14 Kid-Friendly Pasta Recipes the Whole Family Will Devour
One of the few dishes that everyone can agree on for dinner? Pasta. If you’re a parent, you probably already know this. From simple classics like spaghetti with tomato sauce to fancier staples like brown butter bucatini, adults and kids alike are scooping up seconds of these hearty meals—even if there are a few hidden veggies. To keep your rotation feeling fresh, we’ve pulled together 14 kid-friendly pasta recipes that everyone in your family will love.
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1. One Pot, 15-Minute Pasta Limone
Not only will everyone gobble up this lemon pasta, but you can make it in minutes. Just toss the spaghetti and toppings into a single pot, then sprinkle with fresh basil. (Or skip the herbs if your kids hate green stuff.)
2. Pasta Pomodoro
Whip up a quick Italian classic that looks fancy, but it’s really just spaghetti with tomato sauce.
3. Creamy Sweet Corn Pappardelle
Getting your spouse and kids into plant-based eating? They’ll love this “creamy” corn pasta that doesn’t involve any dairy.
4. Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta with Peas
Yes, your kids can see the peas, but the sweet butternut squash sauce with cream cheese more than makes up for it.
5. Pasta Shells with Pumpkin in a Creamy, Cheesy Sauce
Wanna get extra fancy? Serve it in hollowed-out mini pumpkins and watch your kids’ eyes bug out of their heads.
6. Carrot Pasta
This healthy twist on gnocchi is a kid-approved favorite for two reasons: it’s colorful and it’s delicious.
7. Goat Cheese Pasta with Spinach and Artichokes
Maria Lichty specializes in quick, gorgeous weeknight meals. Case in point: her goat cheese pasta tossed with spinach and artichokes. (Just leave out the greens for picky kiddos.)
8. Sage and Basil Turkey Meatballs with Angel Hair and Tomato Sauce
Make spaghetti and meatballs a bit healthier with ground turkey and a homemade tomato sauce with fresh herbs.
9. Cacio e Pepe
Just call this fancy mac and cheese, and your little munchkins will be all over it.
10. Easy Vegan Pizza Pasta Bake
Tastes like pizza, but with added frozen veggies and tofu feta, it’s actually pretty nutritious.
11. Pasta Alla Norma
This budget-friendly pasta with tomato sauce and eggplant will feed the whole family—and yep, your kids might get two servings of veggies tonight.
12. One-Pot Creamy Chicken Alfredo
Meet your new go-to pasta dinner for busy weeknights. Why? You only need to wash one pot, and everything is ready to eat in 35 minutes.
13. Salami, Artichoke and Ricotta Pasta Salad
Not all pasta needs to be served warm. That’s why we’re taking second scoops of this salami, artichoke and ricotta pasta salad.
14. 20-Minute Garlic Basil Brown Butter Pasta
Dress up simple buttered pasta by dousing bucatini in browned butter and pecorino and putting a few cherry tomatoes on top. (But if the kids ask what it is, just say “buttered pasta.”)
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