50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (2024)

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (1)

Everyone has a go-to pasta recipe that they know like the back of their hand — whether its a super simple spaghetti, baked ziti, a take on alfredo, or even a family-honored lasagna. And yet there are thousands of ways to dress up your favorite pasta that you are missing out on. Contrary to popular belief, not every life-changing pasta sauce requires you to frantically hover the stovetop; some of the best pasta dishes are straightforward and can be made in under 30 minutes. The following pasta recipes are easy dishes that can help you breeze through dinner and then some, as these ideas make for delicious leftovers. Most importantly, though, they'll please the entire family and help you switch things up every once in a while.

These pasta dishes make use of versatile noodles you can boil to perfection in just under 10 minutes — from penne to linguini, farfalle "bowties" to more complex ravioli, there's plenty of pasta to go around. Most can be incorporated into rich, velvety sauces that includes a medley of seasoned poultry or beef and tender vegetables. Other pasta varieties are best left lighter with a healthier take of sauteéd veggies and creamy pan sauces; some can even be incorporated into soups, too.

And if you're looking for a new take on your own favorite pasta dish, it's here. We've tweaked and played with classics — including lasagna, bolognese, macaroni and cheese, and signature sauces from alfredo to alla vodka — to make them even simpler to master.

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1

Lemon-Pepper Linguine With Creamy Chicken and Broccoli

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (2)

Get double the citrus flavor with fresh lemon mixed into the pasta dough and the sauce.

Get the recipe for Lemon-Pepper Linguine With Creamy Chicken and Broccoli »

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2

Penne With Spicy Anchovy Marinara

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (3)

Skip the jarred sauce—ours is made with anchovies, garlic, chile, oregano, capers and fennel for a flavor that goes way beyond store-bought.

Get the recipe for Penne With Spicy Anchovy Marinara »

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3

Beet Fettuccine With Hazelnuts and Goat Cheese

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (4)

Give your pasta a pretty hue with beet juice added right into the dough.

Get the recipe for Beet Fettuccine With Hazelnuts and Goat Cheese »

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4

Tomato Tagliatelle With Chorizo and Olives

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (5)

Spicy, salty and a little sweet from the tomatoes, this pretty plate's got it all.

Get the recipe for Tomato Tagliatelle With Chorizo and Olives »

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5

Spinach Macaroni With Beans and Greens

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (6)

Made with sweet Italian sausage, creamy white beans and fresh kale, this is a filling, all-in-one feast.

Get the recipe for Spinach Macaroni With Beans and Greens »

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6

Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (7)

Save dishwasher space by boiling peas in the same pot as your pasta — then, make your sauce in the same pan that you've roasted your chicken in. All in all, dinner's on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Get the recipe for Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta »

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7

Linguine Carbonara

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (8)

A perfect option for any bacon lover, this classic Italian dish actually comes together away from the stovetop. You'll whisk egg yolks and fresh parm together and slowly add pasta water until you've created a luxurious sauce (in seconds!).

Get the recipe for Linguine Carbonara »

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8

Creamy Lemon Pasta With Chicken and Peas

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (9)

Introduce the kids to a more refined pasta shape with gemelli, which is coated in creamy pan sauce made with lemon zest. Little ones will love chasing peas around their plate as they spear this spiral-shaped pasta.

Get the recipe for Creamy Lemon Pasta With Chicken and Peas »

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9

Pasta With Red Pepper Alfredo

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (10)

We gave this creamy classic dish an instant health upgrade by adding roasted veggies into the equation. Red bell peppers and fresh garlic add a much-needed boost of fiber — plus a beautiful hue!

Get the recipe for Pasta With Red Pepper Alfredo »

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10

Easy Lasagna With Meat Sauce

You can save loads of time by simply baking dry lasagna noodles in this easy ground pork meat sauce. Make this casserole ahead of time or on any weeknight — it's ready in just one hour.

Get the recipe for Easy Lasagna With Meat Sauce »

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11

Summer Squash, Mint, and Pecorino Pasta

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (13)

Look — it's summer in a bowl. Squash, mint, and lemon juice come together to create a light pasta dinner that's perfect for dining al fresco.

Get the recipe for Summer Squash, Mint, and Pecorino Pasta »

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12

Creamy Corn Pasta with Bacon and Scallions

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (15)

Trying to use up leftover corn? This one-pot pasta dinner calls on the flavors of bacon, scallions, basil, and fresh corn to create a summer pasta medley in just 30 minutes.

Get the recipe for Creamy Corn Pasta with Bacon and Scallions »

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13

Creamy Broccolini Pasta With Chile Breadcrumbs

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (16)

Charred broccolini is cut by the tartness of lemon juice and sour cream in a five-ingredient pan sauce.

Get the recipe for Creamy Broccolini Pasta With Chile Breadcrumbs »

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14

Chilled Tortellini Romesco

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (17)

Another elevated take on pasta salad, almonds and scallions add a wonderful crunch to the smooth, creamy profile of the tortellini.

Get the recipe for Chilled Tortellini Romesco »

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15

Pesto Zucchini Orzo

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (18)

You'll love this no-fuss take on a pasta salad — let summer squash marinate in a mix of pesto, olive oil, and white wine vinegar. Then, add the rest of your ingredients into the mix.

Get the recipe for Pesto Zucchini Orzo »

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16

Easy Vegetarian Lasagna With Spinach and Broccoli

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (19)

Beef who? This satisfying triple-layer lasagna doubles down on plenty of spinach, broccoli, fresh basil, and three different cheese varieties. Sauté peppers and mushrooms, and then stir into your tomato sauce for an extra boost of nutrients.

Get the recipe for Easy Vegetarian Lasagna With Spinach and Broccoli »

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17

Baked Pesto Shells & Greens

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (21)

This cheesy, baked pasta packs a hefty dose of veggies in each serving. We won't tell the kids if you won't.

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18

Veggie Skillet Lasagna

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (23)

There is absolutely no need to wait for the water to boil when you can just cook lasagna noodles in a super-flavorful sauce.

Get the recipe for Veggie Skillet Lasagna »

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19

Orecchiette with Morels and Peas

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (25)

Heading to the farmers' market this weekend? Make a list of the in-season produce in this recipe and create a beautiful lunch when you get home.

Get the recipe for Orecchiette with Morels and Peas »

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20

Mozzarella-Stuffed Turkey Meatballs

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (27)

These taste even better reheated; our test kitchen staff says they can be refrigerated for 2 days after being served. They're just as delicious alongside a hearty salad as well.

Get the recipe for Mozzarella-Stuffed Turkey Meatballs »

50+ Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners (2024)

FAQs

How to make pasta for the week? ›

How to Cook Pasta Ahead of Time
  1. Boil Water. Bring a large stockpot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. ...
  2. Cook Pasta. Add pasta to the boiling water, stir, then begin measuring your cooking time. ...
  3. Drain Pasta & Store Cooking Water. Drain the pasta saving about 1 cup of cooking water. ...
  4. Prep and Store Pasta. ...
  5. Reheat.

What to add to a pasta dinner? ›

Pasta dish ideas including Lemon, Basil and Mascarpone, Quick Chicken Alfredo, White Wine, Mushroom and Cream, White Bean Sauce, Bacon and Scallions, Tuna and Capers, Lemon Artichoke Pesto, Smoked Salmon And Capers, and Caprese.

How much pasta do I need for 50 adults? ›

A good rule of thumb is to prepare about 1 pound of pasta for every 3-4 people. For a dinner catering for 50, you would need approximately 12-15 pounds of pasta. Keep in mind that some guests may eat more or less, so it's always a good idea to have a little extra.

How to cook pasta for large amounts of people? ›

Steps to Cook Pasta for a Party
  1. Cook your pasta ahead of time, in a very large pot, with a lot of salt in the water, not oil. ...
  2. Save some of the pasta water. ...
  3. Cook your pasta to almost al dente. ...
  4. Drain your pasta under cold running water and pull it through the water until its cool. ...
  5. Once cool, portion out onto a sheet pan.
Dec 16, 2016

What are the 4 main pasta dishes? ›

There are four classic Roman pasta dishes: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, and alla gricia. Each one is a variation on the other — alla gricia is cacio e pepe plus guanciale, carbonara is gricia plus egg, and so on. These four dishes are famous in all of Italian cooking, not just in Rome.

What to put on pasta when you have no sauce? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

What can I add to pasta to make it taste better? ›

Fresh basil is the natural choice with simple pasta sauces like marinara, but parsley, cilantro, and even mint can also give pasta dishes a burst of fragrant flavor when they're sprinkled on just before serving.

How to make pasta ahead for a crowd? ›

You can prepare pasta up to 24 hours in advance. To do so, follow these instructions: Cook it for half the time recommended in the package instructions. Then, drain the pasta and spread it out on a cooking sheet and allow it to cool.

How many people does 1 lb of pasta serve? ›

Most recipes call for one pound of pasta — which is a standard box or bag — to serve four to six people. It's far easier to eyeball this than fuss over specific measurements. I find that half the box, or a half-pound (eight ounces) of pasta, serves two to three people, depending on sauce and hunger level.

How many bags of pasta do I need for 5 people? ›

Figure 100 grams per person (i.e., one pkg for 5) as a decent portion for an average appetite, and remember leftover pasta is delish. For spaghetti, it usually takes 2–3 packages for 5 adults.

Can you make pasta ahead of time for a party? ›

According to senior food editor Rick Martinez, you can cook your penne or gemelli or bucatini up to 48 hours before you want to serve it, but really, any time that day is fine.

How to cook pasta ahead of time and reheat? ›

Rinse with cold water. Toss with olive oil. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. To reheat, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add pasta and cook until hot, 1 to 2 minutes.

How many pounds of pasta to feed 25 people? ›

1 pound feeds 4 people. 6 pound feeds 24 people and a quarter of a pound will feed the 25th person. Six and a quarter pounds of pasta is needed.

Can you cook pasta for the week? ›

Note that these are general expectations, and individual dishes may vary, but you can assume that most cooked pasta lasts for less than 1 week. It's still important to examine your pasta and make sure there are no signs of spoilage before you eat it.

Can you keep cooked pasta for a week? ›

Allow cooked pasta to cool slightly. It can then be stored in airtight containers (from $5, The Container Store) in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Again, store pasta and sauce separately, if possible. To reheat, drop the pasta in boiling water for just a few seconds; drain.

Can I meal prep pasta for 5 days? ›

To store, portion into airtight containers and place in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. It's always best to freeze if you know you won't be eating them all straight away. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Can pasta stay good for a week? ›

Store-bought, fresh pasta is only good for 1 to 3 days, according to Healthline, while homemade fresh pasta is good for 4 to 5 days. However, once cooked, most pasta spoils in about 3 to 5 days. This includes stuffed pastas like tortellini and ravioli, as well as gluten-free, lentil-based, and bean-based pastas.

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