggie Tortellini with Basil

Vegetarian Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta

This pasta is a great vegetarian dish, but if you want it to meat it up you can add Italian sausage or some cooked chicken breast. A longer pasta, like fettuccine, works best with this sauce—you want something with as much surface area as possible to coat with all that deliciousness.

Get the recipe: Vegetarian Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta

Bucatini with Bottarga and Lemon Breadcrumbs

This is a great dish for the summertime due to the acidity of the lemon, which is balanced out by the fragrant garlic and chili. And the bottarga adds a light seafood freshness and complexity to the dish.

Get the recipe: Bucatini with Bottarga and Lemon Breadcrumbs

Baked Manicotti

If you love manicotti, you'll love this version. Try adding sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and red pepper flakes to the filling, which gives the dish more depth. Also, make note of this go-to tomato sauce recipe. It's great on all sorts of pasta dishes and as a dipping sauce for bread.

Get the recipe: Baked Manicotti

Related: 60 Best Pasta Bake Recipes

Cauliflower Carbonara

Pureed cauliflower takes the place of heavy cream in this saucy, lightened-up dinner. It sneaks in a serving of vegetables that picky eaters won’t notice, can be made ahead of time and there’s enough sauce to use later in the week on steamed broccoli or pizza.

Get the recipe: Cauliflower Carbonara

Sesame Noodles

For quick chicken, boil 6 cups salted water, 1 clove garlic and 4 slices ginger; lower heat, add cutlets, and simmer until opaque. Enjoy this delicious Better Than Takeout Sesame Noodles recipe.

Get the recipe: Sesame Noodles

Mediterranean Shrimp & Chicken with Lemon & Feta

Preparing this Mediterranean Shrimp & Chicken with Lemon & Feta, will have you dreaming of some faraway sunny terrace overlooking a sparkling, azure sea. Olive oil, garlic, herbs and good canned tomatoes comprise the sauce. Chicken, shrimp, feta cheese, Kalamata olives and thinly sliced lemons are tucked in. An adornment of fresh basil and Italian parsley and a side of pasta complete this lovely dinner.

Get the recipe: Mediterranean Chicken & Shrimp with Lemon & Feta

Baked Ziti

For an extra special Valentine's Day meal, bake the ziti in heart-shaped ramekins.

Get the recipe: Baked Ziti

Baked Mostaccioli

Mostaccioli is a tube-shaped pasta similar to penne but is smooth instead of ridged. It serves as the base for this hearty and comforting dish. Made with seasoned ground beef, a creamy tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese, this baked mostaccioli is a quick and easy weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy.

Get the recipe: Baked Mostaccioli

Shells with Peas, Bacon and Parmesan

Garlic, bacon and Parmesan flavor this super simple pasta dish.

Get the recipe: Shells with Peas, Bacon and Parmesan

Linguine with Lemony Pesto

Slivered almonds and lightly sautéed zucchini give this pesto-tossed pasta a satisfying crunch and a healthy serving of protein and veggies.

Get the recipe: Linguine with Lemony Pesto

Drunken Pasta with Pancetta and Arugula

If you like wine and pasta you'll like drunken pasta. This pasta dish was adapted from a Cook's Illustrated recipe and is so creamy and dreamy with just enough white wine that you'll taste it but not feel it. It's peppered with fresh arugula, stirred with a smidge of cream, topped with a sprinkling of finely grated Parmesan and finally garnished with crispy pancetta.

Get the recipe: Drunken Pasta with Pancetta

Warm Thai Beef Noodle Salad

Turn leftover pot roast into a colorful Warm Thai Noodle Salad with Beef and Fresh Herbs. Beef, veggies and angel hair pasta are tossed in a flavorful dressing of lime juice, vinegar, soy sauce and honey, then topped with peanuts, fresh herbs and sesame seeds for a great dinner. This hearty dish is delicious served cold too, so be sure to pack leftovers for lunch the next day.

Get the recipe: Warm Thai Beef Noodle Salad

Related: Katie Couric's 'Effortless' Pasta Is the Ultimate Low-Effort, High-Reward Dinner

Pasta with Ricotta & Spinach

Creamy ricotta and garlic-sauteed spinach make for a fresh, summery pasta that'll fill you up without weighing you down.

Get the recipe: Pasta with Ricotta & Spinach

Turkey, Tortellini & Watercress Soup

If you can’t find watercress, use baby spinach (or even frozen spinach) in this soup.

Get the recipe: Turkey, Tortellini & Watercress Soup

Related: 60 Best Tortellini Recipes

Pasta with Corn & Snap Peas

Fresh corn straight off the cob is excellent in this dish, but frozen or canned corn will also do the trick in this delicious pasta dish.

Get the recipe: Pasta with Corn & Snap Peas

One-Pot Spaghetti Supper

With the ingredients on hand, this can be a zesty spur-of-the-moment meal.

Get the recipe: One-Pot Spaghetti Supper

Related: Ina Garten's Weeknight Bolognese

Linguine with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Olives

One of Giada De Laurentiis' favorite Mother's Day traditions is making this Mediterranean-inspired dish. Hot linguine is tossed in a flavorsome blend of sun-dried tomatoes, olives, basil, garlic and lemon. It's one of Giada's favorite recipes to serve at Mother's Day dinner, where the women in her family gather for an evening of good conversation and quality girl time.

Get the recipe: Linguine with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Olives

Related: You May Be Salting Your Pasta Water Wrong. Here’s How Professional Chefs Do It

Linguine with Mozzarella, Tomatoes & Basil

You'll hardly ever go wrong with linguine, mozzarella, tomatoes and basil.

Get the recipe: Linguine with Mozzarella, Tomatoes & Basil

Spaghetti with Red Wine and Pecorino

As the pasta cooks, the wine infuses it with flavor and the color deepens to a rich chestnut.

Get the recipe: Spaghetti with Red Wine and Pecorino

Giada's Spicy Linguine with Walnuts and Mint

When you need pasta you can put together quickly with things from the pantry, this very tasty dish is perfect, says Giada De Laurentiis, of this zippy pasta toss from her cookbook, Giada's Italy: My Recipes for La Dolce Vita. Made with fiery chiles from the southern tip of Italy, Calabrian chile paste is one of De Laurentiis' favorite pantry staples.

Get the recipe: Giada's Spicy Linguine with Walnuts and Mint

Stove-top Beer Mac and Cheese

When it comes to cooking with beer, everyone seems to have a different preference for the level of beer flavor in the final product. If you want a bigger beer flavor, grab an IPA with a higher IBU rating. If you want a whisper of beer, grab a lighter beer with a lower IBU rating. It's your call. Whatever your preference, a big bowl of creamy cheesy pasta that can be made in less than 30 minutes is a great place to start experimenting.

Get the recipe: Stove-top Beer Mac and Cheese

Nacho Beef Casserole

All the flavors of cheesy, beefy nachos with the addition of elbow macaroni for the best-ever pasta casserole.

Get the recipe: Nacho Beef Casserole

Related: Best Casserole Recipes

Sesame Cashew Noodle Bowl

Farmer's Fridge is a Chicago chain that stocks their branded vending machines with good-for-you fare like this veggie-packed bowl. Look for cooked shelled edamame at the supermarket salad bar. If you want to keep this vegan, double-check the ingredient list on the bottled dressing you pick up.

Get the recipe: Sesame Cashew Noodle Bowl

Rigatoni with Marinara Sauce and Ricotta

Pasta, lush tomatoes, and a pool of ricotta lend this dish all the flavor of a lasagna—without the heaviness. You can serve the ricotta on the side for a more attractive presentation, but you could also stir it into the cooked pasta. The sauce tastes best when made with fresh tomatoes (which need to be peeled), but if you’re short on time, canned works fine.

Get the recipe: Rigatoni with Marinara Sauce and Ricotta

Related: 38 Best Instant Pot Pasta Recipes

Penne with Peppers and Sopressata

Sopressata is Italian salami and when paired with red and yellow bell peppers, the flavors are incredible.

Get the recipe: Penne with Peppers & Soppressata

Easy Goulash

We all have those meals that we grew up on and for many, one of them is goulash. This is a go-to quick and simple weeknight meal and perfect after a long day when you’re tired, hungry and just want some comfort food.

Get the recipe: Easy Goulash

Baked Mostaccioli

This wonderful baked mostaccioli is a recreation of a restaurant version that's so addictive, you'll be making it every week!

Get the recipe: Baked Mostaccioli

Related: The Ina Garten Summer Pasta Recipe You Should Have Memorized

Vietnamese Glass Noodle Salad

There's a lot to love about this noodle recipe from Mark Bittman's cookbook, Dinner for Everyone. A smart technique uses just one pot to poach the chicken, cook the shrimp and then soak the noodles— all while building great flavor. Save the zippy broth after draining the noodles to sip on its own or use it as a base for soup.

Get the recipe: Vietnamese Glass Noodle Salad

Related: 22 Best Cucumber Salad Recipes

Mark Bittman's Peanutty Asian-Style Noodles

Ready in 15 minutes, whipping up these peanutty Asian-style noodles from Mark Bittman's cookbook, Dinner for Everyone, is faster—and tastier—than ordering takeout. Be sure to include the egg, says Bittman, to make it a satisfying one-dish meal.

Get the recipe: Peanutty Asian-Style Noodles

Taco Spaghetti

Does your family love Taco Tuesday? Or maybe just a tasty Mexican night at home? Now, how about pasta? If you answered yes to any of these, then today's recipe is right up your alley. Taco spaghetti is the best of both worlds, in one easy, delicious meal.

Get the recipe: Taco Spaghetti

Bowties with Chicken

Kids will love the bite-size chicken and fun-shaped pasta in this flavorful dish—you'll love how simple it is to make.

Get the recipe: Bowties with Chicken

Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

This is a true comfort food dish (read: lots of butter included!). And, it's delicious. For the cheese, you can use just cheddar or a mix of cheeses—whatever you like!

Get the recipe: Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Linguine with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Add crushed red pepper to taste in this delightful linguine with fresh tomato sauce.

Get the recipe: Linguine with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Cozy Mac and Cheese

Penne pasta holds the cheese sauce well and adds a sophisticated touch to this homey dish.

Get the recipe: Cozy Mac & Cheese

Related: 20 Best Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Margherita Pasta Salad

Try this vegetarian margherita pasta with an Italian flair.

Get the recipe: Margherita Pasta Salad

Butter and Sage Pasta

In the Piedmont region of northern Italy, egg-yolk-rich tajarin is a favorite pasta. Egg-enriched fettuccine is a good substitute. It needs nothing more than a simple sauce of butter, fresh sage and lemon.

Get the recipe: Butter and Sage Pasta

Related: Gordon Ramsay's 10-Minute Pasta Is the Trending Dish of Spring

Lazy-Day Lasagna

Frozen ravioli is the secret to this no-fuss take on a classic.

Get the recipe: Lazy Day Lasagna

Cottage Pie Meets Macaroni and Cheese

Cottage pie (also called shepherd’s pie), is a comfort food favorite of sautéed ground beef and vegetables topped with mashed potatoes. Parade chef Jon Ashton takes this cozy dish to the next level by substituting macaroni and cheese (use your own recipe or buy ready-made) in place of potatoes.

Get the recipe: Cottage Pie Meets Macaroni and Cheese

Pasta with Butternut Squash and Sausage

Roasted vegetables and smoky sausage make a tasty dinner. At only $2.37 per serving, it's a comforting and budget-friendly meal that will be a lifesaver on busy weeknights!

Get the recipe: Pasta with Butternut Squash and Sausage

Pasta with Anchovies

Don’t fear the tiny anchovy! Just a few fillets deliver a big flavor punch in this dish from Sardinia, an island off the western coast of Italy.

Get the recipe: Pasta with Anchovies

Rachel Hollis' Spaghetti Salad

Author of Girl, Stop Apologizing and the cookbook Upscale, Downhome Rachel Hollis remembers her mother making this cold spaghetti salad for summer cookouts. “It’s one of my mom’s classic dishes,” she says.

Get the recipe: Rachel Hollis' Spaghetti Salad

Related: Cher's 'Boyfriend Approved' Pasta Salad is Easy, Creamy and Crowd-Pleasing

Campanelle Pasta with Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Basil

This cheery weeknight-friendly pasta recipe is proof that you don’t always need cream or cheese for creamy results. Grating the corn off the cobs produces a coarse puree and starchy corn “milk.” Adding the cobs to the pasta water intensifies the corn flavor in the pasta, and the starchy pasta water adds another touch of creaminess. Ingredient note: Campanelle is a frilly, trumpet-shaped pasta. Penne rigate, fusilli or farfalle also work well.

Get the recipe: Campanelle Pasta with Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Basil

Pasta Aglio

Chef Jonathon Sawyer's book, House of Vinegar, is about all things sour, from making your own vinegar to creative ways to use what's in your pantry. Spicy, garlicky and salty—this easy pasta toss is one of Sawyer's at-home go-tos. Once you try, it'll likely end up in the rotation for you, too.

Get the recipe: Pasta Aglio

Morgan's Turkey Lasagna

This recipe is a twist on the recipe on the back of the Hannaford Oven Ready Lasagna noodles box.

Get the recipe: Morgan's Turkey Lasagna

Related: 32 Best Comfort Food Recipes

Susan's Baked Pasta

This dish is the ultimate make-and-take recipe, but in the interest of time, you can use a good-quality store-bought marinara sauce. Use any pasta you have on hand, including lasagna noodles.

Get the recipe: Susan's Baked Pasta

Make-Ahead Supreme Pizza Pasta Casserole

Can’t decide on pizza or pasta? Try both in this speedy supper inspired by everyone’s favorite food! You can cut prep time in half by preparing the casserole the night before and refrigerating. Or double the recipe and freeze half for a future dinner.

Get the recipe: Make-Ahead Supreme Pizza Pasta Casserole

Head Case Pesto Chicken

This one is named for the head of garlic used in the pesto, which doubles as marinade and sauce. This is a great dish to prepare in the morning and let marinate all day. The pesto even can be made a day ahead. Serve the chicken with plenty of pasta or rice to sop up the sauce.

Get the recipe: Head Case Pesto Chicken

Rosemary Apricot Spaghettini

Apricots and Spanish chorizo sausage can provide elegance at less than $2 per person!

Get the recipe: Rosemary Apricot Spaghettini

Butternut Squash with Egg Noodles and Spinach

Instead of eating butternut squash as a side, cube it and mix it into a pasta dish, with egg noodles and spinach—delicious!

Get the recipe: Butternut Squash with Egg Noodles and Spinach

Pasta with Greens

This gourmet classic is ready in less than 30 minutes.

Get the recipe: Pasta with Greens

Beef Paprika

This Beef Paprika is so comforting and flavorful, plus really easy to make—the ingredients are pretty standard and the prep time is minimal. The beef gets so tender as it slow-cooks, and the flavors have time to blend together perfectly.

Get the recipe: Beef Paprika

Skillet Spirals with Cheese with Broccoli

Trying to get your kids to eat more veggies? Try adding broccoli florets to a baked cheesy pasta casserole to make it more appealing to them.

Get the recipe: Skillet Spirals with Cheese and Broccoli

How to Make the Famous Spaghetti Taco

Bring back taco night! Inspired by Old El Paso's Taco Dinner Kit and Nickelodeon's iCarly, these tacos are both delicious and fun to serve.

Get the recipe: How to Make the Famous Spaghetti Taco

Pork & Fennel Sugo

Pork and fennel are two Italian staples that work extremely well together, and this recipe proves it. Served with pasta (homemade preferred), this is a comforting, stick-to-your-bones meal the entire family will love!

Get the recipe: Pork & Fennel Sugo

Related: 66 Sensational Pork Chop Recipes

Cheesy Pasta-Stuffed Pumpkins

Make a dramatic (and edible) centerpiece for Halloween, or any fall night when you're craving comfort food, pasta and pumpkin. Pro tip when it comes to choosing your gourd: You can use just about any round winter squash for this recipe, but steer clear of the field pumpkins meant for jack-o’-lanterns. Their flesh is stringy and less tasty than other varieties.

Get the recipe: Cheesy Pasta-Stuffed Pumpkins

Artichoke Manicotti in Pesto Cream

We all lead frantic lives—but none of us wants to forgo great tasting, home-cooked meals.

Get the recipe: Artichoke Manicotti in Pesto Cream

Ginger Noodle Salad With Snow Peas

This one-pan vegan recipe is from Mark Bittman's cookbook, Dinner for Everyone. It's delicious on its own or as a side dish.

Get the recipe: Ginger Noodle Salad with Snow Peas

Snowbound Spaghetti and Meatballs

This is one of my favorite quick and easy meals: classic spaghetti and meatballs. Pop open a bottle of red wine, get cozy and enjoy!

Get the recipe: Spaghetti & Meatballs

Sesame Noodles with Peas

Peanut butter, soy sauce, and sesame oil give these delicate noodles a subtle Asian-inspired flavor.

Get the recipe: Sesame Noodles with Peas

Toasted Orzo Pasta

A tasty toasted orzo pasta that makes a great side dish.

Get the recipe: Toasted Orzo Pasta

Greek Pastitsio Casserole

Also called Greek lasagna, pastitsio is a layered, baked pasta dish with a creamy white sauce. This shortcut version of Greek pastitsio casserole features the warming cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice that gives this comfort-food dish its Greek flair. Whole-grain pasta and low-fat cheese and milk give the casserole a healthy bent; make it in an oven-proof skillet and there’s one less dish to clean.

Get the recipe: Greek Pastitsio Casserole

Related: Taylor Swift Calls This Ina Garten Pasta Her 'Go-To Dinner Party Dish' and I Can See Why

Grilled Vegetable Salad

Each ingredient gets to shine in this simple pasta salad.

Get the recipe: Grilled Vegetable Salad

Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

You can't go wrong with a classic pasta dish.

Get the recipe: Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Related: Steph Curry's Favorite Pasta Is a Weeknight Dinner Game-Changer

Cajun Chicken Pasta

This has just a little kick to it, but you can certainly increase the heat level as much as you want. Either way, it's a delicious meal, filled with flavor your family is sure to ask for again and again.

Get the recipe: Cajun Chicken Pasta

Related: 45 Best Cajun Recipes

30-Minute Light Italian Meatball Soup

Italian meatball soup is a light tomato broth loaded with veggies, lean meatballs and a sprinkling of pasta. This soup goes from prep to plate in just 30 minutes and it’s the perfect ground beef dish to satisfy every craving for Italian food without bulging your waistline.

Get the recipe: 30-Minute Light Italian Meatball Soup

Shrimp Pasta Primavera

This shrimp pasta primavera features zucchini, asparagus, carrots and broccoli, all delightfully seasoned with fresh basil, thyme and parsley in this easily adaptable summer pasta.

Get the recipe: Shrimp Pasta Primavera

Kale and Butternut Squash Spaghetti Salad

Even kale haters will love kale with noodles. Especially when you toss in onions, garlic and butternut squash. If you want variety, toss in some black beans, cooked chicken, cooked turkey sausage, cubes of smoked tofu, or even some roasted red bell pepper.

Get the recipe: Kale and Butternut Squash Spaghetti Salad

Baked Egg Pasta Florentine

Eggs are for more than just morning meals. Here's a hearty dinner that uses the breakfast favorite in new ways.

Get the recipe: Baked Egg Pasta Florentine

Pasta with Tomatoes, Sausage and Mushrooms

This is a very simple and very traditional Italian pasta dish. It doesn't have many ingredients, but the flavors blend together so perfectly, it's just amazing. This is a dinner that doesn't take long to make—you can have it on the table in under an hour—but it will taste like you've been working on the sauce for days.

Get the recipe: Pasta with Tomatoes, Sausage and Mushrooms

Pumpkin Pappardelle

This easy, low-cal recipe comes from Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach—whose regulars include Alec Baldwin and Eva Longoria Parker.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pappardelle

Sausage with Penne Pasta and Vinaigrette

As a contestant on the first season of Fox TV’s Hell’s Kitchen, Elsie Ramos’ simple, no-nonsense approach to cooking won her legions of fans and accolades from the notoriously hard-to-please star chef Gordon Ramsay. Ramos is the mother of six boys, and she describes this as “the one recipe I count on more than any other, because when I’m tired, this dish is the easiest and quickest. My six sons love, love, love it! We have this dish at least once a week!”

Get the recipe: Sausage with Penne Pasta & Vinaigrette

Mac ‘n Cheese Frittata

Comfort food favorite macaroni and cheese gets a grown-up upgrade in this Mac 'n' Cheese Frittata adapted from A Flash in the Pan by John Whaite, the season 3 winner of The Great British Bake Off. Whaite points out that the best part of any baked pasta dish is the crusty edges, and the whole underside of this quick skillet meal bakes up brown and crispy.

Get the recipe: Mac 'n Cheese Frittata

Wolfgang Puck’s Oscars Cacio e Pepe Mac and Cheese

Peppery, cheesy cacio e pepe is one of the trendiest pastas around. And celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck always has fancy mac and cheese on the menu. Cavatelli is pasta shaped like a hot dog bun—perfect to catch the rich sauce. Orecchiette or even rotini would also work well. This pasta is delicious straight out of the pot. Or you can take a cue from Puck and make it ahead of time, dish it into small ramekins and pop it in a 400°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until warm and bubbly.

Get the recipe: Wolfgang Puck's Oscars Cacio e Pepe Mac and Cheese

Creamy Penne with Broccoli

This veggie-topped pasta is super simple to make—it only has five ingredients!—but creamy Alfredo sauce and a generous sprinkling of Parmesan pack plenty of flavor.

Get the recipe: Creamy Penne with Broccoli

Related: 50 Fast and Easy Penne Pasta Recipes

Crock Pot Cincinnati Chili

This Midwestern classic combines a Green-style chili over spaghetti noodles and then piled high with shredded cheese.

Get the recipe: Crock Pot Cincinnati Chili

Zucchini with Orzo

This vegetable orzo dish is quick to make and big on taste.

Get the recipe: Zucchini with Orzo

Cheese & Pepper Pasta (Cacio e Pepe)

With just four ingredients (which you probably already have in your pantry and fridge), this dish is adored by Romans as much for its simplicity as its taste.

Get the recipe: Cheese & Pepper Pasta

Related: 27 Traditional Italian Recipes by Region

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

This slow-cooker chicken noodle soup will likely become your go-to recipe for fall and winter (and cold season!).

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Roasted Tomato Caprese Sheet Pan Pasta

This easy sheet-pan pasta toss from Parade chef Jon Ashton is full of bright color, big flavor and heart-healthy ingredients. Fiber-rich pasta made with whole grains helps lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and blood pressure to reduce heart disease and stroke risk. Want to keep it gluten-free? Choose pasta made with brown rice, quinoa or buckwheat.

Get the recipe: Roasted Tomato Caprese Sheet Pan Pasta

Caramelized Onion, Prosciutto, and Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

This caramelized onion, prosciutto, and gorgonzola mac and cheese is unlike anything you've ever tried before.

Get the recipe: Caramelized Onion, Prosciutto, and Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe for a Red-Sauce Hater

If you love the idea of lasagna, though—the layers, the noodles, the cheese upon cheese upon cheese—but hate red sauce, this is the lasagna recipe for you.

Get the recipe: Vegetarian Butternut Squash Lasagna

Ziti with Meat Sauce

Pro tip: Buy a crusty loaf of bread to serve with this meaty, saucy ziti. Sprinkle a healthy dose of Parm on top and dinner is done!

Get the recipe: Ziti with Meat Sauce

Roasted Garlic Vegan Alfredo

Gather round and get ready for this indulgent tangle of creamy, garlicky, restaurant-level fettuccine that you can make from scratch really easily. If you have never roasted garlic in its skin, quite frankly, you don’t know what you are missing. It is absolutely deliciously mild and sweet, which is why we can get away with using two full heads in this recipe.

Get the recipe: Vegan Roasted Garlic Alfredo

Related: 38 Instant Pot Pasta Recipes We Love

Baked Pasta in a Pork Ragu

A classic Italian meal loaded with pork and kicked up a notch with crushed red pepper. This dish serves eight people and can easily be made in advance. It's the kind of meal you want to make when friends come over for dinner because it's guaranteed to be loved by all.

Get the recipe: Baked Pasta In A Pork Ragu

Related: 30 Easy Recipes Using Ground Pork

Pasta with Peas and Ham

Save time and money with this weeknight staple at only $0.88 per serving!

Get the recipe: Pasta with Peas and Ham

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Related: I Made Regis Philbin's Favorite Pasta and It's My New Go-To Weeknight Dinner