22 Fall Pasta Recipes to Serve for Thanksgiving (or Any Old Weeknight Dinner)
We love eating pasta for dinner year-round, but there’s no doubt that we crave it even more come fall. As the weather crisps up, we yearn for its satisfying heartiness, whether it’s doused in butternut squash sauce, mixed with bacon or baked under a cozy blanket of cheese. So, we rounded up 22 fall pasta recipes that will hit the spot whenever you need a hug in a bowl. They’re simple enough to make on a weeknight, but seasonal and delicious enough to serve at Thanksgiving if you so choose.
27 Simple Pasta Recipes Anyone Can Master
1. 3-Cheese Pumpkin Pasta Casserole with Spinach
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Come fall, it’s all about the five Cs: creamy, comforting, crowd-pleasing, casseroles and, most importantly, cheese. Canned pumpkin puree makes the sauce a breeze to prepare.
2. Orzotto with Winter Squash and Rosemary
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: one pot, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
For the uninitiated, orzo is a rice-like Italian pasta. Here, it takes over for traditional Arborio rice to create a low-lift risotto for the books. Might we suggest bookmarking it for the holidays?
3. 30-Minute Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Orecchiette
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
Bring on the comfort food. This pasta is equal parts salty, savory and satiating, thanks to shallot, garlic and lots of crispy bacon. A dash of apple cider vinegar gives it the optimal dose of seasonal tang.
4. Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Pasta Salad
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Have it for dinner on Thanksgiving Eve, then serve the leftovers at the big feast. Between the butternut squash, whole-grain mustard, pine nuts and fresh thyme, it’ll fit right in.
5. Carrot Pasta
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Easy to make, yet even easier to devour. The carrot pasta is flavorful and cozy on its own, but just wait until you cook it in garlic-kissed sage butter.
6. Easy One-Pan Baked Ziti
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Nothing beats curling up with a gooey, meaty bowl of baked ziti and a glass of red by the fireplace. Pancetta and Italian sausage keep things flavorful and savory, while grated Parm and fresh mozz seal the deal.
7. Mac and Cheese with Crispy Parmesan-Phyllo Crust
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Consider this the motherload of mac and cheese. It’s oozing with white cheddar, Monterey Jack and Parmesan and topped with buttery, cheesy phyllo dough rosettes instead of breadcrumbs. (You could skip the rosettes if you’re looking to save time, but the presentation alone is worth it.)
8. Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Herbed White Wine Sauce
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
The definition of elegance, if you ask us. Mashed sweet potatoes give ricotta gnocchi an autumnal makeover that your guests will rave about. Don’t even get us started on the thyme-rosemary wine sauce.
9. Apple, Grape and Pecan Pasta Salad
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, kid-friendly
This pasta salad is destined for a fall picnic, holiday dinner or a day at the apple orchard. Substitute candied walnuts, pistachios or macadamia nuts for pecans if you’d like—just don’t nix the citrusy mustard dressing.
10. Butternut Squash Carbonara
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, high protein
Who knew the secret to making the world’s most decadent carbonara is your favorite fall gourd? You won’t believe the sauce is totally free of butter and cream.
11. Macaroni and Cheese in Acorn Squash Bowls
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly, vegetarian
File this under No-Fuss Ways to Wow Your Dinner Guests. The acorn squash bowls will no doubt garner praise, but the fresh thyme and sage in the two-cheese mac still ensure compliments, even if you use a regular plate.
12. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, kid-friendly
This is one of our go-tos in the fall and winter, since the protein, carb and veggie all come together in a single pan in 30 minutes flat. Use kale or spinach in place of broccoli rabe if you’d like.
13. Butternut Squash Lasagna
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
Give the green bean casserole a rest this year. Your guests won’t mind wolfing down this rich combo of butternut squash ribbons, ricotta cheese and gooey mozzarella instead. (Roasted mushrooms or toasted walnuts would make it even tastier…just sayin’.)
14. The Ultimate Pasta Pie
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein, <10 ingredients
A springform cake pan transforms this dinner staple into something spectacular. And since the recipe calls for jarred marinara sauce, the pie is ridiculously easy to put together.
15. 5-Ingredient Smoked Gouda-Thyme Mac and Cheese
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Caroline Lange
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, one pot
We’re immediately transported to a cozy couch in a secluded mountain cabin just looking at this fall pasta dish. Can you believe it’s only five (well, six if you count the salt) ingredients away?
16. Caramelized Mushroom Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
Kristin Teig/Mediterranean Every Day
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
You only *think* you don’t like mushrooms. Trust us when we say this drool-worthy dinner will convert you for good. Use a dry white wine for the sauce, like pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc.
17. Buckwheat Gnocchi with Cabbage, Potatoes and Fontina
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
A twist on a traditional dish from Northern Italy made with buckwheat pasta, this recipe is sure to satisfy even the pickiest eaters at your table. Wash it down with mulled wine to drive the wintry comfort theme home.
18. Easy 30-Minute Beef Stroganoff
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, high protein
Juicy beef tenderloin, button mushrooms and a decadent sour cream-Dijon cream sauce make this a cold-weather mainstay in our book. Bring on the fresh dill and delicate pappardelle.
19. Spicy Pumpkin and Pesto Cheese-Stuffed Shells
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Did someone say spicy pumpkin vodka sauce? Sign us up. If that doesn’t convince you, perhaps the spicy Italian chicken sausage, fontina cheese and basil pesto will.
20. Brown Butter Mushroom Pasta
Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
We’ll never turn down brown butter, also known as liquid gold. It imparts a pleasant nuttiness to the earthy cremini mushrooms and herbaceous fresh thyme.
21. Pappardelle with Roasted Butternut Squash and Tomato Ragu
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, high protein
This oven-roasted San Marzano tomato sauce is seriously impressive. As if it wasn’t Insta-worthy enough, each plate is crowned with a ball of burrata cheese.
22. Pumpkin Seed Pesto Pasta with Caramelized Delicata Squash
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Rich, creamy and tastes like fall—what more can a sweater season-loving cook ask for? The delicata squash is sauteed in a sweet-and-spicy mix of chili powder, smoked paprika and brown sugar.
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Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
