What’s for dinner? Pasta is always a good choice and with these pasta night recipes you can whip up a fun, creative or comforting dish.
For my daughter’s third birthday, I planned a pasta extravaganza. Sausage Bolognese, Macaroni and Cheese and … I don’t remember what the third was. But it was epic and she loved every bite.
Fast forward more than a dozen years and pasta is still a favorite in our house. It’s quick and easy. It can be customized in so many ways. And when you are feeding a crowd, it’s so simple to scale up. Plus pasta is one of those pantry ingredients we always keep handy.
From baked stuffed shells to pastas tossed with shrimp to ones served with creative sauces like spinach pesto, there are so many options that can make tonight a dynamite pasta night at your house.
Try These Pasta Night Recipes
From baked pastas to sauces to one-pot pastas to stovetop pastas, there are so many options to enjoy pasta night tonight with these flavorful recipes from Sarah's Cucina Bella.
Baked Pastas
These pastas are finished off in the oven to divine results.
Cheese Lasagna
This easy cheese lasagna recipe makes a satisfying pasta dish, perfect for dinner. Plus, the leftovers are excellent for grab and go lunches!
Baked Stuffed Shells with Sausage Marinara
This easy, comforting dish is perfect for cold winter nights. You can make it ahead and bake when you are ready.
Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower and Garbanzo Pasta Bake
Cauliflower is slowly roasted with garbanzo beans, onions, red peppers and kalamata olives, and then tossed with chunky tomato sauce and pasta before being sprinkled with feta cheese and baked a little more.
Nacho-Style Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole
Creamy mac and cheese is topped with favorite nacho toppings in this fun, crowd-pleasing Nacho-Style Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole recipe.
Reuben Noodle Casserole
Creamy, salty, crunchy. This cheesy Reuben Noodle Casserole recipe featuring corned beef, egg noodles, Swiss cheese and more is a delight.
Smoked Cheddar and Blue Cheese Brisket Macaroni and Cheese
A silky sauce, two cheeses, meat and barbecue sauce combine in this Smoked Cheddar and Blue Cheese Brisket Macaroni and Cheese.
Quick and Easy Baked Ravioli with Creamy Meat Sauce
Transform leftover bolognese sauce into a tasty ravioli dish perfect for winter with this Easy Creamy Baked Ravioli with Meat Sauce recipe.
Spinach Baked Ziti
Spinach Baked Ziti combines ziti with marinara, spinach, ricotta and mozzarella for a delicious and hearty pasta dinner. Perfect for cooking with kids!
Beefy Baked Ziti
Ooey, gooey cheeses, ground beef and marinara make this easy Beefy Baked Ziti recipe a comfort food winner. Try it tonight!
Baked Chicken Pasta with Smoked Gouda Sauce
Smoked gouda stars in the creamy sauce for this Baked Chicken Pasta recipe. This dish is a flavorful treat, perfect for celebratory dinners.
Basil Garlic Stuffed Shells
Filled with a fragrant, flavorful basil garlic ricotta mixture, this stuffed shells recipe can be made in under an hour.
Mushroom, Wax Beans and Cheddar Pasta Bake
This cheesy, veggie filled recipe make a fabulous dinner. Try Mushroom, Wax Bean and Cheddar Pasta Bake soon and see for yourself!
Sausage and Pepper Pasta Bake
A classic from my childhood gets a bold new life in this veggie-filled Sausage and Pepper Pasta Bake recipe.
Pasta Sauces
Whip up a batch of these divine sauces to eat with your favorite pastas.
Roasted Tomato Marinara with Onions, Garlic and Basil
Fresh tomatoes are roasted, bringing out a robust flavor, and then combined with sauteed onions and garlic for a delightful, fragrant sauce.
Sausage Bolognese
A hearty, rich and meaty sauce, this Sausage Bolognese is simmered for about an hour to allow the flavors to really develop.
Cristina Ferrare’s Clam Sauce
This unforgettable recipe for White Clam Sauce from Cristina Ferrare’s cookbook is a delicious way to enjoy this classic pasta at home.
Heirloom Tomato and Provolone Sauce
This lovely Heirloom Tomato and Provolone Sauce is a thick, hearty, slow-cooked sauce with a sharp, but craveworthy, taste.
Sundried Tomato Pesto
Sweet but zesty, this Sundried Tomato Pesto is delicious on pasta, as a spread for sandwiches and more.
Kale Pesto
A little earthier than your typical pesto but delightful all the same. Mix this kale pesto with penne and serve with grilled chicken.
Ramp Pesto
With a short growing season, ramps are a fragrant, wild onion that's procured by foraging. This quick and easy recipe for Ramp Pesto uses the seasonal wild onion to make a bold pesto that my kids and I love.
Basil Pecan Pesto
With a warm, rich flavor, Basil Pecan Pesto is delightful on pasta, lovely on sandwiches and perfect on chicken, fish and vegetables. What a great summer sauce!
Garlic Scape Pesto
Fresh garlic scapes, basil and parsley combine to make an herby, fragrant pesto in this easy Garlic Scape Pesto recipe.
Basic Basil Pesto
Quick, easy and filled with bright, fresh flavors, this basil pesto recipe adds liveliness to sandwiches, pasta and more.
Simple Sundried Tomato Pesto
Simple, flavorful and easy to make, this sundried tomato pesto recipe is a delight.
Spinach Pesto with Pistachios
Welcome Spinach Pesto to your table soon and bask in the garlicky, cheesy, nutty goodness. It’s delightful on sandwiches, pasta and more.
Big Batch Two Day Roasted Tomato Sauce
Tomatoes are roasted and then rested overnight before being transformed into a big batch of tomato sauce to put up for winter.
One-Pot Pasta
All you need is one pot to make these quick and easy pasta recipes.
Creamy Gorgonzola Fettuccine with Broccoli
This is one of my daughter's favorite dishes in this book. The creamy sauce is rich with gorgonzola cheese and bathes the pasta and broccoli. It's delightful.
Black Bean Veggie Enchilada Rotini
This saucy pasta is packed with veggies, big flavor and hearty beans. But it’s the toppings that really make it stand out – avocado, a little cheese, scallions … they make it go from wow to AMAZING!
Lemon Garlic Shrimp One-Pot Pasta with Arugula
By cooking the shrimp first for this pasta, they are rendered perfectly cooked, not tough and chewy. Then the egg noodles are cooked with the bright flavors of lemon, garlic, and peppery arugula, giving this pasta great flavor. Serve with grated parmesan for sprinkling.
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Macaroni
Calling all buffalo chicken lovers! Creamy, spicy and hearty, this satisfying version of macaroni and cheese is delightful on cold days. Or anytime you’re craving the combination of buffalo sauce, chicken and cheddar cheese sauce.
Fragrant Sweet Potato and Red Onion Shells
With warm notes of cinnamon and sweet Hungarian paprika, as well as sweet potatoes, red onions and Napa cabbage, this pasta has an exotic feel to it - and a totally welcome one, at that.
Sundried Tomato, Chicken and Garlic Pasta
Sundried Tomato, Chicken and Garlic Pasta is a flavorful, bright one-pot pasta with the warm, sweetness of sundried tomatoes and pungent earthiness of garlic.
One-Pot Lemon Butter Orzo
This easy recipe for One-Pot Lemon Butter Orzo makes a perfect side dish for many main dishes from roast chicken to baked cod.
More Great Pasta Recipes
It takes a few more steps to make these flavorful pasta recipes, but it's totally worth it.
Chicken, Greens and Roasted Red Peppers with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce over Angel Hair Pasta
Inspired by a dish at Carmine's in New York, this lemony pasta is a quick and easy dish perfect for dinner parties. A definite crowd pleaser!
Lobster Bacon Fettuccine for 2
Go fancy for date night! This quick and easy Lobster Bacon Fettuccine recipe makes an elegant pasta dish for two.
Easy Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
My ultra-fast recipe for homemade macaroni and cheese takes about 15 minutes to make and is super creamy.
Shrimp, Basil and Tomato Pasta with Manchego Cheese
This Shrimp, Tomato and Basil Pasta with Manchego Cheese has a touch of creaminess with the familiar flavors of tomato, basil and garlic. And then there is the shrimp, which soaks up a bit of it all. Delish.
Penne with Swiss Chard and Kielbasa
Bright and earthy Swiss chard and salty, rich kielbasa combine in this quick and easy recipe for Penne with Swiss Chard and Kielbasa.
Leek and Bacon Carbonara
This Leek and Bacon Carbonara recipe is total comfort food with crisp bacon, sweet leeks and a creamy egg mixture.
Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli Ragu
Roasted broccoli, meaty chicken and a bright tomato sauce combine in this easy Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli Ragu recipe.
Roasted Vegetable and Lemon Tortellini Pasta
This easy toss together Roasted Vegetable and Lemon Tortellini Pasta recipe with artichoke hearts is quick, easy and delightful.
Garlic Scape Carbonara
This pasta is fantastic as a meal served with a big garden salad and some crusty bread. If desired, add a half-cup of fresh, lightly cooked peas to the mix for a little added nutrition (and sweetness).
Buttery Lemon Shrimp Pappardelle
Luxurious pappardelle noodles are bathed in a rich buttery lemon sauce with garlic and tossed with shrimp and fresh parsley. It's delightful!
Lemony Mac and Cheese with Tomatoes
Sometimes kids have the best ideas! This Lemony Mac and Cheese with Tomatoes recipe was my son's idea and it's so good.
Creamy Gorgonzola and Shrimp Pasta Recipe
Gorgonzola melts into the delicate sauce and coats the pasta with flavorful goodness in this Creamy Gorgonzola and Shrimp Pasta recipe.
Leek, Mushroom and Tuna Pasta Recipe
Tangy, rich and meaty, this easy Leek, Mushroom and Tuna Pasta recipe is quick enough for the busiest of nights.
Penne with Bratwurst and Broccoli
Simple but bold flavors combine in this easy recipe for Penne with Bratwurst and Broccoli.
Tomato, Bacon and Cream Pasta
Whip up a creamy batch of Tomato, Bacon and Cream Pasta for dinner tonight. It’s a quick and easy recipe that everyone loves.
Asparagus, Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta
Asparagus, Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta is a quick and easy pasta dish with roasted veggies. It's satisfying but light.
Summer Pasta with Shrimp and Kale
Filled with scallions, garlic and other flavorful ingredients, this Summer Pasta with Shrimp and Kale recipe is delightful.
Sundried Tomato and Prosciutto Pasta
Pasta is tossed with sweetish sundried tomatoes, fragrant olive oil, salty prosciutto and a little spicy crushed red pepper and garlic. It’s a lovely combination of flavors.
Creamy Penne with Broccoli and Shrimp
Oh pasta, what a wonderful comfort you are … especially creamy ones like this easy alfredo-wanna-be: Creamy Penne with Broccoli and Shrimp.
Toss Together Chorizo, Feta and Tomato Pasta
Slightly spicy chorizo combines with salty feta and sweet diced tomatoes in this easy Toss Together Chorizo, Feta and Tomato Pasta recipe.
Grilled Steak Bruschetta Tortellini
This flavorful pasta dish is quick, easy and delicious. Note: I created this for a paid recipe development project from Collective Bias/Kraft. All opinions are my own.
Mediterranean Tuna Pasta
Red onion, red peppers, mushrooms, tuna, white wine and butter come together in this rich Mediterranean Tuna Pasta recipe — perfect for dinner tonight!
Pasta with Sausage Tomato Cream Sauce
Sweet Italian sausage stars in this zippy, creamy Pasta with Zesty Sausage Tomato Cream Sauce recipe.
Zesty Lemon Tuna Meatball Pasta
Change up your dinner routine with this meatless meal: Zesty Lemon Tuna Meatball Pasta is perfect for busy nights. And the leftovers are great for lunches.
Roasted Vegetable Pappardelle with Creamy Pesto Sauce
Rich and decadent, this pasta recipe for Roasted Vegetable Pappardelle with Creamy Pesto Sauce is perfect for special occasions — or anytime you want a comforting dinner.
American Chop Suey
An American classic gets an update in this easy gluten free pasta recipe for American Chop Suey.
Bucatini Pomodoro
A fresh, bright tomato sauce combines with thick bucatini pasta in this vegan recipe for Bucatini Pomodoro.
Easy Pesto Spaghetti with Chicken and Sundried Tomatoes
This recipe for Easy Pesto Spaghetti with Chicken and Sundried Tomatoes is hearty, filling and flavorful, with aromatic layers of ingredients.
Roasted Garlic Fettuccine Alfredo
Creamy alfredo sauce gets turned up a notch in this Roasted Garlic Fettuccine Alfredo recipe. Perfect with a salad and garlic bread for a quick dinner.
Garlicky Chanterelle Mushroom Pasta
Mushrooms are sauteed in butter and olive oil, and then seasoned with garlic before being cooked into a sauce with white wine for this Garlicky Chanterelle Mushroom Pasta.
Easy Skillet Chicken Parmesan
An Italian favorite is made easy with this Skillet Chicken Parmesan recipe. Perfect for any night of the week.
Two Pepper Pasta
Keep the vegetables cut pretty small for this so that they cook quickly and break down enough to coat the pasta.
Tortellini with Tomatoes, Garlic and Feta
Some nights, I just want something fresh and flavorful that cooks in no time. This is one of my favorite dishes for that.
Aglio e Olio (Pasta with Olive Oil and Garlic)
Pasta cooked to al dente. Garlic cooked in olive oil until just fragrant. Salt, pepper, perhaps a little cheese. This is a simple dish but so, so good.
Tomato Brie Pasta with Fresh Basil
Creamy brie, juicy tomatoes and bright basil combine in this easy recipe for Tomato Brie Pasta. It’s a surprising delight for brie-lovers.
Roasted Vegetable Pasta Toss
Let the vegetables do the work for dinner tonight! This Roasted Vegetable Pasta Toss recipe is flavorful, comforting and easy to make.
Roasted Vegetable Pasta with Tomatoes and White Beans
Root veggies are roasted to perfection and combined with al dente pasta in this easy recipe for Roasted Vegetable Pasta with Tomatoes and White Beans.
Clam and Andouille Sausage Pasta
Zingy and meaty, this Clam and Andouille Sausage Pasta is a robust dish that’s light enough for spring and hearty enough for dinner.
Red Pepper Alfredo
Creamy and fragrant, this healthier take on fettuccine alfredo will satisfy with every bite. Red Pepper Alfredo is not to be missed.
Mint Pesto Pasta with Pancetta
Fresh mint is abundant in the summer time. Grab a bunch for this satisfying, herby pasta dish with salty pancetta. You won't be disappointed.
Roasted Tomato Burrata Pasta with Prosciutto
Creamy burrata, bright tomatoes, savory garlic and shallots and a finish of salty prosciutto make this easy pasta dish a wonderful option for any night — but also special enough for any celebration.