Dinner is a thorn in my side most days. Some days I love to spend the day cooking up a storm to feed the family, and then there are days that I feel like I can barely offer them cereal as their dinner. Being an adult is hard sometimes and knowing that dinner is on the menu every single day kind of exhausts me. Something we often resort to on busy weeknights for dinners are easy pasta dinner recipes. I decided it was time to do some research and have a collection of easy pasta dinner ideas that can be quick go to dinners when I just don’t know what to make.
We love pasta at our house. Well everyone but my one son. Everyone loves a good pasta dish and I love an easy pasta dish. Easy pasta recipes are super important to me, especially on a busy weeknight. I have about 10 of my own pasta recipes that I can throw together at a moments notice.
I even have one pasta dish that uses frozen sauce that can easily be put on the pasta once defrosted. Its my daughters favorite and it has such a fresh flavor to it.
I know I am not the only one looking for pasta comfort food dishes. Overall pasta dinners are pretty affordable. You dont really need to use meat in the pasta and you can fill it with veggies. Pasta is also very filling and oh so comforting so it can feed a lot of people for less.
What if I am gluten free?
Never fear, you too can eat all the pasta dinners.
Since I am gluten free I have to often cook my own separate pasta so that I can enjoy dinner with the rest of my family. My favorite gluten free pastas are Barilla’s Penne Pasta and Jovial Gluten Free pasta Tagliatelle and others they offer. These seem to be the closest to regular pasta and they are what I prefer. The tagliatelle is so good, I can barely tell the difference!
I also really love the Taste Republic Cauliflower Gluten Free Pastas that you can get at Costco or Target.
Target offers a couple unique options such as Taste Republic’s Tortellini and Ravioli. I always get the Linguine from Costco but I have not tried these and I need to!
SHOP MY FAVORITE GLUTEN FREE PASTAS BELOW!
Anyways, lets move on to the best part of this post, over 40 amazing quick and easy pasta dinner ideas and recipes:
I have rounded up 40 of the best pasta recipes so that you can have a one stop place to find some that are tried and true!
I have included some of my own that are on this site, so that they are all in one place!
Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pasta | Twelve On Main
This is one of our favorite go to recipe when we want pasta. The flavors of the smokey roasted pasta and the creamy sauce are a wonderful combination with the parmesan cheese and basil.
Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad | Twelve On Main
One of our absolute favorite side dishes is this greek tortellini pasta salad. It goes great with grilled chicken or hamburgers. You can also add chicken right to the pasta to make this a one pot meal.
Easy Pasta fa*gioli Recipe | Twelve On Main
Okay so technically this is a soup, but its a thick and hearty soup full of pasta. I would definitely consider this a pasta dish. The texture of the veggies along with the tomato herb base and the pasta is absolutely amazing. I always set some aside before I add the pasta and cook up some gluten free pasta for me to enjoy in mine.
Air Fryer Pasta Chip Board | Twelve On Main
These are so yummy and fun to make. I use fresh cooked pasta and dip them in an olive oil parmesan mixture and air fry them! They are so good dipped in tomato sauces or alfredo sauce!
Fresh 5 Ingredient Tomato No Cook Pasta Sauce |Twelve On Main
This is the pasta I was telling you about. This is my daughters favorite pasta dish. It has an uncooked pasta sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, chives and parmesan cheese. It is blended up in the blender and you pour the hot cooked pasta right over the top. The heat from the pasta warms through the sauce and brings all the aromatics out of it. It smells and tastes amazing.
Roasted Tomato Sauce Pasta | Twelve On Main
This roasted tomato sauce pasta is one of our favorites as well!
Fresh 5 Ingredient Broccoli Pasta | Twelve On Main
This 5 ingredient broccoli pasta was something I ate growing up! We often would add some asparagus to the pasta as well! It takes less than 30 minutes to throw it together.
Creamy Tomato and Spicy Sausage Gnocchi | Twelve On Main
This hearty creamy tomato and spicy sausage gnocchi is my sons favorite. The one son that does not like pasta, loves this one.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce | Twelve On Main
You cannot go wrong with a basil fettuccine alfredo. Homemade alfredo is so stinking easy to make. It is so much better than stoe bought too!
Homemade Meatballs Recipe 2 Ways | Twelve On Main
How about some homemade meatballs? Its the only kind I will eat. I like to know what is in my meatballs. These two recipes are so good!
East Homemade Spaghetti Sauce | Twelve On Main
Homemade spaghetti sauce is also so much better than store bought and once again it is so much easier to make that most people think!
Creamy Tuscan Sun-dried Tomato and Chicken Pasta | Twelve On Main
This is one of my family’s favorites!
One Pot Taco Pasta | The Cozy Cook
I have never had a taco pasta but it sounds pretty amazing!
Classic Baked Ziti | Laurens Latest
Baked ziti is so good and this recipe is one to try!
Spaghetti Carbonara | Damn Delicious
I have got to try this spaghetti carbonara! I love the combination in this pasta dish.
One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta | Cooking Classy
Another great pasta dish! Try this cajun pasta!
Broccoli Pasta | The Cozy Cook
This reminds me of the broccoli pasta they used to have at the Olive Garden. A garlic cream and broccoli pasta with pasta orecchiette.
Easy Garlic Parmesan Pasta | Together as Family
Throw this together quick! With a side of garlic bread and a salad and you have an easy weeknight meal.
One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta | Amanda Cooks and Styles
Want chicken parmesan but without all the work? This is a great option.
Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta | Much Butter
It cannot get better than a garlic butter shrimp pasta really!
Creamy Lemon Pasta | The Cozy Cook
This creamy lemon pasta looks amazing!
Penne Alla Vodka | Salt and Lavender
Penna alla vodka is another one of our favorites to make!
Easy Ravioli Sauce | The Cozy Cook
This easy ravioli sauce looks amazing!
Creamy Sausage Pasta | The Cozy Cook
I will definitely be making this pasta this fall.
Cheesy Ziti Pasta Bake | Together as a Family
Another great ziti pasta bake to try!
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta | Natashas Kitchen
Creamy cajun chicken pasta is such a great pasta to make!
Garlic Butter Noodles | Salt and lavender
Simple garlic butter noodles are a perfect side dish or a simple meal to make!
Chicken Spaghetti | The Cozy Cook
This chicken spaghetti looks so amazing!
Bowtie Pasta Lasagne | Midget Momma
I love bowtie pasta and this bowtie pasta bake looks so good!
Lemon Garlic Cream Pasta | Little Broken
Lemon garlic cream pasta is such a wonderful dish.
Stuffed Shells | The Cozy Cook
Stuffed shells is a recipe that my family loves and this one my The Cozy Cook looks amazing! When you are wanting a classic lasagna but not all the work, stuffed shells are considerably easier.
Chicken and Bacon Pasta | Julias Album
I have to try this chicken and bacon pasta. It looks easy to make and that combination is amazing.
Beef and Noodles | The Cozy Cook
A simple and classic dinner recipe! Try this beef and noodles for dinner. A combination of ground beef and a creamy sauce is a guaranteed win.
Creamy Tomato Pasta | Salt and Lavender
You cant go wrong with a creamy tomato pasta.
Garlic Parmesan with Spinach and Mushrooms | EatWell 101
I am definitely making this garlic, parmesan with spinach and mushrooms pasta.
Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta | Yellow Bliss Road
Anything pesto related is something I will love and this chicken pesto pasta is one to make.
Easy Chicken Scampi | The Cozy Cook
I love shrimp and chicken scampi and this pasta looks amazing!
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta | Shugary Sweets
Copy Cat Olive Garden 5 Cheese Ziti Al Forno | Alyonas Cooking
I have to try this recipe out! It has all the things I am craving!
Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage and Spinach | Julia Album
A perfect pasta dish for the fall season. This is a must make!
With so many amazing pasta dinner ideas it can make your life much easier having some great recipes to try. Make sure to save this later, Pin the image below!
Enjoy these pasta dinner ideas and try them out today!
With all these amazing pasta dinner ideas, you can have a fun, easy and flavorful meal every night of the week!
Nutella Pizza | Recipe
My Very Favorite Turmeric Milk Recipe
Colorful Wild Rice, Kale, and Pomegranate Salad
