40 Best Pasta Recipes to Make When You Want to Go to Carb Heaven
Don't forget extra Parmesan cheese!
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Pasta. How many love letters could we write to pasta? Well...a ton, because there are so many different kinds of pasta—and so many ways to serve them. What will you choose: something gloriously saucy, something slick and garlicky, something rich and cheesy? The options are endless, and that's by design: We can basically keep eating pasta night after night and never get bored! Ree Drummond calls it her favorite food, period.
"If I were stranded on a desert island and could choose only one category of food to eat the rest of my life, I’d pick pasta hands down," she says.
Browse through these best pasta recipes and you're bound to find a great new option for your next pasta night. Looking for a new fall favorite? Pumpkin Bacon Carbonara is so irresistible, you'll want to plan a whole dinner party around it. Trying to feed a crowd, and not sure if everyone will like the same dish? Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells will solve the problem. (In fact, you might want to make two batches so you'll have enough for everyone to have seconds!) And if you're trying to eat fewer meat-based sauces and dishes, Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce has a nice, bold flavor and will make any vegetarian happy.
Check out these easy pasta meals below. They're perfect for any occasion (family meals, Italian dinners, or even breakfast—we don't judge!).
Roasted Zucchini & Eggplant Puttanesca Pasta
If you haven't tried making pasta with anchovies, this is the perfect recipe to start with—we promise!
Pasta with Zucchini Pesto
This pesto is made with a refreshing mix of zucchini and fresh herbs, and the whole dish is ready in 30 minutes!
Pasta Carbonara
We could write love letters to pasta carbonara all day long, but that time would be better spent just making this creamy, bacon-based crowd-pleaser.
Spicy Lasagna Hotdish
Predictable pasta? Not in your kitchen. This dish offers an unexpected kick from red pepper flakes, cayenne powder, and mafalda pasta—not the usual lasagna sheets!
Seafood Pasta Baked in Parchment Paper
Diving into this garlicky, juicy pasta in a bowl? That's fine. But ripping open a parchment paper pouch is a whole new ballgame.
Cheesy Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake
Chicken parm in any form is sooo good, but just wait until your family tries this cheesy, hearty recipe.
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This is the ultimate fall pasta dish: It's rich, creamy and flavored with a little sage.
One-Pot Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
The reward for your kids eating broccoli? A generous helping of pasta, cheese, and butter to go along with it.
Pasta with Mushrooms, Chicken, and Sun-dried Tomatoes
This is one of those dream dinners: It's flavorful, comforting and ready in 30 minutes.
Spaghetti Pie
Is your crew tired of spaghetti prepared the usual way? Knock their socks off with a dinner pie that you can tailor to your taste.
Mushroom & Asparagus One-Pot Pasta
Try our earthy one-pot veggie pasta: It couldn't be easier to prepare—or clean up.
Chicken Kale Pasta
This dish isn't just healthy—it's also a gorgeous burst of color on your dinner table.
Quick and Easy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
The roasted red pepper sauce on this pasta is a whole new kind of red sauce.
Chicken Mozzarella Pasta
This pasta recipe will never get old. Noodles smothered in fresh mozzarella and marinara sauce...are you boiling water yet?
Spinach Artichoke Pasta
If you're a spinach artichoke dip fiend (and who isn't?), then trying this heavenly recipe is a must.
Surf & Turf Cajun Pasta
Why not turn surf and turf into an excuse for a to-die-for pasta dish? The Cajun seasoning seals the deal here.
Chicken Florentine Pasta
If you need a satisfying idea for any meal, this here's a winner—simple, delicious, and done in 30 minutes.
Seafood Pasta
Want to go straight to scallop and shrimp heaven? (Of course you do.) Don't be surprised when your family keeps requesting this dish.
Pasta Puttanesca
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Chicken and pasta are always a reliable combo, but this puts a whole new twist on the duo.
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