These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (2024)

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (1)

There are few things as comforting as heaping bowl of pasta at the end of a long day. With so many easy pasta recipes out there, there's something for every palate to love. That's why pasta makes such a quick, easy dinner for your family—it's likely to satisfy everyone's cravings, due to its versatility. We've picked out pasta dinner ideas that cover so many different varieties, from hearty winter soup recipes (and of course chicken noodle soup) to zucchini recipes that allow low carb ideas for dinner. Of course, there are some macaroni and cheese recipes scattered throughout for the ultimate comfort food fest, as well as several butternut squash recipes that will never fail to get you in a cozy mood. There's also a wide range of pastas used, including ravioli, ziti, linguini, and just about any other shape you desire. Not only is pasta guaranteed to warm the soul, but it also often makes for a cheap dinner idea, since you usually already have the ingredients lying around the kitchen. So don't think for a second longer about what to make for dinner tonight, because one of these best pasta recipes will definitely be the winner.

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1

Pea-and-Mint Stuffed Shells

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (3)

Creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and Romano cheeses are stuffed into these jumbo shells and balanced out by the hint of mint in each bite.

Get the recipe.

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2

Potato Gnocchi with Pork Ragù

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (5)

You can make this entire dish from scratch, including the pillowy potato gnocchi.

Get the recipe.

SHOP SKILLETS

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3

Roasted Lemon Artichoke and Browned Butter Pasta

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (7)

Adding the big scoops of burrata onto this tangy, nutty pasta dish might be our favorite part of making it.

Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.

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4

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta with Grilled Chicken

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (9)

A vibrant roasted red pepper sauce gives this dish a burst of bold flavor and color.

Get the recipe at Cooking Classy.

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5

Philly Cheesesteak Pasta

You won't find any Cheez Whiz on this pasta, but you will taste a decadent provolone sauce in every bite.

Get the recipe at Dinner at the Zoo.

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6

Creamy Chipotle Sweet Potato Penne Pasta

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The creamy sauce is actually vegan and made out of sweet potatoes, cashews, and chipotle peppers.

Get the recipe at Ambitious Kitchen.

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7

Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (15)

Spicy, sweet, savory—this dish has it all! The mayo, sweet chili, and Sriracha-tossed shrimp make this plate of pasta irresistible.

Get the recipe at Spicy Southern Kitchen.

SHOP SKILLETS

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8

Pasta With Olives, Anchovies, Tomatoes, and Breadcrumbs

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (17)

Use your leftover pantry and fridge ingredients for this pasta that's sure to warm you up right away.

Get the recipe at Coley Cooks.

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9

Mexican Corn Pasta

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Crumbled Cojita cheese gives this pasta recipe a truly signature taste.

Get the recipe at Cooking and Beer.

SHOP SKILLETS

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10

Chicken Parmesan Pasta

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Made in just one pan, this easy, cheesy meal will become a weeknight staple.

Get the recipe at The Cookie Rookie.

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11

Taco Pasta

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Finish off this kid-friendly recipe with your favorite taco toppings: sour cream, avocado, and tortilla chips.

Get the recipe at Dinner at the Zoo.

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12

Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup

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Skip the canned stuff and whip up this homemade chicken noodle soup that will warm you up all winter long.

Get the recipe.

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13

Pumpkin Pasta with Balsamic Sage Brown Butter Sauce

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These homemade noodles are made with just two ingredients—yes, really!—and the entire dish comes together in 30 minutes.

Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.

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14

Chicken Meatball and Vegetable Noodle Soup

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (29)

Go low-carb with this healthy recipe that calls for sprialized "zoodles."

Get the recipe.

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15

Butternut Squash-Apricot Chicken Noodle Curry

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This hearty curry is the most delicious way to enjoy butternut squash this season.

Get the recipe.

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16

Pancetta-and-Brussels Sprouts Linguini

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (33)

For even more protein, top each serving of this hearty winter pasta with a fried egg.

Get the recipe.

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17

Chicken and Fideo Posole

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (35)

Top this Mexican meal with sour cream, jalapeños, and lime wedges.

Get the recipe.

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18

Chicken and Arugula Cacio e Pepe

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Arugula gives cheesy spaghetti and pulled chicken earthy freshness.

Get the recipe.

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19

Ginger Garlic Chicken Ramen

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This homemade ramen is filled with shiitake mushrooms, baby bok choy, and snow peas.

Get the recipe.

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20

Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (41)

Ready in under 30 minutes, this deserves a spot in your weeknight dinner rotation come winter.

Get the recipe.

These Pasta Recipes Are the Comforting, Easy Dinner Ideas You Need Tonight (2024)

FAQs

Is pasta a good comfort food? ›

The three most popular pasta dishes are macaroni and cheese, spaghetti Bolognese and lasagna. For centuries, pasta has been a comfort food.

What can I put in pasta if I don't have anything? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

What can I add to pasta for dinner? ›

Pasta dish ideas including Lemon, Basil and Mascarpone, Quick Chicken Alfredo, White Wine, Mushroom and Cream, White Bean Sauce, Bacon and Scallions, Tuna and Capers, Lemon Artichoke Pesto, Smoked Salmon And Capers, and Caprese.

What types of pasta dishes are there? ›

The most famous pasta dishes are:
  • Spaghetti Bolognaise.
  • Lasagne.
  • Fettuccine Alfredo.
  • Pasta Carbonara.
  • Ravioli.
  • Pasta alla Norma.
  • Spaghetti alle Vongole.
  • Macaroni Cheese.
Oct 24, 2023

What is the ultimate comfort food? ›

No other dish describes comfort quite as well as chicken pot pie. Made with tender chicken, mixed veggies, satisfying spices, and a delicious pie crust, this is the perfect easy weeknight dinner.

What is the most comforting food in the world? ›

10 Comfort Foods from Around the World
  • India: Butter Chicken. ...
  • France: Cassoulet. ...
  • Morocco: Harira Soup. ...
  • South Korea: Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae) ...
  • Mexico: Pozole. ...
  • Greece: Moussaka. ...
  • Thailand: Tom Yum Soup. ...
  • Brazil: Feijoada.

What can I put on pasta when I have no sauce? ›

Melt butter, toast some freshly cracked black pepper in your pan, and simmer it with pasta cooking water. Toss in your noodles, pecorino, and parmesan, and stir together to melt all the cheese. We love how this no sauce pasta recipe is a delicious, quick dish that is ideal for a light lunch or appetizer.

What can I have instead of spaghetti? ›

8 Low-Carb & Grain-Free Substitutes for Pasta
  • Zucchini. Zucchini is a popular noodle substitute because its texture makes it easy to spiral out into spaghetti-like shapes. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Spaghetti Squash. ...
  • Egg Noodles. ...
  • Cucumber. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • Cabbage.

What can I add to plain pasta for Flavour? ›

Olive oil or butter and herbs. Adding a fat to the pasta makes it taste better if you're poor and need something. I also add oregano and/or basil. Butter, eggs, and cheese.

What is the most popular pasta dish? ›

Top 10 most popular pasta recipes
  1. The best spaghetti bolognese.
  2. Ultimate spaghetti carbonara. ...
  3. Chicken pasta bake. ...
  4. Creamy courgette lasagne. ...
  5. Chorizo & mozzarella gnocchi bake. ...
  6. Creamy courgette & bacon pasta. ...
  7. Sausage ragu. ...
  8. Chicken & chorizo ragu. ...
Sep 28, 2023

Can I have pasta for dinner every night? ›

Irene Mejia, a registered dietitian, also told me that eating the same healthy, balanced dinner like pasta and salad each night would also provide a consistent source of nutrition.

Can I eat pasta for dinner everyday? ›

It is possible to eat pasta daily and still be healthy. The key to eating pasta every day is to limit your portion size and supplement your pasta bowl with essential nutrients. The recommended portion size is two ounces of dry pasta or one cup of cooked pasta.

What is the most delicious pasta in the world? ›

Check out the top-ten pasta dishes in the world:
  • Pappardelle al cinghiale- Tuscany, Italy.
  • Pasta carbonara- Rome, Italy.
  • Tagliatelle al ragù alla Bolognese- Bologna, Italy.
  • Lasagne alla Bolognese- Bologna Italy.
  • Linguine allo scoglio- Campania, Italy.
  • Pasta all gricia- Grisciano, Italy.
  • Giouvetsi- Greece.
Aug 29, 2023

What are the 4 main pasta dishes? ›

There are four classic Roman pasta dishes: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, and alla gricia. Each one is a variation on the other — alla gricia is cacio e pepe plus guanciale, carbonara is gricia plus egg, and so on. These four dishes are famous in all of Italian cooking, not just in Rome.

Is pasta good for Mental Health? ›

Pasta can also increase tryptophan levels in the brain. Tryptophan is an amino acid crucial for the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with positive mood, emotional stability, and improved overall mental well-being.

Is pasta easy on the stomach? ›

This is because refined grains are low in fiber and they pass more quickly through your digestive tract. This means refined grains won't sit in your stomach for long periods of time, which can trigger nausea. Some examples of simple carbs that you can eat on an upset stomach are: Pasta.

Is pasta a good recovery food? ›

In terms of what foods you should be eating post-workout, complex but easily-digestible carbs like pasta, rice and potatoes are all good options for your larger meal, alongside a lean protein source like fish, chicken or beans.

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