22 Tasty Pasta Recipes For Easy Weeknight Dinners (2024)

Pasta, as we know, is a staple in most households. Whether it's with a simple tomato sauce, some cream, and bacon, or we have gone all out with lasagna, it's a meal the whole family will enjoy!

But after a while, it can get a little boring, can’t it? The same few dishes in rotation often leave us dreading dinner, and the monotony leaves us eyeing up takeaway menus or arguing about what to make. It leaves us wondering, what else can I do with pasta?

Well, wonder no more! We have brought together the 22 best pasta recipes together for you. Yes, that's right, 22 pasta dishes for you to choose from! Simply scroll, find one you love, and get cooking!

Pasta is arguably one of the most versatile dishes in our arsenal, and you can never have too many options when it comes to cooking it! Just remember the salt when you are boiling your pasta, follow our recipes, and you are good to go! Keep reading to find your new pasta dishes.

Do you need more inspiration for your menu? Make sure you check out our other collections of tasty recipes!

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1. Baked Feta Pasta with Tomatoes

Not just for TikTok, this easy recipe can be in your kitchen too! The bake in the oven pasta dish is creamy, tasty, and requires minimal ingredients! It’s perfect for vegetarians, or you can add meat if you choose; we recommend chicken or a cooked and flaked salmon for a luxurious evening meal!

You can even veganise this dish by swapping out the feta for a vegan-friendly cheese or blending cashews! It's incredibly versatile; you can choose any pasta or tomatoes you wish and enjoy the tasty baked pasta!

2. Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

It’s a classic for a reason; you just can’t beat a warm bowl of spaghetti bolognese on a cold and windy day! The sauce in this recipe can be used across a range of other pasta dishes, too, making it a brilliant sauce to have mastered. Why not pop it on a pizza base, or slather it on top of some nachos?

For those after a classic pasta near impossible to mess up, our quick and easy spaghetti bolognese is the recipe you need. If you can, take the time to marinate the meat with the spices, and leave it for an hour before cooking. Although it's a quick recipe, the more time you take and allow it to simmer, the better it tastes, trust us!

You can swap the mince for a meat-free substitute, too, if you wish, Quorn mince or a handful of green lentils will still give you that meaty taste, and the protein hits too!

3. Super Cheesy Mexican Pasta

The cheese lovers in the room are sure to be blown away by this dish! It blends Mexican food and pasta for a truly unique fusion experience. The dish is spicy, saucy, and incredibly cheesy without being difficult to make! Perfect for when the hangover hits or you need a quick dish after a long hard day!

There’s a lot of customization here too, you can add as many different vegetables as you want, so you can create the pasta dish you want!

We already have a list of vegetables to include in the recipe, but black beans, corn, and olives are some of our favorites! You can make the meal entirely meat-free or add some chicken if you wish!

Alternatively, you can keep the beef strips that we mention in our recipe!

For the vegans in the room, swap out the meat, cheese, and butter for plant-based alternatives to enjoy the cheesy dish!

4. Southern Style Baked Macaroni and Cheese

The ultimate comfort food, but baked! Baked macaroni and cheese is not only popular with adults, but even fussy children too! There are many versions of macaroni and cheese, but this southern-style baked dish combines a range of flavors you are sure to love!

When it comes to the recipe, you can change out the cheese if you want. We recommend checking that the cheese you use will melt properly for an enjoyable dish! As with all mac and cheese recipes, you can add vegetables and meat if you wish, or keep it as the traditional mac and cheese!

For those wanting a plant-based option, swap the cheese for a vegan one; just ensure that it melts properly!

5. Dutch Oven Cheesy Taco Spaghetti

We know the combination isn’t a usual one, but what can go wrong when combining tacos and spaghetti? The cheesy taco spaghetti will interest fussy eaters and provide some fun at the dinner table! It’s also a one-pot meal, so washing up or cooking for hours is off the table!

While it's nice to have the dish on its own, a nice garden side salad accompanies the dish well and gets some extra greens in! Corn on the cob or a Mexican corn salad are both fantastic options too!

You can also add other vegetables to the dish too if you wish! More vegetables will give the recipe more flavor and texture compared to the usual meat and cheese tacos that we sometimes see. Mushrooms, garlic, bell peppers, or onion add to the mix well! For those after some heat, chilies or Jalapenos are a fantastic addition too!

If you like Dutch oven recipes, then make sure you check out my Complete Dutch Oven Cookbook on Amazon. It's filled with easy-to-make meals from breakfasts to soups and stews and even a few desserts!

6. 5 Ingredient Spicy Garlic Pasta

A quick recipe with just five ingredients, the spicy garlic pasta is one you won’t believe you ever lived without! That’s right; it’s that good! What’s best about this recipe is that it's entirely vegan too! Perfect for cooking for your vegan friends or incorporating meat-free days into your diet.

That being said, you can add meat to the pasta if you wish! It's the perfect recipe for those days where you don’t want to cook; it’s done in 15 minutes!

It’s also ideal when you have some vegetables going out of date! You can add them to the dish and enjoy some spice, garlic, and pasta with ease!

7. Quick and Easy Sundried Tomatoes and Garlic Pasta

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The sun-dried tomatoes and garlic pasta are perfect for those lazy mid-week dinners that still deliver outstanding flavor! Within 20 minutes, you can enjoy this delicious meal, using either store-bought sun-dried tomatoes, or make your own if you have some more time! The choice is yours and either way you can enjoy a delicious meal.

Going the extra mile and adding lemon juice and rosemary to your dish will enhance the flavors and add a piney touch to the dish! You can add meat as the recipe suggests or make the dish vegetarian-friendly easily!

The dish is vegan when no meat is added, making it the perfect dish for meat-free nights or a plant-based diet!

8. Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

Perfect for lunch or a meal to cool you down in the summer, the pasta salad and Italian dressing is the dish for you! You can add the pasta to a range of salads to create the perfect salad for you, and add some pasta and hearty Italian dressing on top!

The dish is quick to make, you can be eating in 20 minutes, or you can leave it in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes before serving for a lovely chilled and refreshing meal. There are a few ingredients in the dish, making it a simple one to make when you have other things to do!

What’s more, it keeps well, so you can cook a batch and leave it in the refrigerator to enjoy for a few days! Be sure that the salad you are using is fresh to enjoy the delicious dish! Serve it on its own, or as a side for a BBQ or your favorite summer meals!

9. One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken with Bow Tie Pasta

One-pot meals are a favorite at our home, and we bet it is at yours too! This 30-minute one-pot dish is perfect for the evenings when you need a hearty and warming bowl of pasta! It's a favorite with children and adults too, so the whole family will just enjoy it.

Chicken, pasta, and parmesan are a match made in heaven; combined with the garlic and sauce, it's a dish you will regret not making! You can opt for tofu or a meat substitute for vegetarians, or you can make the necessary substitutes to make the dish vegan if you wish.

When it comes to the chicken, you can add breast or work with thighs if you prefer; just ensure there are no bones to avoid any casualties when enjoying the meal! You can customize the pasta shapes used too if you wish; you can always use a range of shapes for an exciting meal, just ensure they all cook at the same time!

10. Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce

For a diverse sauce that can be used with various pasta, look no further than our roasted garlic pasta sauce! It’s tasty, easy to make, and is perfect for batch cooking or whipping up a quick meal!

It takes a few ingredients, but you can add more vegetables or meat if you want to! Alternatively, you can leave the sauce as it is for a vegan sauce that will warm your soul. Remember to use vegan butter if you are making the meal for anyone following a plant-based diet.

You can choose between fresh or dried herbs depending on your choice, although we think fresh herbs deliver a stronger flavor! That being said, you can use dried herbs if that's what you have. It's a great meal for using up any vegetables that are going out of date and still deliver a delicious tasting meal!

11. Delicious Fluffy Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe

For those wanting to get their chefs’ hats on, this cauliflower gnocchi recipe is the one for you! You don’t need much experience either; even the most novice chef can create these pillow-soft pastas that will deliver a golden brown and delicious taste.

The fibrous vegetable will keep you full and satisfied, and many people consider this a healthier option than the traditional potato gnocchi! You can adjust the flavor of this recipe too to suit your needs. Crank up the spice if you want, or simply enjoy the meal as the recipe suggests!

What's great about the gnocchi is that it can be topped with virtually any sauce or paired with any vegetables for a truly spectacular dish!

12. Easy 30 Minute Chicken Pasta Primavera Recipe

That’s right; we have another thirty-minute pasta recipe for you! This chicken pasta is packed full of vegetables and a hint of cheese, making it a great light meal to add to your repertoire! You can customize it, too, adding as many vegetables as you want without overwhelming the flavors at work here.

The chicken pasta primavera is the perfect pasta dish for a light dinner or lunch. It's easy, and even fussy eaters will enjoy this dish! It's ideal for the nights where you want a quick and delicious meal without any fuss.

Typically primavera dishes feature a lighter sauce than other pasta dishes, making it the ideal choice when you don’t want a heavy or dense meal! The customization makes it perfect for fussy eaters too! You can easily swap out the chicken for vegetarians or swap the cheese out for those following a vegan diet.

13. Rich Vegetarian Mushroom Stroganoff

For the vegetarians in the room, we have the perfect alternative to the firm favorite, Stroganoff! We think it's so good that even meat-eaters will enjoy it! Why not add this recipe to your meal plan and incorporate meat-free Mondays into your diet?

The vegetarian stroganoff is packed full of mushrooms for an earthy and meaty texture and taste that replicates a stroganoff perfectly! We recommend chopping them finely or blending the sauce to avoid any picky eater meltdowns at the table for any mushroom haters!

The creamy sauce and rich seasonings will turn your head and be sure to have you obsessed with this recipe!

It's not overly complex to make either, and you can expect it on the table in less than 30 minutes. What more could you want from your dish? Plus, mushrooms tend to be cheaper than meat, making it a clear winner for us!

14. Zucchini Spaghetti with Pesto Sauce

Slightly different from the others included today, but this pesto recipe is sure to tickle your taste buds! Alright, we might be cheating using zucchini instead of pasta, but the crunch goes so well with the pesto, you’ll forget all about spaghetti!

The dish is tasty, and with less than five ingredients and 30 minutes to make, it's the perfect lunch or dinner dish! Serve it on its own, or add some garlic bread or side salad for a refreshing taste!

In the recipe, we show you how to make your pesto (avoid it if you are allergic to nuts!), but you can purchase pesto if you want to save time! Doing this means you only need to cook the zucchini, meaning you could be eating in under 10 minutes!

You can purchase vegan pesto for the vegans in the room, usually in the gluten-free section, or make your own with a cheese substitute.

15. All Purpose Pasta Sauce

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For those after a sauce they can add with just about any pasta or dish, try our all-purpose pasta sauce! It’s perfect for topping your pizzas, stirring in with pasta, or baking in a lasagna!

Not only is the recipe straightforward, the sauce stores well for up to three days. It's perfect for any batch cooking or meal-prepping you want to do or can be used to wow your friends with excellent pasta-based dinner parties!

We recommend using fresh tomatoes for added taste and a fresh taste to the sauce, but it's not entirely necessary. You can adjust the seasoning and spice of this sauce too to suit your tastes. Why not experiment with the sauce and tweak it until it perfectly satisfies your taste buds.

16. Savory Charcuterie Pasta Board

The pasta board recipe is a creative spin on the humble pasta and is perfect for evening entertainment or just sprucing up your usual evening meal! The pasta boards are easy and fun to make and a guaranteed way to wow your friends and family!

You can use any pasta that you want; we recommend avoiding spaghetti as it can stick together and be difficult for your guests to serve themselves. The same goes for the sauce; you can use whatever you want, but consider how your guests will serve it!

Add whatever you want to the board. Vegetables, bread, other sauces, dips, go wild! The recipe details some of our favorite choices, but here you have full creative control! It's an easy dish to make vegetarian or vegan, too, as you see fit.

17. Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese with Sherry Cream Sauce

A twist on the classic mac and cheese that we think you will love! The sherry sauce is rich and creamy and compliments the lobster and pasta perfectly. You will think you are in a gourmet restaurant rather than your kitchen!

You can, of course, add different fish if you wish, but for a real treat, the lobster is sensational!

18. Simple Old Fashioned Goulash Recipe

The perfect comfort food for when your soul needs warming is Goulash, and we have the perfect recipe for you here! It's hearty, tasty, and is sure to leave every inch of you feeling warm and cozy!

What’s great about this recipe is how affordable it is! A pound of ground beef can be stretched to make several servings, or you can add lentils for a vegetarian and even cheaper option! The dish is loved not only for its rich sauce but its convenience and low price tag!

You can add any vegetables that you want to the dish too for a customized approach! We like onions, carrots, and peppers in ours, but the choice is yours! You can also tailor the Goulash recipe to suit vegetarians and vegans, too, if needed.

19. Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

The ultimate comfort food, simplified! We know there's been a few spins on the dish included today, so how could we not include the original, our take on the creamy and tasty Mac and Cheese? Our baked creamy macaroni and cheese is super simple; you’ll never want to stop making it!

We recommend a sharp and mature cheddar for this dish to enjoy a creamy and cheesy taste with every bite! If you wish, you could add vegetables and meat or leave it at the simple six ingredient recipe; the choice is yours entirely!

It takes a little longer than some of the other dishes mentioned, but it's so simple you don't mind waiting for this dish to bake!

20. Easiest Homemade Egg Noodles

Now, you might think we are cheating here, but trust us, this definitely counts as pasta! After all, who wants to let the word noodle put them off from making delicious homemade pasta?

These egg noodles are an excellent addition to virtually any pasta dish and are one you will love having in your repertoire! Compared to other pastas, these egg noodles have a delicious buttery taste that makes them the perfect comfort food!

You don’t even need a pasta maker for this delicious recipe, just a good old rolling pin and a sharp knife! It's a super easy recipe, and once you have mastered it, you will want egg noodles all the time! Serve on their own with some seasoning, or top with your favorite pasta sauce for the perfect comfort meal!

21. Copycat Pasta e fa*gioli Soup

The perfect option for those with a slow cooker is the Copycat Pasta e fa*gioli Soup! It can be cooked in one pot if needed and tastes so delicious you will think you are having a fancy meal out!

It's a fantastic dupe of Olive Gardens pwn Pasta e fa*gioli, but cheaper than paying for the meal! It's similar to a minestrone soup but far more satisfying and enjoyable, we think! It's the perfect meal for warming you up after a long hard day!

You can substitute the beef for different meat or swap it for an alternative for a vegetarian or vegan diet. That's the best bit about pasta dishes; you can make them suit you.

22. World’s Best Lasagna

Is that a bold claim? Maybe. Do we think this lasagna is worth the long cooking time and deserving of the title: world’s best lasagna? Yes, yes, we do. As we all know, Lasagna is the perfect dish for a romantic dinner, a family meal, or to batch cook for days of enjoyment.

As with all our other recipes, this can be adapted if needed to suit a vegetarian or vegan diet. While beef and sausage are the suggested meat, you could use chicken and bacon if you wished, vegetables, or roasted eggplant for those looking for a meat-free alternative.

Either way, the dish is hearty, filling, and leaves you feeling like you are in a rustic Italian home, not your kitchen! We love it served with garlic bread, a side salad, or some garden peas for a balanced and delicious meal.

How long will these pasta dishes last?

Pasta and its sauces can often be kept for a few days, allowing you to enjoy the meal for your lunch or dinner again the next day! Generally speaking, we wouldn’t keep pasta sauce for more than three days. If milk or cream were used in the recipe, we would advise caution and ensure that the pasta is stored correctly.

It's best to mix the pasta in with the sauce if you are keeping leftovers too! It stops the pasta clumping together and ensures a tasty dish for yourselves! You can also add cheese to the top of the portion and turn your pasta into a pasta bake for your next meal!

Final Thoughts

And just like that, my friends, we have reached the end of our journey together today! As you can see, countless pasta recipes are sure to spice up your evening meals and leave you with more choice than ever before!

Whether you are looking for a new tomato-based sauce or an exciting take on mac and cheese, there is a recipe here to suit everyone!

Why not check out the recipes mentioned today and the rest of our site for countless recipes that are sure to transform your kitchen into a restaurant even Gordon Ramsey would be proud of!