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
Every bite of penne and chicken is coated with delicious basil pesto! It’s a simple dish everyone will love.
Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
A tasty restaurant-style meal that it’s made in just one large skillet and it’s ready in only 30 minutes!
Crockpot Lasagna Soup
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!
Zesty Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
Comfort food with all the flavors of cheese, chicken, bacon, and a delicious crispy au gratin crust.
Chicken Pot Pie Pasta
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.
Quick Salmon Pesto Pasta
Quick, easy, and tastes like it came from your favorite Italian restaurant. It’s really that good.
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
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!
Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
All the creamy texture of Alfredo sauce but lighter! A luxurious and savory pasta made with cheese, pumpkin puree, and a touch of cream.
Shrimp Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
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!
Simple Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce with Cream
With this homemade recipe, you will know how to make easy and quick Alfredo sauce with cream.
Cajun Jambalaya Pasta Salad
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.
Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
The flavor of this Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta proves that simple recipes can taste amazing! Enjoy this easy chicken dish.
Stovetop Lasagna
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.
Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
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!
Slow Cooker Parmesan Chicken Soup
The slow cooker makes all the work in this comfort food dinner made with pasta, chicken, cheese, and a delicious tomato broth. Yummy!
Easy Spaghetti Carbonara
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!
Creamy Spinach Tortellini
The perfect restaurant-style bowl of warm and cheesy pasta! Tortellini, spinach, tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese are the stars of this tasty dinner recipe.
Instant Pot Chili Mac
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!
Spaghetti & Meatless Meatballs
A vegetarian and nutritious version of one of the most popular pasta dishes. It’s made with easy-to-find and affordable ingredients!
Easy Tortellini Soup Recipe
This terrific soup is a whole meal in a bowl, super easy to make, and can be customized with your favorite ingredients.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Try it once, and double the recipe next time! Everybody will be satisfied with this epic pasta!
One-Pot Cheesy Beef Goulash
A crowd-pleaser, hearty one-pot goulash with irresistible melted cheese and full of delicious flavors!
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:
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
Get ready to enjoy the best pasta dinner ideas on the Internet! These easy recipes are the perfect midweek meal solution.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6
Ingredients
- 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.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 421
- Sugar: 2.6 g
- Sodium: 354.4 mg
- Fat: 15.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44.9 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 25.1 g
- Cholesterol: 124 mg
kim
OBSESSED with all these pasta dinners!
★★★★★