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Craving pasta? Here are 60+ of my favorite pasta dinner ideas that are more than just spaghetti and meatballs. Branch out and cure that pasta craving with any of these great dinner ideas!
Pasta might be one of my favorite dinners. It is definitely a go to when I don’t have anything else planned. It is just so easy to make quickly, and with just about any flavor that you are craving.
So many Easy Dinner Ideas start with pasta. But today we are here with just pasta dinners. That is right, pasta is the star! But it isn’t just your average spaghetti with red sauce. It is creamy pasta, Asian flavors, spicy, copycat from your favorite restaurants and more.
So the next time you are carving carbs for dinner, check out some of these pasta recipes! Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
1
Chicken Pesto Pasta
This Chicken Pesto Pasta is a fresh, flavorful, and satisfying dish made with tender chicken, your favorite pasta, and vibrant basil pesto. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing meal!
Creamy crockpot Cajun chicken pasta is an easy one-pot dinner with juicy chicken, spicy Andouille sausage, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce. Make it in the slow cooker and add your favorite pasta!
Pork Lo Mein is packed with savory, aromatic flavor and comes together faster than takeout. Pork tenderloin, chewy noodles, and a rich sauce make this a weeknight dinner the whole family will love. Skip the delivery and make this one at home!
This tortellini pasta salad is an easy summer side dish packed full of tasty Italian-inspired flavors, with juicy tomatoes, olives, savory salami, and fresh basil tossed in a zesty homemade dressing.
Tomato-Basil Tortellini – a rich and creamy pasta dinner the whole family will love. Ravoili or Tortellini tossed in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce and plenty of fresh basil!
This ham tortellini is an easy one-pan dinner perfect for weeknights! Made with cheese tortellini, salty diced ham, and onions tossed in a rich, creamy cheese sauce.
This copycat Panera mac and cheese is a thick, ultra-creamy stovetop macaroni and cheese made with a white cheddar and American cheese sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, it's the ultimate comfort food the whole family will love — and it tastes just like (or better than) the real thing.
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup – A quick and easy soup that is perfect for a cold night. Warm up with this cozy soup filled with vegetables, chicken and tortellini all in a delicious creamy broth.
Pasta risotto is a creamy pasta dish cooked risotto-style in one pan! It's loaded with juicy Italian sausage, parmesan, and herbs, tossed with tender penne for an easy weeknight meal.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta – a super easy chicken pasta recipe that you can make any night of the week. Simple ingredients, just a few minutes, and dinner is done.
Pasta with Breadcrumbs is a quick, easy, and traditional Italian meal you can make with just a few simple ingredients. Perfect when you just need something fast!
Marry Me Chicken pasta is a flavor-packed 30-minute weeknight dinner! Make this recipe in one pan with tender pasta and juicy chicken tossed in creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.
Enchilada Pasta Casserole – Cheese, chicken, and warming spices combine to create the ultimate comfort casserole. Perfect for a midweek Mexican night or to bring loads of flavor to your next potluck.
Pistachio Cream Pasta – a super simple Sicilian pasta dish that you can make in minutes. So comforting, lots of great flavor, rich, creamy, and delicious.
Cheesy chicken spaghetti is an easy casserole recipe packed with juicy shredded chicken and tender spaghetti in a rich, flavorful cream sauce with Rotel tomatoes.
Sausage Penne Pasta – quick and easy sausage penne pasta that you can get on the table in just minutes! A creamy pasta that the whole family will love.
Chicken Lo Mein – make your own take out at home with this super easy Chinese chicken lo mein recipe. Full of lots of veggies, 20 minutes, and dinner is done!
Taco Pasta Skillet – All the flavors of taco night in a one pan meal, ready in 20 minutes! Homemade version of those box mix meals, with just a few staple ingredients.
Taco Spaghetti – a tasty Mexican inspired dinner that is ready in minutes. Creamy and cheesy spaghetti in a flavorful meat sauce. And easy weeknight recipe the whole family will love.
Easy and cheesy taco stuffed shells made from jumbo pasta shells loaded with creamy taco beef, salsa, and melty cheese. Just add your favorite taco toppings!
This pesto pasta salad is the perfect easy side dish for summer! Made with basil pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella, it's full of flavor and ready in no time.
This ranch pasta salad is an easy summer side dish packed with crispy bacon, veggies, and tender rotini pasta tossed in creamy homemade buttermilk ranch dressing.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad – if you like pickles, you are going to love this super easy, creamy and delicious pasta salad that has just the right amount of crunch!
Pizza Pasta combines all the flavors of your favorite pizza with hearty pasta for a quick, cheesy, family-friendly dinner. Made one pan on the stovetop, an easy recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights.
This Homemade is easier than you might think and more delicious than anything you can buy at the store. So get ready to tuck into some tender pasta, savory filling, and a velvety roasted garlic cream sauce.
Crockpot Chicken and Noodles is a hearty, comforting, meal made right in your slow cooker. Creamy noodles and tender chicken are all cooked together in a delicious sauce, making it the perfect dinner any night of the week.
This hearty and protein-packed beef noodle casserole is the ultimate comfort food. The meat is juicy, the sauce is rich, creamy, and packed with spices, and the easy casserole is loaded with melted cheese.
Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni- Ditch the box mix Hamburger Helper and make this homemade version instead! Dinner is ready in minutes, with just a few pantry ingredients.
Lasagna roll ups are a fun and easy spin on classic lasagna! This cheesy, meaty lasagna roll ups recipe is great for meal prep and freezer-friendly. Customize the fillings any way you'd like!
Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna – skip the box and try this homemade version. Just a few ingredients, ready in minutes, and the whole family will love it!
Cajun Chicken Alfredo – a super easy and comforting and easy dinner. Chicken alfredo gets a kick from cajun seasoning to make it something different and new!
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo – get dinner on the table fast with this easy, creamy, cheesy, and delicious alfredo loaded with chicken and lots of broccoli. Great meal for the whole family.
Beef ragu is an authentic Italian meat sauce made from savory ground beef simmered in tomato sauce with veggies and garlic. Serve it over spaghetti for a cozy, Tuscan-style dinner!
Homemade Pasta – Make fresh pasta at home with just 3 ingredients! It is so much easier than you think and it is the most tender and delicious pasta you will ever have.
Creamy Pesto Tortellini – Cheese tortellini tossed in a creamy pesto sauce with smoked turkey sauce gets dinner on the table in 20 minutes any night of the week!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta – get dinner on the table fast with this easy pasta dish that is loaded with creamy ranch dressing, chicken, bacon and cheese!
Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta – A perfectly quick and easy weeknight dinner. Everything cooks together and is ready in just minutes. Super creamy, cheese, full of lots of flavor and fresh veggies.
This Baked Ravioli is a quick and comforting dinner made with layers of cheesy ravioli, meaty marinara sauce, and mozzarella. It’s an easy, family-friendly meal everyone will love!
Creamy Beef Pasta – an easy recipe that gets dinner on the table the whole family will love any night of the week! Creamy, hearty, and perfect for those picky eaters.
This Chicken Pesto Pasta is a fresh, flavorful, and satisfying dish made with tender chicken, your favorite pasta, and vibrant basil pesto. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing meal!
Creamy crockpot Cajun chicken pasta is an easy one-pot dinner with juicy chicken, spicy Andouille sausage, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce. Make it in the slow cooker and add your favorite pasta!
Pork Lo Mein is packed with savory, aromatic flavor and comes together faster than takeout. Pork tenderloin, chewy noodles, and a rich sauce make this a weeknight dinner the whole family will love. Skip the delivery and make this one at home!
This tortellini pasta salad is an easy summer side dish packed full of tasty Italian-inspired flavors, with juicy tomatoes, olives, savory salami, and fresh basil tossed in a zesty homemade dressing.
Tomato-Basil Tortellini – a rich and creamy pasta dinner the whole family will love. Ravoili or Tortellini tossed in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce and plenty of fresh basil!
This ham tortellini is an easy one-pan dinner perfect for weeknights! Made with cheese tortellini, salty diced ham, and onions tossed in a rich, creamy cheese sauce.
This copycat Panera mac and cheese is a thick, ultra-creamy stovetop macaroni and cheese made with a white cheddar and American cheese sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, it's the ultimate comfort food the whole family will love — and it tastes just like (or better than) the real thing.
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup – A quick and easy soup that is perfect for a cold night. Warm up with this cozy soup filled with vegetables, chicken and tortellini all in a delicious creamy broth.
Pasta risotto is a creamy pasta dish cooked risotto-style in one pan! It's loaded with juicy Italian sausage, parmesan, and herbs, tossed with tender penne for an easy weeknight meal.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta – a super easy chicken pasta recipe that you can make any night of the week. Simple ingredients, just a few minutes, and dinner is done.
Pasta with Breadcrumbs is a quick, easy, and traditional Italian meal you can make with just a few simple ingredients. Perfect when you just need something fast!
Marry Me Chicken pasta is a flavor-packed 30-minute weeknight dinner! Make this recipe in one pan with tender pasta and juicy chicken tossed in creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.
Enchilada Pasta Casserole – Cheese, chicken, and warming spices combine to create the ultimate comfort casserole. Perfect for a midweek Mexican night or to bring loads of flavor to your next potluck.
Pistachio Cream Pasta – a super simple Sicilian pasta dish that you can make in minutes. So comforting, lots of great flavor, rich, creamy, and delicious.
Cheesy chicken spaghetti is an easy casserole recipe packed with juicy shredded chicken and tender spaghetti in a rich, flavorful cream sauce with Rotel tomatoes.
Sausage Penne Pasta – quick and easy sausage penne pasta that you can get on the table in just minutes! A creamy pasta that the whole family will love.
Chicken Lo Mein – make your own take out at home with this super easy Chinese chicken lo mein recipe. Full of lots of veggies, 20 minutes, and dinner is done!
Taco Pasta Skillet – All the flavors of taco night in a one pan meal, ready in 20 minutes! Homemade version of those box mix meals, with just a few staple ingredients.
Taco Spaghetti – a tasty Mexican inspired dinner that is ready in minutes. Creamy and cheesy spaghetti in a flavorful meat sauce. And easy weeknight recipe the whole family will love.
Easy and cheesy taco stuffed shells made from jumbo pasta shells loaded with creamy taco beef, salsa, and melty cheese. Just add your favorite taco toppings!
This pesto pasta salad is the perfect easy side dish for summer! Made with basil pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella, it's full of flavor and ready in no time.
This ranch pasta salad is an easy summer side dish packed with crispy bacon, veggies, and tender rotini pasta tossed in creamy homemade buttermilk ranch dressing.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad – if you like pickles, you are going to love this super easy, creamy and delicious pasta salad that has just the right amount of crunch!
Pizza Pasta combines all the flavors of your favorite pizza with hearty pasta for a quick, cheesy, family-friendly dinner. Made one pan on the stovetop, an easy recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights.
This Homemade is easier than you might think and more delicious than anything you can buy at the store. So get ready to tuck into some tender pasta, savory filling, and a velvety roasted garlic cream sauce.
Crockpot Chicken and Noodles is a hearty, comforting, meal made right in your slow cooker. Creamy noodles and tender chicken are all cooked together in a delicious sauce, making it the perfect dinner any night of the week.
This hearty and protein-packed beef noodle casserole is the ultimate comfort food. The meat is juicy, the sauce is rich, creamy, and packed with spices, and the easy casserole is loaded with melted cheese.
Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni- Ditch the box mix Hamburger Helper and make this homemade version instead! Dinner is ready in minutes, with just a few pantry ingredients.
Lasagna roll ups are a fun and easy spin on classic lasagna! This cheesy, meaty lasagna roll ups recipe is great for meal prep and freezer-friendly. Customize the fillings any way you'd like!
Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna – skip the box and try this homemade version. Just a few ingredients, ready in minutes, and the whole family will love it!
Cajun Chicken Alfredo – a super easy and comforting and easy dinner. Chicken alfredo gets a kick from cajun seasoning to make it something different and new!
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo – get dinner on the table fast with this easy, creamy, cheesy, and delicious alfredo loaded with chicken and lots of broccoli. Great meal for the whole family.
Beef ragu is an authentic Italian meat sauce made from savory ground beef simmered in tomato sauce with veggies and garlic. Serve it over spaghetti for a cozy, Tuscan-style dinner!
Homemade Pasta – Make fresh pasta at home with just 3 ingredients! It is so much easier than you think and it is the most tender and delicious pasta you will ever have.
Creamy Pesto Tortellini – Cheese tortellini tossed in a creamy pesto sauce with smoked turkey sauce gets dinner on the table in 20 minutes any night of the week!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta – get dinner on the table fast with this easy pasta dish that is loaded with creamy ranch dressing, chicken, bacon and cheese!
Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta – A perfectly quick and easy weeknight dinner. Everything cooks together and is ready in just minutes. Super creamy, cheese, full of lots of flavor and fresh veggies.
This Baked Ravioli is a quick and comforting dinner made with layers of cheesy ravioli, meaty marinara sauce, and mozzarella. It’s an easy, family-friendly meal everyone will love!
Creamy Beef Pasta – an easy recipe that gets dinner on the table the whole family will love any night of the week! Creamy, hearty, and perfect for those picky eaters.
This Chicken Pesto Pasta is a fresh, flavorful, and satisfying dish made with tender chicken, your favorite pasta, and vibrant basil pesto. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing meal!
Creamy crockpot Cajun chicken pasta is an easy one-pot dinner with juicy chicken, spicy Andouille sausage, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce. Make it in the slow cooker and add your favorite pasta!
Pork Lo Mein is packed with savory, aromatic flavor and comes together faster than takeout. Pork tenderloin, chewy noodles, and a rich sauce make this a weeknight dinner the whole family will love. Skip the delivery and make this one at home!
This tortellini pasta salad is an easy summer side dish packed full of tasty Italian-inspired flavors, with juicy tomatoes, olives, savory salami, and fresh basil tossed in a zesty homemade dressing.
Tomato-Basil Tortellini – a rich and creamy pasta dinner the whole family will love. Ravoili or Tortellini tossed in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce and plenty of fresh basil!
This ham tortellini is an easy one-pan dinner perfect for weeknights! Made with cheese tortellini, salty diced ham, and onions tossed in a rich, creamy cheese sauce.
This copycat Panera mac and cheese is a thick, ultra-creamy stovetop macaroni and cheese made with a white cheddar and American cheese sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, it's the ultimate comfort food the whole family will love — and it tastes just like (or better than) the real thing.
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup – A quick and easy soup that is perfect for a cold night. Warm up with this cozy soup filled with vegetables, chicken and tortellini all in a delicious creamy broth.
Pasta risotto is a creamy pasta dish cooked risotto-style in one pan! It's loaded with juicy Italian sausage, parmesan, and herbs, tossed with tender penne for an easy weeknight meal.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta – a super easy chicken pasta recipe that you can make any night of the week. Simple ingredients, just a few minutes, and dinner is done.
Pasta with Breadcrumbs is a quick, easy, and traditional Italian meal you can make with just a few simple ingredients. Perfect when you just need something fast!
Marry Me Chicken pasta is a flavor-packed 30-minute weeknight dinner! Make this recipe in one pan with tender pasta and juicy chicken tossed in creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.
Enchilada Pasta Casserole – Cheese, chicken, and warming spices combine to create the ultimate comfort casserole. Perfect for a midweek Mexican night or to bring loads of flavor to your next potluck.
Pistachio Cream Pasta – a super simple Sicilian pasta dish that you can make in minutes. So comforting, lots of great flavor, rich, creamy, and delicious.
Cheesy chicken spaghetti is an easy casserole recipe packed with juicy shredded chicken and tender spaghetti in a rich, flavorful cream sauce with Rotel tomatoes.
Sausage Penne Pasta – quick and easy sausage penne pasta that you can get on the table in just minutes! A creamy pasta that the whole family will love.
Chicken Lo Mein – make your own take out at home with this super easy Chinese chicken lo mein recipe. Full of lots of veggies, 20 minutes, and dinner is done!
Taco Pasta Skillet – All the flavors of taco night in a one pan meal, ready in 20 minutes! Homemade version of those box mix meals, with just a few staple ingredients.
Taco Spaghetti – a tasty Mexican inspired dinner that is ready in minutes. Creamy and cheesy spaghetti in a flavorful meat sauce. And easy weeknight recipe the whole family will love.
Easy and cheesy taco stuffed shells made from jumbo pasta shells loaded with creamy taco beef, salsa, and melty cheese. Just add your favorite taco toppings!
This pesto pasta salad is the perfect easy side dish for summer! Made with basil pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella, it's full of flavor and ready in no time.
This ranch pasta salad is an easy summer side dish packed with crispy bacon, veggies, and tender rotini pasta tossed in creamy homemade buttermilk ranch dressing.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad – if you like pickles, you are going to love this super easy, creamy and delicious pasta salad that has just the right amount of crunch!
Pizza Pasta combines all the flavors of your favorite pizza with hearty pasta for a quick, cheesy, family-friendly dinner. Made one pan on the stovetop, an easy recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights.
This Homemade is easier than you might think and more delicious than anything you can buy at the store. So get ready to tuck into some tender pasta, savory filling, and a velvety roasted garlic cream sauce.
Crockpot Chicken and Noodles is a hearty, comforting, meal made right in your slow cooker. Creamy noodles and tender chicken are all cooked together in a delicious sauce, making it the perfect dinner any night of the week.
This hearty and protein-packed beef noodle casserole is the ultimate comfort food. The meat is juicy, the sauce is rich, creamy, and packed with spices, and the easy casserole is loaded with melted cheese.
Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni- Ditch the box mix Hamburger Helper and make this homemade version instead! Dinner is ready in minutes, with just a few pantry ingredients.
Lasagna roll ups are a fun and easy spin on classic lasagna! This cheesy, meaty lasagna roll ups recipe is great for meal prep and freezer-friendly. Customize the fillings any way you'd like!
Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna – skip the box and try this homemade version. Just a few ingredients, ready in minutes, and the whole family will love it!
Cajun Chicken Alfredo – a super easy and comforting and easy dinner. Chicken alfredo gets a kick from cajun seasoning to make it something different and new!
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo – get dinner on the table fast with this easy, creamy, cheesy, and delicious alfredo loaded with chicken and lots of broccoli. Great meal for the whole family.
Beef ragu is an authentic Italian meat sauce made from savory ground beef simmered in tomato sauce with veggies and garlic. Serve it over spaghetti for a cozy, Tuscan-style dinner!
Homemade Pasta – Make fresh pasta at home with just 3 ingredients! It is so much easier than you think and it is the most tender and delicious pasta you will ever have.
Creamy Pesto Tortellini – Cheese tortellini tossed in a creamy pesto sauce with smoked turkey sauce gets dinner on the table in 20 minutes any night of the week!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta – get dinner on the table fast with this easy pasta dish that is loaded with creamy ranch dressing, chicken, bacon and cheese!
Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta – A perfectly quick and easy weeknight dinner. Everything cooks together and is ready in just minutes. Super creamy, cheese, full of lots of flavor and fresh veggies.
This Baked Ravioli is a quick and comforting dinner made with layers of cheesy ravioli, meaty marinara sauce, and mozzarella. It’s an easy, family-friendly meal everyone will love!
Creamy Beef Pasta – an easy recipe that gets dinner on the table the whole family will love any night of the week! Creamy, hearty, and perfect for those picky eaters.
Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and I’m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.
I agree…pasta is so easy to make when I don’t have anything else in mind to prepare for dinner! This is a great collection of pasta recipes to have on hand!
I love a good pasta dish!
Pasta is always a family favorite in our house! Such a great collection of recipe!
I need to start working through this list……beginning with the mac and cheese! I’m sure my boys are going to love it!
Wednesdays are pasta days in our house so this is perfect timing. I am loving this collection! So many delicious recipes to choose from!
This is my perfect dinner!
Trying these this weekend! Yummy!
I agree…pasta is so easy to make when I don’t have anything else in mind to prepare for dinner! This is a great collection of pasta recipes to have on hand!