25 Quick-Fix Dinners with Jarred Pasta Sauce

March 14, 2011
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

When it comes to getting dinner on the table for your family, there’s no shame in a few shortcuts. Jarred pasta sauce is one of the best store-bought ingredients to use. With a few simple tweaks and a great recipe to go with it, jarred pasta sauce can be part of a restaurant-worthy meal everyone will love. Whether you’re in the mood for a dish with classic red sauce, creamy alfredo, or bright pesto, these jarred pasta sauce recipes go above and beyond your expectations of a usual pasta night. There are few suppers more comforting than a cheesy pasta bake, and everyone will want seconds of Spaghetti Casserole, Three-Cheese Pasta Bake, and Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta. Lasagna lovers, it’s your time to shine: You can make our best lasagna recipes with store-bought sauce. Novice cooks will be amazed at how easy these recipes with pasta sauce are to make, and even the pickiest eaters will love these meals.

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Chicken Cannelloni with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Chicken Cannelloni with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce

Cooked chicken and a few convenience items help this rave-worthy Italian feast ready in less than an hour. The Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce, made quickly in a blender or food processor, also pairs perfectly with freshly-cooked pasta, so don’t hesitate to double the recipe and save some sauce for tomorrow night’s meal plan.

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One-Pot Pasta

Recipe: One-Pot Pasta

Our reviewers raved about this one-dish wonder. Stock your fridge with convenience items, including tomato-basil pasta sauce, sliced fresh mushrooms, shredded cheese, and refrigerated ravioli to ensure that you’re always only minutes from a family dinner.

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Three Cheese Pasta Bake

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

Skip the marinara sauce and go for a rich Alfredo sauce instead. The creamy sauce, paired with three types of cheese, creates a family-friendly dish that’s ready in a flash. While the original version is meatless, feel free to add cooked chicken, shrimp, or even spicy sausage for a heartier one-dish dinner. Pair with a salad or steamed veggies.

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Tuscan Pasta With Tomato-Basil Cream

Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Tuscan Pasta With Tomato-Basil Cream

Six ingredients and 15 minutes are all you need to prepare a flavorful, sophisticated pasta dinner inspired by the fresh ingredients of the Italian countryside. Fresh basil, chopped tomatoes, and a dash of white wine add depth to store-bought ravioli. Garnish with extra chopped basil for an added punch of freshness and color.

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Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

When your kids ask, “What’s for dinner?”, respond with a dish that’s sure to gather cheers from the backseat of the car. Turkey pepperoni makes a flavorful addition to this one-dish dinner. Pair with a small green salad or a piece of fruit for a balanced, quick weeknight meal.

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Extra-Easy Lasagna

Credit: Photo: Lee Harrelson

Recipe: Extra-Easy Lasagna

Layered pasta? On a weeknight? No, you aren’t dreaming. This cheesy pasta dish comes together in just fifteen minutes and cooks for under an hour, giving you a few minutes to put away the day’s mail and unload the dishwasher. That’s right; you can make preparing a top-notch dinner look like a breeze to prepare and a joy to savor.

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Lasagna Roll Ups

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Lasagna Roll Ups

These roll ups make for easy serving sizes and pretty presentation.

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Smoked-Pork-Stuffed Pasta Shells

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Smoked-Pork-Stuffed Pasta Shells

We gave stuffed shells a Southern spin with chopped smoked pork in this cheesy pasta recipe the kids will love.

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Zucchini Lasagna

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Zucchini Lasagna

Getting the kids to eat their veggies has never been easier than with this lasagna recipe.

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Spaghetti Casserole

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spaghetti Casserole

We took your favorite spaghetti dinner and made it into a comforting casserole that comes together with simple pantry staples.

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Fusilli Pasta with Spinach, Tomato, and Bacon

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

Recipe: Fusilli Pasta with Spinach, Tomato, and Bacon

This cheesy pasta dish has a secret—it bakes in your sheet pan for a melty center and browned, crispy top.  

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Pizza Casserole

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Pizza Casserole

Even family pizza night can feel routine, so switch it up with a hearty casserole that has all the flavor of your go-to pizza toppings.

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Sausage and Squash Lasagna

Recipe: Sausage and Squash Lasagna

The beauty of this lasagna is that it comes together with the help of your slow cooker, so you barely have to lift a finger.

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Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas

You only need five convenient ingredients like frozen peas and store-bought pesto to get this colorful dinner on the table.

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Meatball Pasta Bake

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Meatball Pasta Bake

This recipe calls for a quick fix with frozen packaged meatballs, but if you have the ingredients on hand, feel free to make your own instead.

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Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

Credit: Van Chaplin

Recipe: Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

This cheesy pasta is made with six store-bought pantry ingredients that couldn’t be easier to throw together.

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Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

If you bought too much fresh summer squash, this baked casserole is the coziest way to use it up.

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Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Leftover rotisserie chicken and two kinds of jarred sauces make this casserole super filling for your hungry family.

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Heavenly Chicken Lasagna

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Heavenly Chicken Lasagna

This chicken lasagna was sent straight from heaven to your dinner table.

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Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

It’s all in the name here! Quick, easy, and with all the classic Bolognese flavor you crave for pasta night.

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Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

Whoever said turkey sandwiches were boring hasn’t had this fresh, five-ingredient recipe.

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Spinach Lasagna

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spinach Lasagna

Whether you’re trying out meatless Mondays, you have vegetarian family members, or you’re running low on meat from the freezer, this hearty lasagna recipe doesn’t skimp on comfort.

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Grilled Chicken-and-Veggie Tortellini

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Grilled Chicken-and-Veggie Tortellini

Fresh vegetables shine in this simple pasta recipe that uses jarred pesto sauce to save you time.

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Stuffed Tomatoes with Pesto Rice

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Stuffed Tomatoes with Pesto Rice

This quick supper is a healthy option that’s also satisfying.

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Chicken-and-Spinach Lasagna

Recipe: Chicken-and-Spinach Lasagna

All this slow-cooker pasta recipe needs is a simple side salad and some crusty bread for a full dinner.

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