Our 61 Best Pasta Recipes, From Classics To Modern Favorites

This pasta dish is a spin on classic artichoke dip, featuring creamy Boursin and mozzarella cheese. Use your pasta of choice! 

Recipe: Artichoke Spin Dip Pasta

This is a tasty mashup of two favorite comfort food dishes: gnocchi and mac and cheese. Sound good? Yeah, it is.

Recipe: Gnocchi Mac And Cheese

There's nothing better than a warm bowl of pastina. Enriched with butter, egg, and cheese, this pasta is comforting and so satisfying. 

Recipe: Nana’s Pastina

This pasta dish couldn't be any easier to make. Mushrooms, broccoli, garlic, and bell peppers are sautéed in hot oil, tossed with cooked rotini, and bada bing! Dinner is served.

Recipe: Garlic Veggie Rotini Pasta

This one-pot meal hits all the right notes with tender pasta, juicy chicken, healthy spinach, and a tangy, creamy cheese sauce.

Recipe: One-Pot Cheesy Lemon Chicken Pasta

Sometimes simple is better, and this spaghetti dish is a prime example! Fresh cherry tomatoes and garlic are cooked with white wine, then tossed with hot pasta, Parmesan, and basil for a true taste of Italy. 

Recipe: Spaghetti With Fresh Tomato Sauce

Avocado adds even more creaminess to silky carbonara sauce, plus its mildly sweet flavor is the perfect counterpart to salty bacon and Parmesan.

Recipe: Avocado Carbonara

We love this mash-up of two classic red sauce favorites. Crispy chicken cutlets are layered between lasagna noodles, marinara, ricotta, and lots of shredded cheese for the ultimate crowd-pleasing dish.

Recipe: Chicken Parm Lasagna

This mushroom stroganoff is loaded with tender mushrooms, tangy sour cream, and savory spices for the perfect hearty meatless dinner.

Recipe: Mushroom Stroganoff

Basic doesn't have to mean boring. This classic spaghetti comes together quickly with just a few pantry ingredients and makes the perfect base or side for virtually any protein or vegetable.

Recipe: Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil

Building this lasagna with spinach ravioli instead of the traditional noodles saves time (no pre-cook required!) and adds an additional layer of creamy filling. Pair with rotisserie chicken, homemade alfredo sauce, and lots of cheese for a comforting dish that will have everyone scooping seconds.

Recipe: Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Lasagna

This creamy, savory noodle salad gets crunch from raw veggies and peanuts and a sprinkle of chopped herbs for freshness. The recipe makes a big portion and stores well in the fridge so it's perfect to make ahead for a gathering or have on hand for weekday lunches.

Recipe: Peanut Noodle Pasta Salad

Cacio e pepe, or spaghetti with cheese and pepper, is as simple as it is delicious. Reserved pasta water helps the cheese melt into a creamy sauce that perfectly clings to the noodles.

Recipe: Cacio e Pepe

Pesto sauce–made from basil, garlic, and pine nuts–is a classic for a reason. And bonus: there's 2 cups of basil in the pesto recipe, so this definitely counts towards getting your greens in.

Recipe: Pesto Twist Pasta

This short rib ragù is well-worth the time it takes to make–it's savory, hearty, and perfect for a date night or a special occasion. Plus, your kitchen will smell incredible while the short ribs braise away in the oven.

Recipe: Short Rib Ragù

Keep the heat at a steady medium-high so you don't burn the butter, which has a lower smoking point than many other cooking fats and oils. 

Recipe: One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta

Pasta doesn't have to be a last-resort meal for busy days, especially if you combine it with an equal serving of sautéed vegetables and top each plate with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Meal-Prep Garlic Chicken And Veggie Pasta

As some commenters note, the red pepper can taste a bit overpowering. If your spice tolerance is low, use half of what is recommended to start and season to taste.

Recipe: One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Start cooking the pasta while you're frying up the bacon. When your veggies and meat are done, you'll have the pasta ready to be combined into the final delicious product. 

Recipe: Creamy Chicken Penne Pasta

First thing's first: To prevent curdling, take your milk out of the fridge and let it get closer to room temperature before pouring it into the pot. 

Recipe: One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta

As the story goes, an Italian chef invented this recipe while trying to nourish his pregnant wife who had lost her appetite. The wife loved it so much, he started serving it as his restaurant. It continues to be a comfort food — and the perfect thing to make any night of the week. 

Recipe: Easy Chicken Alfredo Penne

You may have to play a bit with the bread crumb to egg to beef ratio to get the right meatball texture. If the mixture is too dry, try adding another egg. If it's too wet, add more bread crumbs. 

Recipe: One-Pot Swedish Meatball Pasta

Mushrooms are brimming with natural umami flavor. Pair them with chicken and you'll transform a humdrum flavor into one that's more complex and layered. 

Recipe: One-Pot Chicken And Mushroom Pasta

As most of the flavor will come from the beef and cheese (also the case with actual cheeseburgers!), consider adding extra cheese to taste.

Recipe: One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta

When you're out of Kraft, this one-pot recipe — which only needs four core ingredients — is the way to go. 

Recipe: Easy One-Pot Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Bacon and Parmesan cheese — of which this recipe has plenty — are pretty salty, so depending on your palate, you may want to add the teaspoon of salt at the end when you've had a chance to taste the final dish. 

Recipe: Garlic Shrimp Bacon Alfredo

Taco spaghetti is not something I discovered until I was an adult, but I'm pretty sure it would have been my favorite dinner as a teenager.

Recipe: One-Pot Taco Spaghetti

Since this recipe relies on so few ingredients, I highly recommend getting the freshest possible tomatoes and herbs.

Recipe: One-Pot Basil Pasta

If you've ever tried an artichoke pizza or artichoke dip, then you already understand the big fuss around artichoke. If not, consider this your mouth-watering introduction.

Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Penne Pasta

My favorite pasta dishes always involve a red sauce, so it's no surprise this one's in my regular dinner rotation. The combination of crushed potato, red chili flakes, and heavy cream means the sauce contains a little bit of everything I love. 

Recipe: Penne Alla Vodka Pasta

Making homemade gnocchi is as easy as making homemade cookies. Most people will find that the hardest part is simply peeling the potatoes!

Recipe: Easy Homemade Potato Gnocchi

Kale adds texture, vitamins, and flavor to this light and easy dish. But if you're out of kale, spinach will do the trick, too.

Recipe: Whole Wheat Pasta With Lemon Kale Chicken

To thin out this ultra thick and creamy sauce, reserve a half- to full cup of pasta water and add as needed.

Recipe: Sausage, Spinach, Tomato Rigatoni

This pasta bake comes together in three foolproof steps: make pesto, make pasta, then top the whole dish with cheese and bake until it's melted. 

Recipe: Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake 

This unassuming pasta dish hides a ton of flavor. The pasta, for one, is surprisingly savory thanks to the chicken stock it's cooked in.

Recipe: One-Pot Spicy Sausage And Broccoli Pasta

For a meal that's full of protein, replace a bit of the pasta with additional black beans. They're creamy and hearty enough that your palate will register it as a flavor boost instead of a "healthy swap." 

Recipe: Southwest Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake

If you don't have time for the tedium of composing a lasagna, then this cheesy skillet pasta is the next best thing. 

Recipe: Lasagna Skillet Pasta

Baked ziti, which is essentially a pasta casserole, might just be one of the best Italian American creations yet. 

Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Baked Ziti

For an even more decadent flavor, sauté the cooked gnocchi in a little bit of butter.   

Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli Gnocchi

To deepen the flavor of the shrimp and veggies, cook the bacon first and set it aside. Then, use the bacon grease as your cooking oil.

Recipe: Shrimp Spinach Bacon Alfredo

One commenter who's made this dish several times has a tip for the most flavor-packed pasta: First, cook the pasta until it's almost — but not completely — done. Then, put it in the same pot as the shrimp and lemon juice mixture and cover until completely cooked. The final result will be brimming with rich, tangy flavor.

Recipe: Garlic Shrimp Scampi

Be prudent with the meat and tomato sauce when you start layering your dish, or you might not have any left for the top. 

Recipe: Beef and Cheese Tortellini Bake

This recipe leans on the sausages and peppers to get most of its flavor, but if you're more of a sauce person, then an extra can of tomato sauce and some cream might do the trick. 

Recipe: One-Pot Sausage And Peppers Pasta

For the perfect final texture, boil your potato slices for five minutes, or until about half-cooked, before layering them in the baking pan.  

Recipe: Potato Lasagna

As the recipe notes, using canned 100% coconut milk instead of carton coconut milk (with additives) will create the best, creamiest results.

Recipe: Dairy-Free Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

It's actually quite easy to make one of Trader Joe's most popular items. All you need are some sweet potato, Parmesan cheese, egg, and flour. 

Recipe: Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Slide a small plate under your mug to catch any water that might overflow in the microwave. 

Recipe: Microwave 5-Minute Mac 'N' Cheese

This easy recipe goes great with essentially any vegetables you have on hand. Some excellent add-ins include broccoli, zucchini, diced tomatoes, and mushrooms. 

Recipe: Garlic Chicken Primavera

If ever you need a pop of flavor in a seafood-centric pasta, capers are a great solution. They're salty, slightly tangy, and require zero cooking.

Recipe: Tuna Linguine With Tomatoes, Olives & Capers

Goat cheese works great here because of its mild, buttery, and rich flavor. But if you're not its biggest fan, you can also try mozzarella or gouda. 

Recipe: One-Pot Chicken, Bacon, And Goat Cheese Pasta

Made of equal parts chicken and broccoli, this pasta dish is a guaranteed hit with picky eaters.

Recipe: Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

Instead of regular olive oil, use the oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes for an extra hit of sweet-tart tang.

Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Tuna Pasta

Using store-bought BBQ and ranch sauce means this weeknight recipe is as easy as combining all the ingredients and popping them in the oven. 

Recipe: BBQ Chicken Pasta Bake

Are you starving? If you're looking for something that'll definitely fill you up, this chicken marsala pasta is it. 

Recipe: One-Pot Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta

If, for whatever reason, you don't want to use white wine in your recipe, chicken stock works as a great substitute.

Recipe: Mushroom, Spinach & Sausage Spaghetti

Pesto is one of the simplest things you could make yourself — and the payoff is so worth it. 

Recipe: Chicken Pesto And Zucchini “Pasta”

A deep-red bolognese pasta is one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. The tomato and meat sauce always hits the spot, and it goes great with the blanket of Parmesan cheese I usually eat it with. 

Recipe: Creamy Sausage Bolognese 

If you like mac 'n' cheese, then there's no reason you won't love this five-cheese variation, made up of cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, feta, and smoked gouda.

Recipe: Five-cheese Mac and Cheese

If you're having friends over for dinner and want to make a meal that'll impress — but don't want prep time to eat into your work day — then this lemon butter chicken pasta might be your best option. It's got just enough nuanced flavor to have people asking for the recipe, but simple enough to make in just an hour.

Recipe: Creamy Lemon Butter Chicken Pasta

Don't ask me why, but making all your favorite foods green makes them taste even better. Here, four cups of spinach guarantees your dinner will be full of nutrients.

Recipe: Green Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Expert tip: To keep the meatballs from falling apart from excessive handling, try baking them on a sheet pan instead of frying them. 

Recipe: One-Pot Vegan Swedish "Meatball" Pasta