80 Weeknight Pasta Recipes You'll Come Back to Again and Again (2024)

Chicken and Rapini Penne Pasta

"We are trying to eat more greens in our diet, and rapini (aka broccoli rabe) is one of our favorites! Toss in some leftover rotisserie chicken and penne pasta, and you have yourself a meal!" —Kim's Cooking Now

Quick and Easy Chicken Spaghetti

"This chicken spaghetti recipe is quick and easy to make, yet is hearty and delicious. It's a great way to use leftover chicken!" —Beamish

Tomato and Garlic Pasta

"This is probably one of my favorite recipes from this site! I have made it more times than I can count." —calizen

Penne alla Vodka

"This penne alla vodka recipe is quick and easy to make from scratch with a homemade tomato and vodka sauce that's so flavorsome for an elegant Italian meal on your table in less than half an hour!" —Nicole McLaughlin

Pesto Pasta

"“This is a huge winner. And versatile too. I can imagine adding grilled chicken or shrimp for an even heartier meal.” —Curt McLey

Cheesy Ramen Noodles

"Melting cheese in ramen makes for an extremely simple and delicious spin on typical ramen noodles that can be easily made in the college environment." —Emily

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

"Try this recipe if you want to make an authentic, creamy carbonara that comes straight from Italy, where I live. Buon appetito!" —ivan zeta

Simple Hamburger Stroganoff

"I created this easy hamburger stroganoff recipe because I love the taste of a good stroganoff, but I don't like the expense of beef tips, steak, or roast beef, nor do I like all the time it takes to make them. My version is creamy and tastes great." —Jessica

Pasta with Peas and Sausage

"Made this exactly per recipe and family loves it. I think it's my favorite when I don't have a lot of time or just don't feel like cooking." —MZanca

Pasta Pomodoro

"Easy and light pasta with tomatoes and garlic. Cooked chicken breast chunks or shrimp can also be added to sauce for a great main dish!" —Dinah

Lemon Butter Herb Pasta

"This is a great and very versatile dish. We needed a dish to accompany grilled chicken, and had to find one with ingredients on hand. This pasta was just that — and you could make this whatever you wanted." —Julie Baker

Sicilian Spaghetti

"This anchovy pasta is quick, easy and very tasty. If you love anchovies and pasta, this recipe is for you." —Simon

Buttered Noodles

"Buttered noodles are simple to make with your favorite pasta, butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper for a quick and easy, kid-friendly dish." —elohel

Spaghetti Alla Carbonara Tradizionali

"I can’t believe pasta can taste so creamy without any cream. It’s magic, and this is so delicious and easy to make. I’m obsessed." —Kiki875

Bucatini Cacio e Pepe (Roman Sheep Herder's Pasta)

"This is THE true recipe for Cacio e Pepe. No garlic, no frozen peas, no bacon: just the pasta, cheese, and pepper. This was a regular Friday evening dish growing up. It's still a favorite because it's delicious and inexpensive. Close your eyes and you're in Rome." —healthyeater

Baked Ziti

"This baked ziti is always a hit! A lady I worked with brought this in one day, and everyone loved it. Now it is the favorite of all my dinner guests." —Colleen

Quick and Easy Pancit

"This quick pancit recipe with chicken, vegetables, and rice noodles is easy and delicious. It will remind you of island fiestas!" —Heather Maurer

Cajun Chicken Pasta

"Cajun chicken pasta is easy and delicious. Cajun cooking combines French, Southern, and other influences. It's robust, country-style cookery, just like this dish. Laissez les bons temps roulez and bon appétit!" —Carol Spradling

Lo Mein Noodles

"I absolutely loved this recipe and I will make this one again. I was so quick to make and made a very satisfying meal." —Douglas Markin

Chicken With Artichokes and Sundried Tomatoes

"Sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese give this simple chicken dish a delightfully different twist." —Bren

Yakisoba Chicken

"This is the first yakisoba recipe I have ever tried to make, and it turned out exceptionally well! It easily compares with the teriyaki restaurant near my home that makes this dish." —Maggie

One Pan Orecchiette Pasta

"This delicious orecchiette pasta recipe only has a handful of ingredients, is very cheap to make, and most importantly, only uses one pan or pot for the entire procedure." —John Mitzewich

Pantry Puttanesca

"Puttanesca is a hearty tomato sauce with a rich texture and a spicy kick. Pair it with hot pasta, and a fresh tasting, wholesome dinner will be on the table in no time." —Julie Filips

Shrimp Scampi with Pasta

""Absolutely amazing. This was our wedding night dinner at our hotel restaurant in 1979. We both loved it so much we've been trying recipes since. This one nailed it! It's a keeper." —pamster6451

Pesto Chicken Penne Casserole

"Creamy, flavorful and so easy to fix. This meal-in-one will wow family and friends." —LindaLou

Baked Pasta with Sausage and Baby Portobello Mushroom White Sauce

"This easy-to-make, flavorful dish will impress your family or friends and have them coming back for more!" —Peter Alfieri

One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

"One-pot spaghetti puts Italian sausage, pasta sauce, and noodles together for a dish you can have on the table in less than 45 minutes." —bdweld

Million Dollar Spaghetti

"Million dollar spaghetti is the perfect combination of noodles, lean ground beef sauce, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream. It's unbelievably good!" —Coqui30

Garlic Noodles

"My family thought this was wonderful! I paired it with scallops sauteed in garlic and butter. The combination was fabulous." —Timothy Higgins

Rich Pasta for the Poor Kitchen

"A wonderful recipe to make when you don't feel like making a trip to the grocery store. I used what I had on hand and it worked like a charm." —VAMPYRELADY

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

"So creamy and rich. I real family hit and so easy. I've made numerous times and it always disappears quickly!" —chris12804

Udon Peanut Butter Noodles

"This is a great recipe! Simple to put together and really flavorful." —chartman

Cabbage and Noodles

"Cabbage and noodles, cooked with bacon, is comfort food supreme, great for a chilly day." —Kathryn Weidenheimer

Creamy Linguine with Clam Sauce

"Very easy, quick and sinfully satisfying. Great with a tossed green salad with vinaigrette dressing." —Lorraine Williams

One-Pot Cajun Chicken and Sausage Alfredo Pasta

"It is so simple to make and absolutely packed with flavor. Tender chunks of chicken with smoky pieces of sausage in a rich and delicious homemade Cajun-flavored Alfredo sauce." —Christine

One-Pot Ham and Veggie Pasta

"This single-pot meal is the perfect way to use up leftover ham for a weeknight dinner. It's creamy, comforting, and quick-and-easy." —lutzflcat

Cheese and Hamburger Macaroni

"Homemade macaroni and beef version of Hamburger Helper — just as easy and tastes so much better!" —macandjakesmom

Polish Noodles (Cottage Cheese and Noodles)

"This simple recipe for pasta with cottage cheese came from the Polish side of my family. We call it "cottage cheese and noodles" or "lazy man pierogies." It's a great comfort food and can be made with any kind of noodle." —Brandi Rose

Chicken Milano

"A delicious pasta and chicken dish with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil." —MARBALET

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

"The pasta dish will be ready in 30 minutes. Add a green salad and glass of sweet peach tea for a fast weeknight meal." —thedailygourmet

St. Louis Toasted Ravioli

"Toasted ravioli, St. Louis-style! This method of breading and frying ravioli is unique and delicious. The crisp, golden brown ravioli are dusted with Parmesan cheese and served with marinara sauce for dipping." —Barb

Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta

"This smoked salmon pasta is a lighter version of pasta carbonara. For people who want the flavor but not the bacon, smoked salmon is the perfect substitute!" —Dinah

Simple Hamburger Stroganoff

"This is a great comfort dish. It is easy to make and has a fantastic blend of flavors." —Explorer of Eats

Garlic Shrimp Pasta Bake

"This shrimp casserole with noodles is quick and easy. With shrimp and pasta coated in a creamy herb sauce, this seafood pasta bake is a meal the whole family will love." —Ed N Angela Latimer

Baked Feta Pasta

"Super easy, delicious, makes a lot of food." —Michelle

Greek Chicken Pasta

"This pasta dish incorporates some of the flavors of Greece. It makes a wonderfully complete and satisfying meal." —Lorna

Bucatini All'Amatriciana

"Great flavors and easy to make! I love the serving size for two, it was perfect. This is a recipe that delivers a great range of flavors and in such a short amount of time." —Howard

Shrimp Lo Mein with Broccoli

"Outstanding! The sauce defiantly makes this dish." —Mike Haire

Easy Skillet Chicken Primavera

"I cooked it according to the recipe and absolutely loved it! It was a big hit with the family, and made a delicious healthy meal." —CT C

Italian Chicken Skillet

"This Italian chicken skillet recipe is a delicious and easy dinner! The best part is that it cooks all in one skillet so there is hardly any mess!" —RHARRIS524

Simple Macaroni and Cheese

"Quick, easy, and tasty macaroni and cheese dish. Fancy, designer mac and cheese often costs forty or fifty dollars to prepare when you have so many expensive cheeses, but they aren't always the best tasting. This simple recipe is cheap and tasty." —g0dluvsugly

Garlic Chili Oil Noodles

"These easy garlic chili oil noodles are not for those with a mild palate! Wok-fried garlic chili oil takes ramen noodles to a new level." —TheDailyGourmet

Creamy Garlic Pasta

"Delicious! Made it twice already and it never gets old!" —Abigail Morgan

Savory Sea Scallops and Angel Hair Pasta

"This scallop pasta dish is a very simple, easy-to-prep meal that you will most likely be asked to make again! The taste, if carefully prepared and not overcooked, is incredible." —Jim F

Easy and Quick Halushki

"It was a remarkably easy dish to prepare, and it turned out to be incredibly delicious." —Felix

Spicy Pumpkin Pork Noodles

"The moment I smelled the paprika and hoisin simmering together, I knew this was going to taste amazing with pumpkin, and it did." —Carole

Creamy Bay Scallop Spaghetti

"This scallop pasta dinner with a creamy sauce is fast and easy. I cook the scallops a bit longer than many chefs, but that gives the dish more flavor and they're still tender and moist." —Chef John

Spicy Chicken Noodles

"Yum! This was a great way to use up some leftover chicken. It made a delicious lunch and the heat level was perfect with the jalapenos." —Lacyanne

Bow Tie Pasta with Broccoli, Garlic, and Lemon

"Very simple yet delicious! Fairly healthy and quick and easy to make and incorporate into a dinner rotation." —Elizabeth Currier

Gnocchi with Sage-Butter Sauce

"A delicious sage-butter sauce with gnocchi pasta and Parmesan cheese makes a delicious side dish or complete meal." —Gina Izzy Shores

Pan-Seared Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Pasta

"This fish pasta recipe features citrusy tilapia served with a light, cheesy pasta." –vo0do0

Fabulous Cilantro Pesto

"This cilantro pesto is a delicious variation of basil pesto with a little more zip! You can substitute the vinegar with lime juice, lemon juice, or Italian salad dressing." —Gena Urias

Ham Tetrazzini

"A quick casserole that only takes about 30 minutes to make: perfect for those busy 'game' days." —Susan Holtgrewe

Pesto Pasta Caprese Salad

"Loved both the simplicity and versatility of this recipe. So easy to season, and make it your own." —jenn

Authentic Cincinnati Chili

"Piled on top of spaghetti, with raw chopped onions and a huge pile of very finely shredded cheddar cheese, this is my idea of heaven on a plate. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!" —Duke

Easy Tuna Casserole

"This easy tuna casserole is quick to make. Perfect for the busy mom!" —Jennie Ridgeway

Spinach Tomato Tortellini

"Easy and tasty weeknight meal." —Jenn

Weeknight Chicken Florentine Pasta

"This dish is so fast to make, and is company worthy. For faster preparation- wilt the spinach at the same time you drain the pasta." —thedailygourmet

Grandma's Hamburger Casserole

"My grandmother's hamburger casserole is classic comfort food! Featuring ground beef, noodles, and a creamy cheese sauce, this simple recipe dates back to the 1940s." —LaDonna Langwell

One-Pot Ham and Veggie Pasta

"This single-pot meal is the perfect way to use up leftover ham for a weeknight dinner. It's creamy, comforting, and quick-and-easy." —lutzflcat

Kid's Favorite Pizza Casserole

"This was easy to make and my one year old LOVED it." —Colins Mom

Easy Pasta fa*gioli

"This hearty pasta fa*gioli recipe with cannellini beans and ditalini pasta is a classic and deliciously comforting Italian soup." —Cindy

Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce

"I experimented with Alfredo sauce until I found a quick, cheap, and easy Alfredo sauce combination — the secret ingredient is cream cheese!" —Dawn Carter

Baked Penne with Italian Sausage

"This baked penne pasta recipe makes a hearty, filling meal that's full of flavor!" —SADIEQQ

Clams Casino Stuffed Pasta Shells

"Bacon, clams, peppers, cream, and cheese are stuffed into pasta shells for a truly incredible dinner." —Chef John

Orzo with Parmesan and Basil

"Love this recipe! Make it all the time!! AMAZING just the way it is!" —Amy Jo

Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce

"Great recipe, full of flavor, and fast to put on the table. It's definitely in our dinner rotation." —barley

Tony's Summer Pasta

"I usually have all these ingredients on hand which is tremendously handy. I will definitely make this again." —Geri

Creamy Pesto Penne with Sausage

"Quick weeknight dinner. Ready in 15 minutes!" —BaughHumbug

Fettuccine with Sweet Pepper-Cayenne Sauce

"Very flavorful and spicy. You'll never know this fettuccine with red bell pepper sauce is a healthy dish. You can also add some cut-up grilled chicken." —Julieliz

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