Laura Fuentes

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Eat Healthy
  • Quick Meals
  • Pancakes
  • About
  • Pasta Night
  • Best Chicken Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Eat Healthy
  • Quick Meals
  • Pancakes
  • About
  • Pasta Night
  • Best Chicken Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Best Of

Pasta Dinner Ideas

By Laura Fuentes Updated Aug 15, 2024

5 from 13 votes

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

Get ready to enjoy the best pasta dinner ideas on the Internet! These easy recipes are the perfect midweek meal solution.

Tired of making the same pasta recipes on repeat? Check out these family-friendly pasta dinner ideas.

Whether you pick pasta with vegetables, chicken, shrimp, cheese, or just sauce, there’s one for you to try in the recipes below!

Pasta Dinner Recipes

Get ready to enjoy the best pasta dinner ideas on the Internet! These easy pasta recipes are the perfect midweek meal solution: simple, quick, hearty, and delicious!

Pesto Chicken Pasta (Family Favorite)
5 from 79 votes
Every bite of penne and chicken is coated with delicious basil pesto! It's a simple dish everyone will love.
Make This Recipe
chicken asparagus pasta in a skillet
Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta
5 from 31 votes
This Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta is loaded with flavor from a light and zesty creamy sauce that coats each bite to perfection!
Make This Recipe
Blackened Chicken Pasta
5 from 29 votes
30 minutes is all that's between you and the best meal you'll have all week. Make this blackened chicken pasta recipe today!
Make This Recipe
creamy sun dried tomato chicken pasta on a white plate
Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
5 from 37 votes
A tasty restaurant-style meal that it's made in just one large skillet and it's ready in only 30 minutes!
Make This Recipe
Cajun Salmon Pasta
5 from 26 votes
This Cajun salmon pasta is a simple, family-friendly recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Make This Recipe
hand pulling a spoonful of chicken cordon bleu casserole from pan
Zesty Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
5 from 43 votes
Comfort food with all the flavors of cheese, chicken, bacon, and a delicious crispy au gratin crust.
Make This Recipe
Chicken Pot Pie Pasta
5 from 86 votes
Enjoy the classic chicken pot pie with this easy recipe that you can cook on the stove-top in just 20 minutes using pasta, veggies, and chicken leftovers.
Make This Recipe
salmon pesto pasta in a skillet
Quick Salmon Pesto Pasta
5 from 45 votes
Quick, easy, and tastes like it came from your favorite Italian restaurant. It's really that good.
Make This Recipe
finished chicken broccoli alfredo pasta in a skillet
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
5 from 191 votes
One of the best pasta dinner ideas for adding veggies and protein to your meals. Not a fan of broccoli? Swap it out for other veggies!
Make This Recipe
overhead view of plate filled with penne pasta tossed in a creamy pumpkin sauce topped with some parmesan cheese
Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
4.97 from 28 votes
All the creamy texture of Alfredo sauce but lighter! A luxurious and savory pasta made with cheese, pumpkin puree, and a touch of cream.
Make This Recipe
Shrimp Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
5 from 35 votes
A wholesome dinner that your family will love and you need just a few ingredients to make it happen. Pasta, shrimp, cherry tomatoes, pesto, and, of course, cheese!
Make This Recipe
close up view of fettuccini in a homemade Alfredo sauce made with cream on a plate
Simple Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce with Cream
5 from 31 votes
With this homemade recipe, you will know how to make easy and quick Alfredo sauce with cream.
Make This Recipe
large skillet of creamy chicken pasta
Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
5 from 55 votes
The flavor of this Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta proves that simple recipes can taste amazing! Enjoy this easy chicken dish.
Make This Recipe
dish of Jambalalya pasta salad on a plate
Cajun Jambalaya Pasta Salad
5 from 23 votes
All the New Orleans flavors in a recipe you can make ahead of time! Cook some extra servings and pack them for office or school lunches.
Make This Recipe
Sausage & Pepper Creole Alfredo in a bowl
Easy Cajun Alfredo with Smoked Sausage
5 from 19 votes
This creamy Cajun Sausage Alfredo recipe is the perfect midweek dinner that comes together quickly!
Make This Recipe
overhead image of skillet lasagna recipe made with pasta, cheese, and tomato sauce and sausage
Stovetop Lasagna
4.97 from 258 votes
Taking lasagna for dinner has never been so easy! In only 30 minutes, enjoy all the classic lasagna flavors with this easy pasta dinner idea.
Make This Recipe
Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
5 from 38 votes
One-skillet pasta dinner ideas that are ready to eat in less than 20 minutes? This cheesy, creamy pasta with a smoky kick is the answer!
Make This Recipe
closeup of white bowl filled with red chicken and pasta soup
The Easiest Crockpot Parmesan Chicken Soup
5 from 37 votes
The crockpot makes all the work in this comfort food dinner made with pasta, chicken, cheese, and a delicious tomato broth. Yummy!
Make This Recipe
close up view of spaghetti carbonara with pieces of bacon on a plate
Easy Spaghetti Carbonara
5 from 56 votes
Bring all the Italian flavors directly to your dining room with this delicious carbonara. The easy, quick, and one-skillet meal you will want to cook every week!
Make This Recipe
Creamy Spinach Tortellini
5 from 43 votes
The perfect restaurant-style bowl of warm and cheesy pasta! Tortellini, spinach, tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese are the stars of this tasty dinner recipe.
Make This Recipe
Instant Pot Chili Mac
4.95 from 51 votes
When you need pasta dinner ideas made with ingredients that are already in your pantry, Chilli Mac comes to the rescue! Easy, quick, and yummy!
Make This Recipe
large pan of meatless meatballs
Spaghetti and Meatless Meatballs
5 from 60 votes
A vegetarian and nutritious version of one of the most popular pasta dishes. It's made with easy-to-find and affordable ingredients!
Make This Recipe
close up view of fettuccini in a homemade Alfredo sauce made with cottage cheese so it's high protein
Creamy Cottage Cheese Alfredo (18g Protein)
5 from 23 votes
This creamy cottage cheese Alfredo sauce has 18g of protein per serving and tastes like a lighter version of the real thing, that's because it is!
Make This Recipe
Crockpot Lasagna Soup
4.97 from 30 votes
A simple version of classic lasagna, with hearty ground beef and rich tomato broth that make this dish full of flavors and protein. And the best part: the crockpot makes all the work!
Make This Recipe
creamy tomato tortelliny soup in a white cup
Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup (Kid Favorite!)
5 from 22 votes
This terrific soup is a whole meal in a bowl, super easy to make, and can be customized with your favorite ingredients.
Make This Recipe
overhead view of homemade spaghetti bolognese on a plate with a fork
Spaghetti Bolognese
5 from 55 votes
Try it once, and double the recipe next time! Everybody will be satisfied with this epic pasta!
Make This Recipe
pasta alfredo with ham
Pasta Alfredo with Ham
5 from 8 votes
This pasta Alfredo with ham is a quick, delicious dinner where the sauce comes together while the pasta boils, making it perfect for any night of the week.
Make This Recipe
skillet of American goulash
One-Pot Chessy Beef Goulash
4.96 from 45 votes
A crowd-pleaser, hearty one-pot goulash with irresistible melted cheese and full of delicious flavors!
Make This Recipe

Related: Transform these meals into epic lunches with pasta

Homemade Pasta Sauce Recipes 

While you can buy pasta sauce at the store you can easily make your own at home with just a few ingredients. Here are a few sauces for you to try for your next pasta night:

  • Homemade Alfredo Sauce
  • Broccoli Pesto
  • Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce
  • Crockpot Tomato Sauce

What Goes Well with Pasta for Dinner

Pasta is a complete meal by itself, but I know some of you may like to add some veggies as a side dish. Baked vegetables or mixed greens are an awesome choice! Check these quick recipes that go great with the pasta dinner ideas:

  • Green Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Carrot Fries
  • Butternut Squash with Parmesan
  • Green Bean Fries 
  • Roasted Fall Vegetables

Pasta Dinner Ideas

Servings: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
Get ready to enjoy the best pasta dinner ideas on the Internet! These easy recipes are the perfect midweek meal solution.
5 from 13 votes
Print Pin

Ingredients

Shrimp Pesto Pasta

  • 12 ounces pasta, any
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 4 ounce jar pesto
  • 1 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined
  • ¼ cup pasta water, reserved
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

  • In a large pot, cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, drain and set aside.
  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes, add the pesto sauce, shrimp, and ¼ cup pasta water. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, or until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through.
  • Add the cooked pasta to the shrimp mixture and toss to combine with sauce. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Equipment

Free Meal Planner Printable
bright green pasta strainer on a pot
Pasta Strainer
pasta spoon shaped like nessie
Fun Pasta Spoon

Nutrition

Serving: 1 bowl | Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 279mg | Potassium: 498mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 767IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 2mg

More Best Of

  • large dish of cornbread stuffing
    10 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Stole the Show at My Table (and Might at Yours!)
  • bowl of chicken and rice soup
    5 Slow Cooker Chicken Soups That Feel Like Comfort In A Bowl
  • collage with pictures of meals
    10 Dinners in 17 Minutes or Less
  • an image collage of leftover rotisserie chicken recipes
    Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Recipes

Comments

    5 from 13 votes (12 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. kim says

    October 05, 2022 at 11:58 am

    5 stars
    OBSESSED with all these pasta dinners!

    Reply
Laura fuentes holding a skillet of food standing in front of a blue door

Hi! I'm Laura.
Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, mom of three, and the woman behind the world’s best pancakes—here to help you ditch the mealtime drama with recipes your family will actually eat.

More about me →

Let's Be Social!

Facebook Pinterest Instagram YouTube
5 Secrets to Healthy(er) Family Meals

Fresh Favorites

  • stack of homemade fluffy pancakes from scratch stacked on a plate, topped with a pat of butter, and pancake syrup over the top
    Best Fluffy Pancakes Recipe
  • rotisserie chicken alfredo
    Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo
  • overhead view of a rectangular baking dish with oven baked lasagna made with cottage cheese
    Cottage Cheese Lasagna
  • 4 fillets of baked cajun salmon served with roasted potatoes and broccoli
    Baked Cajun Salmon

Trending Now

  • stack of protein pancakes on a plate, topped with sliced strawberries and a drizzle of syrup
    Protein Pancakes with Protein Powder
  • copycat canes nuggets and fries with texas toast and two sauces
    Copycat Cane’s Chicken Recipe with Homemade Cane’s Sauce
  • large plate of freshly baked mixed chicken pieces
    Juicy Baked Chicken Pieces
  • creamy garlic sauce in a large pot with pepper on top
    Creamy Garlic Sauce

Footer

Browse

  • Start Here
  • Eat Healthy in 30 Days
  • Recipe Index

Useful Links

  • Contact
  • Permissions
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2026 LAURA FUENTES · DESIGN BY FUENTES MEDIA

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.