82 Easy Pasta Dinners The Whole Family Will Love
Whether you're in the mood for hearty comfort food or a light, bright summer pasta, you can never have too many pasta supper ideas. Pasta dishes are a great thing to have in your repertoire, especially these easy pasta recipes that won't take up too much precious weeknight time. Need a one-pot supper? Pasta to the rescue! Had a long day, tiresome day? Mix up a batch of our gooey macaroni and cheese and put your feet up. Unexpected drop-in guests? Wow them with fancier-than-it-looks skillet pasta.
When we're planning a dinner that we want every member of the family to enjoy, pasta dishes always come to mind. Plus, we're sure you probably have at least one box of pasta on hand in your pantry at all times. With this collection of our favorite pasta recipes, you'll always have at least one dish to turn to in a pinch. Plus, these dishes are all so easy to put together and feed a whole family. The kids will definitely be coming back for seconds.
Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole
Chicken, penne, and cream sauce come together to create an all-star dinner casserole.
Chicken Alfredo Lasagna
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey
We recommend shredding your cheese for this Alfredo lasagna to make sure it melts completely. Pre-shredded cheese won't melt as well due to the anti-caking agent coated on it. Store any leftovers you may have in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Baked Ziti
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Perfect for a family weeknight meal, this cheesy ziti casserole makes eight servings and comes together in just about an hour. Serve alongside a simple tossed salad for a delicious well-rounded meal.
Chicken-and-Broccoli Pasta Bake
Ready in just 35 minutes, this comforting pasta dish is a great way to sneak in some veggies.
Baked Ziti with Chicken
Instead of ground beef, this new version of classic baked ziti calls for store-bought rotisserie chicken.
Baked Tortellini Alfredo With Mushrooms
A quick broil just before removing your skillet from the oven will give you a bubbly, golden-brown finish.
Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese
Refrigerated ravioli helps dinner come together in just 35 minutes.
Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta
Although this recipe calls for rigatoni, you can use whatever type of pasta you have on hand.
Pasta with Pancetta, Artichokes, and Roasted Red Peppers
This five-ingredient pasta is packed with flavor thanks to some high-impact ingredients: salty pancetta, briny artichokes, and smoky roasted peppers. The juices come together to make a light and luscious pasta sauce, too.
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
You can cook every component for a classic spaghetti and meatball dinner in just one pot thanks to your multi-cooker.
Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas
Convenience items like pre-peeled shrimp, frozen peas, and store-bought pesto help this filling pasta dish come together in under 30 minutes.
Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole
Egg noodles serve at the base for a simple ground beef mixture that the whole family will love.
One-Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo
This recipe uses Cajun seasoning, fresh garlic, and Parmesan cheese to deliver plenty of flavor in just one pot.
Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta
High-heat cooking cherry tomatoes releases their natural juices to form a flavorful sauce. Quick-cooking shrimp means everything is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Baked Ziti with Sausage
We used three types of cheese to make sure this baked ziti is oh-so-cheesy.
Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce
You're just 25 minutes away from dinnertime bliss. We recommend using fresh shrimp, not frozen, for the best flavor.
One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta
You need just one pot and 35 minutes to get this fajita pasta dinner on the table.
Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
Freshen up your tried-and-true pasta casserole with bright green kale. A creamy sauce keeps this 30-minute pasta bake feeling appropriately cheesy and indulgent.
Meatball Pasta Bake
While they may not be the usual ingredients, orange juice and fennel add a bright flavor to this pasta bake.
Cajun Shrimp Boil Pasta
Shrimp, corn, and smoked sausage form the base for this warm-weather pasta dish with a nice Cajun kick.
One-Pot Pasta Primavera with Bacon and Feta
We cook the pasta for this dish in chicken stock to create a rich and silky sauce.
Tomato Carbonara
This vegetarian-friendly version of your favorite pasta dish swaps bacon for burst cherry tomatoes.
Shrimp and Peas with Farfalle
You'll swoon over the lemony breadcrumbs that top this dish. If you're looking to save even more time, skip the fresh English peas and opt for frozen peas that have been thawed instead.
Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage
Who knew sweet peppers and sausage could be such a winning combination?
Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables
Have some surplus from your farmers' market haul? Add your extra produce to this catch-all, summery baked ziti.
Cabbage, Mushroom, and Bacon Pasta
This one skillet, one pot dish makes cooking an elegant dinner easier than ever.
Spaghetti Casserole
Southerners love our casseroles, and it doesn't get much easier than this Spaghetti Casserole.
Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
Have a pack of ground beef on hand? Make this easy Spaghetti Bolognese your go-to dinner solution.
Ham and Noodle Casserole
Whether you want to serve it up for dinner or make it to freeze for later, this noodle casserole comes together in 45 minutes.
Taco Dinner Mac and Cheese
With this recipe, you can enjoy the flavors of tacos even on pasta night.
One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards
No one will ever suspect that a meal this elegant was cooking in just one pan. Talk about no cleanup!
Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas
A stunning dish of gnocchi is shockingly easy to make – just pick up a package of the potato pasta at the grocery store and toss it in your skillet.
Cheesy Sheet Pan Pasta
Pasta, cooked and crisped to perfection on a sheet pan? Don't knock it until you try it.
Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi
This balanced bowl gives you full servings of vegetables and pasta in one, making it the ideal winter weeknight supper.
Shrimp Alfredo
Add some seafood to your weeknight dinner with this incredibly simple shrimp Alfredo recipe. It's delectable and perfect for a spring supper.
Pasta Shells with Spring Vegetables
Pea tendrils, the tender tips of pea vines that taste just like the peas, make an unexpected and charming garnish.
Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake
Tortellini, chicken, broccoli, butter crackers, and pecans compose this casserole that bursts with flavor and texture.
Cacio e Pepe
You'll need just four ingredients for this simple, classic recipe.
Beefy Butternut Squash Pasta
With substantial pieces of butternut squash and browned beef, this pasta is a whole meal in one bowl.
Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna
A container of refrigerated pesto adds distinctive flavor to this basic beef-and-cheese lasagna, and the unbaked lasagna can be frozen for up to three months.
Mac and Cheese with Ham
Add some ham to mac and cheese to turn the classic side into a dinner-worthy casserole.
Pizza Spaghetti Casserole
It's amazing what you can do with a jar of pasta sauce and packet of pepperoni. This casserole combines two family favorites.
Spinach Ravioli Lasagna
This top-rated spinach-ravioli lasagna uses convenience items, like store-bought pesto sauce, jarred Alfredo sauce, and frozen cheese-filled ravioli, to deliver a delicious main dish with little time and effort on your part.
Chicken-and-Broccoli Skillet Pasta
From the stove to the oven to the table, you can cook and serve this pasta dish all in one skillet.
Pasta With Marinated Tomatoes
Ever marinate your tomatoes? They add zingy flavor to a classic veggie-packed pasta.
Barbecue Mac and Cheese
What's better than mac and cheese? Mac and cheese enriched with all the barbecue flavors you love.
Farmers' Market Pasta Salad
Pasta salads are a summer staple, and this one includes all the flavors of the season.
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Any dish with "million dollar" in the name has to be good, don't you think? This spaghetti recipe takes the classic up more notches than we can count.
Creamy Andouille Pasta
ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: LYDIA PURCELL; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN
Cajun flavors get the spotlight in this creamy dish that's enriched with Andouille sausage and perfectly cooked pasta.
Ravioli Lasagna
Swap your sheets of pasta for squares of ravioli to make your next batch of lasagna even more delicious.
One-Pan Garlic-Butter Shrimp with Orzo
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis
Buttery pasta makes the perfect bed for succulent shrimp in this quick orzo-based recipe.
Summer Orzo Salad
Let this dish fill your summer with orzo salad that's packed with the flavors of the season.
Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone
Burst tomatoes really shine in this pasta dish, which balances them with dollops of creamy mascarpone cheese.
Green Chile Mac And Cheese With Chicken
ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: LYDIA PURCELL; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN
One surefire way to make your mac and cheese even more craveable is to add green chiles.
Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ
Even if penne isn't your favorite pasta shape, it may just win you over in this easy and delicious preparation.
Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is made even taster by the addition of Southern-favorite pimiento.
Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella
The fresh flavors of the ingredients is only barely outshined by the vibrancy of the colors in this pasta dish.
Tuscan Pasta With Tomato-Basil Cream
The tomato-basil cream really makes this indulgent pasta recipe one to remember.
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Think you can only make spaghetti with beef? Think again, and then make our fan-favorite chicken spaghetti casserole for an easy weeknight dinner.
Baked Linguine With Spicy Tomato-Cream Sauce
When you have fresh tomatoes, there's no better strategy than to whip up a batch of this gorgeous baked linguine.
Pasta Primavera With Shrimp
JENNIFER CAUSEY; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX
Pasta primavera is a weeknight favorite, and we like it best when paired with plump, quick-cooking shrimp.
Classic Chicken Tetrazzini
Brittany Conerly; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin
Perfect for potlucks, this bake-and-take tetrazzini casserole uses vermicelli as a pasta base.
Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers
Take a classic baked ziti and jazz it up with Andouille, tomatoes, and peppers. It's a winning combination.
Chicken Tortellini Salad
ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL
If you'd like your pasta with a bit of nutritious greenery, turn to this tortellini-studded salad recipe.
Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Broccoli gets an infusion of flavor thanks to the addition of herby green pesto in this simple recipe.
Creamed Corn Pasta
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Creamed corn adds deliciously unexpected flavor and excellent texture to this recipe.
Grilled Chicken and Veggie Tortellini
Tortellini get strong support for tender grilled chicken and flavorful veggies in this dish.
Greek Baked Ziti
Few dishes are as satisfying as a baked ziti, and this one is an excellent one for your weeknight rotation.
French Onion Pasta
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This recipe takes all the flavor you love in French onion soup and puts it into a delectable pasta recipe.
Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad
Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
If you're looking for a classic, easy pasta salad, you can't do better than this one, which adds broccoli for crunch and grapes for sweetness.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Tuna Noodle Casserole is a tried-and-true favorite. Generations agree: It's what's for dinner tonight.
Buffalo Chicken Casserole
The flavor profile that will satisfy everyone from kids to the grandparents, buffalo chicken gets an easy upgrade in this casserole preparation.
Fettuccine With Collards And Bacon
Bacon and collards are a perfect pairing, and this recipe really does them justice.
Lemon Chicken Pasta
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Lemon chicken is a weeknight favorite, and this recipe makes the combo even more filling with the addition of pasta.
Our Best Lasagna
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Everyone needs a go-to lasagna recipe, and this is ours. It's the most classic of all the traditional preparations.
Sloppy Joe Casserole
The camp-classic Sloppy Joe is transformed into the most family-pleasing casserole in this recipe.
Pimiento Cheese Chicken-Broccoli Casserole
The weeknight-favorite chicken-broccoli casserole gets a touch of unexpected flavor with the addition of pimiento in this recipe.
Beef Stroganoff
Sirloin beef tips and egg noodles combine to make the most comforting and special dinnertime dish.
Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Recipe
The dinnertime trifecta of turkey, noodles, and poppyseeds make for a hearty mealtime.
Church Supper Spaghetti
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
If it's popular for church suppers, you know it has to be good. With spaghetti, frozen peas, frozen corn, and a host of other fresh veggies, it's filling and can feed a crowd too.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
This recipe relies on butternut squash for structure, but it also uses no-boil lasagna noodles to make things even easier.
Beefy Skillet Lasagna
While we're often partial to an oven-safe-dish-baked lasagna, using a cast-iron skillet can help make your edges even crispier.
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