14 Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes
There’s a good reason pasta is a staple of busy weeknight meals. Most noodles cook in about 10 minutes and are wildly flexible when it comes to pairing with different flavors, proteins, and sauces.
We asked our editorial team to share their tried-and-true pasta dishes. To the delight of their family, they keep these recipes in heavy rotation because they are tasty and easy to pull together on a busy weekday night when homework and carpool are calling. They can make these recipes in their sleep, and their kids love to see them on the weekly meal plan.
Creamy Bacon Pea Pasta Salad
This is an all-time favorite at our house. Bacon makes any dish a winner. But this is also easy to make and stores well (even though it disappears fast). I always make my bacon in the oven (and lately, I have been doing it outside on our grill because it saves my house from smelling like bacon for days). I make this recipe with brown rice pasta to make it gluten-free and leave the cheese to the side (we are a house full of food allergies). Enjoy! – Rachael
Sausage Pasta
This recipe is simple, but it’s one everyone in the family can get behind. It’s in the weekly dinner rotation at our house, and nobody is ever mad about it. Add a salad and some garlic bread, and it’s an easy meal to take to friends who are sick or just had a baby. Best of all, it tastes just as good (dare I say better?) on day two. – Melanie
Creamy Chicken Noodle Skillet
I will never stop making this one-pot pasta wonder. It’s a comfort food to end all comfort foods, but it doesn’t take hours or any crazy ingredients to whip it up on a weeknight. As a busy mom, I also love that the veggies are inside the dish, so I don’t have to worry about a side salad or other veggies to round out the meal. And the best part is that cleanup takes a literal minute since you only need one pan! -Kara
Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Summer Vegetables
I love this pasta recipe, especially at the end of the week when I have a bunch of random veggies in my fridge that I don’t want to waste because the flavors are simple enough to work with any produce! This is an especially popular option in August/September when squash, zucchini, and tomatoes are popping off in my garden. I also throw pre-cooked protein in there for a complete meal on one sheet pan. Think rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken sausage (my fave is from Trader Joe’s—the spicy Italian flavor OR spicy jalapeno, but they have more mild flavors like sweet apple or sun-dried tomato). This meal feels decadent and indulgent, but it’s balanced and packed with nutrients (Protein! Carbs! Fat!). – Jessie
Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad
I make this at the beginning of the week, and I can eat it for lunch all week. This recipe excites me for lunchtime—it’s ready to go, super flavorful, and hits all my nutrient goals. You can add in other veggies (I’ve done shredded carrot, cubed cucumber, and even celery for fiber and crunch!). One important note about this recipe: do not store it with the avocados in the salad. Cut a fresh avocado and add it before you eat; otherwise, it will get mushy and brown, making the whole thing completely unappealing. You can also keep the basil out and add it right before eating if wilted basil freaks you out, but I just cut it small so the wiltiness doesn’t bother me. This is another recipe you can modify to meet your preferences—add bacon, cheese, chili flakes, or whatever you have on hand that you want to use up before it goes bad. – Jessie
Salmon Asparagus Couscous Salad
I have some picky eaters, but this pasta is a hit. Packed with protein-rich broiled Salmon and tossed with crisp asparagus and Israeli couscous, this dish can stand as a main dish and side all on its own. My kids love that the couscous looks like fancy caviar and is fun to eat, while the big kid in me likes the contrast of flavors between the tart lemon, fresh dill, and salty feta cheese. It comes together in 15 minutes or less and hits all the healthy meal metrics. We never have leftovers, which my family hates, so this pasta is a keeper. -Jona
Pasta Cupcakes
This recipe first caught my eye because I thought the cupcake presentation was cute! We were too eager at our house and took them out of the cupcake pan too soon, so the shape didn’t hold. But it was still so delicious that I just started making the recipe and baking it in a glass Pyrex dish. But whether or not you bake it all together or put it in a cupcake pan, it’s guaranteed to be a family hit! Customize it with your favorite meat or vegetables. Spoiler alert: I often make ours with vegetarian sausage! -Shannon
Patti Labelle’s Over The Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese
This recipe is NEXT LEVEL! Although not the healthiest option with the copious amounts of cheese and butter, it’s a treat everyone will enjoy! In fact, I love this recipe so much that I haven’t tried another macaroni and cheese recipe since! -Shannon
Creamy Beef and Shells
My kids GOBBLE this up! It’s perfect for busy school nights because it comes together quickly and is “sturdy” and protein-packed enough for growing, hungry teenagers. It’s basically bougie homemade hamburger helper, and it’s delicious! I prepare the meat and sauce part of this meal in an electric skillet because it allows me to keep it warm for the kids who might be eating later because they are at practice during dinnertime. -Erin
Red and White Pasta
I say this with love in my heart for the author of this blog; do not be dissuaded by the fact that this recipe doesn’t come with slick photos. There’s a reason that this recipe for “Red and White Pasta” from 2014 is still in heavy rotation around our house. It feeds an army (or offers a nice stash of leftovers) and is the perfect blend of alfredo and marinara sauce. It is hearty because it includes a whole roll of breakfast sausage. It’s another one that can be easily kept warm in the oven so the kids eating later after extracurricular activities won’t feel like an afterthought. -Erin
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Need to take your pasta on the go? We’ve got a mac and cheese recipe that will happily travel to your next potluck or barbeque. Kids love it, and it stays creamy and delicious in the slow cooker and goes with just about anything.
Creamy Tomato and Sausage Pasta
This is the perfect pasta for when you want something hearty and homemade, but you’re not in the mood to stand vigil for hours over Grandma’s sauce recipe. It’s packed with protein to fill growing bellies and just creamy enough to feel indulgent.
Italian Pasta Salad
This is the best meal for hot summer days when cooking a big meal in the kitchen sounds like torture. Bonus points because this pasta salad is packed with delicious veggies. Hello, nutrients! Hellooooo fiber!
Spinach and Shells Pasta
Ready for pasta with a healthy dose of veggies? This is just the pasta recipe for when you find yourself with an abundance of spinach or looking for a delicious way to add some greens to your plate.
Stock Up On Pasta and Save These Recipes
No matter how old your kids are or how much their tastes might range, there is something for everyone in this list of our editor’s favorite quick and easy pasta dishes. Check out our Pinterest board for more easy dinner recipes your family will love.
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