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Best Weeknight Pasta Recipes – Easy Pasta Dinner Ideas

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Pasta is a much-loved meal across the globe, but more often than not, we make the same recipes over and over again.

Best Weeknight Pasta Recipes

We’re here to show you how easy it is to make 24 different pasta dishes that are easy and quick.

1. The Best Penne Alla Vodka Recipe

Vodka makes for the perfect pasta sauce, giving a creamy, luxurious flavor and the illusion that you’re eating at a top restaurant. All you need to bring this together is penne, olive oil, butter, onion, garlic, vodka, tomato paste, heavy cream, and a little TLC.

2. Baked Feta Pasta

Pick this for a fuss-free dinner the whole family will enjoy. You simply need your favorite choice of pasta, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, virgin olive oil, garlic cloves, fresh basil, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to season. Comfort food at its finest.

3. Chicken Alfredo

There’s nothing more comforting than a big bowl of creamy, buttery goodness. This cheesy chicken alfredo will undoubtedly put you into a food coma. It’s a recipe packed full of chicken, noodles, and heavenly sauce that is super simple to make!

4. Spaghetti Carbonara

Nothing screams Italian carbs more than a rich, creamy carbonara. This spaghetti carbonara is so easy to put together that any novice cook could make it. The key ingredient? Eggs do all the work, conjuring up the rich and creamy texture for which carbonara is so famous.

5. One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

This chicken parmesan pasta takes a quick 30 minutes to make, is cooked all in one pot, and it’s mouthwateringly delicious. A guaranteed win with the whole family. Add cheesy garlic bread and a big green salad for a delicious trio.

6. Spaghetti and Meatballs

Are your kids craving meatballs? We have a jaw-dropping spaghetti and meatballs recipe perfect for fussy kids.

Top tip: for full-of-flavor meatballs, use two different proteins, and your tastebuds will beg you for more; our recommendation is lean ground beef with sweet Italian sausage.

7. Classic Lasagna

Every household needs this classic lasagna recipe in their collection. A classic lasagna should contain layers of pasta, meat, ricotta cheese mixture, and mozzarella, and this recipe has EXACTLY this. Classic lasagna = comfort in the form of food.

8. Taco Spaghetti

This dish is the ideal easy weeknight meal, made simply in one pot.

All you need to make this delicious Mexican-tasting goodness is a handful of ingredients: spaghetti, taco seasoning, ground beef, tomatoes, cilantro, onion, and a generous amount of gooey melted cheese.

9. Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

A staple of the Southern lifestyle is baked mac n cheese, and no one can deny that it’s the ultimate comfort food. The perfect blend of chicken broth, elbow pasta, a mixture of cheeses, cream cheese, egg, heavy cream, half and half, and a lot of spices. Delicious!

10. Crispy Roasted Gnocchi with Garlic Mushrooms

Looking for your comfort meal? This crispy roasted gnocchi with garlic mushrooms is to die for.

Gnocchi is small potato dumplings made using potatoes, flour, starch, and eggs, although they can be made without, for a vegan version.

Thank us later!

11. One Pot, Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Whipped Ricotta

Sometimes all you want is an all-in-one-pot dinner, and we’ve got the perfect recipe. Packed full of flavor and is simple to make.

Nothing beats the combination of flavors in this dish. Sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, chili flakes, penne, parmesan, and fresh herbs, all tossed together with whipped ricotta cheese for a delicious creamy texture.

12. Easy Baked Ziti

This baked ziti is a timeless favorite and a must-have recipe.

The pasta is bathed in a zesty Italian sausage sauce,  a creamy ricotta cheese layer, and shredded mozzarella on top, all baked to cheesy perfection.

Sounds heavenly, right?

13. Cacio e Pepe

Known as Cacio e Pepe in Italian, this translates directly to cheese and pepper and they are the star performers of this dish.

To unlock the flavors, toast the pepper in a blend of butter and oil, but be sure to time it just right; otherwise, the pepper will burn.

14. Creamy Tuscan Orzo

While orzo may have a rice-like appearance, it is a type of pasta. It tastes like regular pasta, but its shape lends itself to be mixed with a variety of sauces and ingredients.

Our top tip to make this dish perfect is grating your own Parmesan instead of opting for pre-grated. Be pleasantly surprised with a superior melt and an explosion of flavor your tastebuds will thank you for.

15. One Skillet Lemon Butter Dijon Chicken and Orzo with Feta Sauce

This one-pan wonder is a hit with the whole family, featuring dijon chicken, lemon butter, and orzo pasta, all drizzled with feta cheese sauce.

You’ll be sure to have everyone lining up for seconds.

16. Orzo Pasta Salad

We use orzo again in this irresistible recipe, but this time in the form of a salad. It makes for the perfect picnic, party, or potluck meal.

This delicious pasta is combined with cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, caramelized sweet corn, red onions, Kalamata olives, and feta for a fresh, tangy, and satisfying full meal.

17. Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)

We have Italian lasagna, but it’s time to switch things up and try something new with Pastitsio. Classic lasagna consists of marinara and a touch of cinnamon, but in this recipe, a creamy bechamel sauce is used instead, along with other pasta shapes. Then, just layer it up like usual.

Let us know which you prefer in the comments.

18. Homemade Pasta

There is nothing better in this world than proper homemade pasta, and we might be biased, but this recipe is the best.

This recipe uses only five ingredients: Olive oil, water, eggs, all-purpose flour, and semolina flour.

You can use either a pasta maker or roll and cut by hand if feeling up to do the work.

19. Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Need an easy, meat-free weeknight dinner? We’ve got you covered with this quick and simple mushroom pasta that takes only 30 minutes to make.

But there’s nothing ‘simple’ about the flavor; this dish is creamy and has the perfect balance of flavors without being too heavy.

20. Cavatelli Pasta Dough

This two-ingredient pasta dough is quick and easy to make. All you need is flour and water. If you want, you can add some kosher salt as an optional extra.

P.S. You can pop it into the freezer for later use.

21. Favorite Baked Spaghetti

This recipe screams nostalgia, llike when Mom would make a comforting meal on a cold winter’s day.

This recipe might be packed full of ingredients, but it’s a breeze to make and so worth it.

22. Easy Goulash

You had me at goulash. This old classic is one that every family needs on their recipe lineup.

Featuring hearty ground beef and tender pasta in a rich tomato-based sauce, nothing screams delish more than goulash.

23. Baked Brie Pasta

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard of the viral baked feta pasta, but we’re giving the cheese lovers what they want with this brie version.

Like its feta mate, this recipe requires only five simple ingredients to bring this hearty dish together: brie, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, fresh thyme, and your pasta of choice.

24. Creamy Steak Fettuccine

Is steak your go-to for date night? Have a fantastic date night meal with this deliciously creamy steak fettuccine. Perfect for anniversaries, valentines, or just simply to spend some special time with your other half. Pair with sweet cherry tomatoes, spinach, and a homemade balsamic glaze!

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