35+ Easy Pasta Recipes and Dinner Ideas

When it comes to weeknight dinner, we like to pick recipes that fall into the categories of quick-fix, 30-minute, and sometimes just plain make-do. The way we see it, a grocery trip is not always in your future, and that’s okay—because a good Southern cook knows how to whip up a miracle. In your pantry, as we speak, there are endless easy dinner ideas. Take that extra box or two of pasta that’s been collecting dust in the back corner. With just a few extra ingredients, it can become your next weeknight hit. With that in mind, we rounded up 35 easy pasta recipes that will turn your leftover box of dried pasta into dinner du jour. We’re talking delicious new ideas like quick-fix fettucine alfredo casserole, skillet-toasted gnocchi, and cheesy sheet pan pasta. (Yes, you read that right.) Most of these dishes take less than 30 minutes to prepare, but we made sure to include a few slow-cooker recipes that’ll cater to the dump-it-and-forget-it crowd. Like we said, possibilities are endless. These simple pasta recipes are a total breeze.

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Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage

Any sweet peppers will work in this dish, but we like colorful, tender baby bell peppers.

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Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

With just 25 minutes, you can have this kid-friendly (and adult-friendly, for the record) dish on the table, and no one will know that you doctored up a quality jarred pasta sauce and old box of pasta.

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks and Peas

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks and Peas

Crispy bacon immediately makes any pot of pasta so much better, and you can quote us on that.

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One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards

Greg DuPree

Recipe: One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards

This hearty, one-dish dinner is actually a pretty healthy choice. (Go you!) Chicken sausage, mushrooms, and collard greens add major flavor.

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Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

Victor Protasio

Recipe: Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

Got frozen peas? You're set. Gnocchi tastes even better when the pillowy bites are toasted in a skillet for a little outer crisp.

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Chicken Caprese Pasta

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken Caprese Pasta

Between the blistered tomatoes, fresh pesto sauce, and torn chunks of mozzerella, you won't be able to resist making this recipe tonight. It only takes—wait for it—20 minutes.

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Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

You can swap in whatever pasta you have on hand when making this 30-minute pasta recipe. It's loaded with healthy vegetables, fresh shrimp, and a light sauce.

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Cheesy Sheet Pan Pasta

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Fusilli Pasta with Spinach, Tomato, and Bacon

If your favorite part of a lasagna or baked ziti is the golden crunchy edges, you’ll love this sheet pan pasta.

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Roasted Tomato, Salami, and Mozzarella Pasta

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Roasted Tomato, Salami, and Mozzarella Pasta

It's like an antipasto salad—but way better. Use leftover greens to bulk up this pasta dish.

10 of 36

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Take this easiest-ever route—we won't tell. Rotisserie chicken, store-bought sauces, and pre-shredded cheese make this chicken casserole almost too good to be true.

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Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi

Customize this recipe with your favorite in-season veggies. You can keep gnocchi in your freezer, which means you should stock up immediately. You know, in case of suppertime emergencies.

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Braised Chicken Thighs with Slow-Cooked Marinara

Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Braised Chicken Thighs with Slow-Cooked Marinara

Let your slow cooker braise those chicken thighs and marinara sauce, lady. You'll thank us later.

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Shrimp Boil Pasta

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Shrimp Boil Pasta

We combined two summertime staples—pasta salad and shrimp boil—in this incredibly simple recipe.

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Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Make a double batch of our Mouthwatering Marinated Tomatoes—because they're just as good in this spaghetti as in a bowl for snacking. All you need for this recipe are those heavenly bites, thin spaghetti noodles, and mozzerella balls. Really!

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Cabbage, Mushroom, and Bacon Pasta

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Cabbage, Mushroom, and Bacon Pasta

This quick and easy wilted cabbage dish comes together in under 30 minutes, all on the stovetop. Oh, and bacon.

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Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce

You're just 25 minutes away from dinnertime bliss. We recommend using fresh shrimp, not frozen, for the best flavor.

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus

Asparagus brings a crisp crunch to this fettuccine recipe, and plenty of lemon balances out the creamy sauce.

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Baked Shells and Greens

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Baked Shells and Greens

There's an undercover healthy twist to this simple pasta. It takes a total of 30 minutes to get on the table, and that includes the time it takes to bake the dish in the oven.

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Mushroom Stroganoff

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Mushroom Stroganoff

This creamy mushroom-studded sauce is calling your name. Are you going to answer? Serve over wide egg noodles.

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Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore

Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore

How can something that looks so fancy take only half an hour? Hey, we're not going to question it. This pork dish is a breeze.

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Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas

This gnocchi spin on a traditional gratin is oh-so easy to make. It's the best use of frozen peas we've ever tasted.

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Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

Your broiler will blister and burst those tomatoes to tasty submission. From there, fresh herbs and rich mascarpone cheese will lead you home.

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Tomato Carbonara

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Tomato Carbonara

Cherry tomatoes add welcome pops of color to this carbonara recipe, which takes only a handful of ingredients to get going. Pair with, well, whatever pasta you have in the pantry. It'll still shine.

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Cajun Chicken Pasta

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Cajun Chicken Pasta

For this dish, the secret lies in the seasoning—heavily seasoned Cajun chicken, that is.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

Spend 20 minutes in the kitchen prepping this gorgeous, hearty sauce—and then let it all come together in the slow cooker while you're at work. Done and done.

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Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

It's amazing what you can do with a jar of pasta sauce and packet of pepperoni. This casserole combines two family favorites.

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Spaghetti with Pecan Pesto and Garlicky Breadcrumbs

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Spaghetti with Pecan Pesto and Garlicky Breadcrumbs

If you don't have time to make our scrumptious pecan pesto, storebought will do. But, believe us, you don't want to skip the garlicky breadcrumbs.

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Penne with Mushrooms, Corn, and Thyme

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Penne with Mushrooms, Corn, and Thyme

Use up your fresh summer corn in the tastiest way. This pasta recipe packs a flavorful punch, with only a few ingredients.

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Tuscan Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream

Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Tuscan Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream

Refrigerated ravioli and jarred alfredo sauce gets dressed up for dinner by being heated with white wine, chopped fresh tomatoes, and fresh basil.

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Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

We guarantee everyone will love this five-ingredient pasta salad. Fresh dill is the secret flavor that ties it all together.

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Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Recipe: Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Say hello to your new weeknight warrior, and a pretty one at that. This colorful casserole calls for cheese-filled tortellini, fresh broccoli, and chicken (which, yes, can be leftover shredded rotisserie chicken).

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Shrimp and Peas with Farfalle

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Shrimp and Peas with Farfalle

You'll swoon over the lemony breadcrumbs that top this dish. If you’re looking to save even more time, skip the fresh English peas and opt for frozen peas that have been thawed instead.

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Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

Embrace the coastal state of mind with this tasty linguine dish. It feels special, but doesn't require much more than what you can already find in your pantry or fridge.

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Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto

Never thought so crispy a chicken thigh could come from a simple one-pot recipe? Prepare to be blown away. We won't tell if you use storebought pesto.

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Late-Night Pasta Chez Frank

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Late-Night Pasta Chez Frank

This signature late-night "snack" from Chef Frank Stitt of Highlands Bar and Grill in Birmingham, Alabama shows that simple is sometimes (way) better. Like "7 ingredients and 25 minutes" simple.

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35 Easy Pasta Recipes to Make from That Extra Box of Pasta in Your Pantry

1 of 36

Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage

2 of 36

Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

3 of 36

Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks and Peas

4 of 36

One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards

5 of 36

Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

6 of 36

Chicken Caprese Pasta

7 of 36

Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

8 of 36

Cheesy Sheet Pan Pasta

9 of 36

Roasted Tomato, Salami, and Mozzarella Pasta

10 of 36

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

11 of 36

Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi

12 of 36

Braised Chicken Thighs with Slow-Cooked Marinara

13 of 36

Shrimp Boil Pasta

14 of 36

Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella

15 of 36

Cabbage, Mushroom, and Bacon Pasta

16 of 36

Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce

17 of 36

Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus

18 of 36

Baked Shells and Greens

19 of 36

Mushroom Stroganoff

20 of 36

Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore

21 of 36

Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas

22 of 36

Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

23 of 36

Tomato Carbonara

24 of 36

Cajun Chicken Pasta

25 of 36

Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

26 of 36

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

27 of 36

Spaghetti with Pecan Pesto and Garlicky Breadcrumbs

28 of 36

Penne with Mushrooms, Corn, and Thyme

29 of 36

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream

30 of 36

Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

31 of 36

Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

32 of 36

Shrimp and Peas with Farfalle

33 of 36

Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

34 of 36

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto

35 of 36

Late-Night Pasta Chez Frank

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