You guys love meal planning posts and this one is all about pasta!
Check out these 15 flavorful pasta dinners.
Two things recently happened.
The first being....I was standing in front of my pantry looking for a box of spaghetti noodles that I thought I had on hand but after checking all the shelves it was no where to be found. I then had to pivot on what I "thought" I was making for dinner.
The second being....browsing the aisles of Costco last week and coming across a a variety six pack of Barilla pasta (macaroni, spaghetti, penne) at an amazing deal. Six boxes for just $6. I threw it in the cart.
So what's this story really about?
All of this made me realize that by simply keeping a variety of dried pastas on hand it will allow me to plan dinners a bit easier. For goodness sakes, I have a food blog FILLED with pasta recipes! Why wasn't I taking advantage of this? It's such a simple thought, yet I was never doing it.
I figured some of you were in the same boat, so I thought I'd compile the recipes I've been making years, ones right here on my own food blog - ones that aren't complicated, yet have flavor and people enjoy. A post that people can refer back to when pasta is on their mind but they still need some push.
So let's get started!
I've divided the recipes by spaghetti/linguine, macaroni/rotini, ravioli/tortellini/jumbo shells, egg noodles and ziti/penne.
Spaghetti/Linguine
Classic Skillet Pasta Carbonara - just six main ingredients, I like to call this one a "pantry" pasta. It comes together in well under 30 minutes. We like it tossed with fresh peas right before serving, but asparagus or broccoli is good too!
10 Minute Tomato & Garlic Spaghetti - this one has a title that reads itself....a dish that takes just 10 minutes? Count me in! Would you believe a homemade tomato sauce comes together while the spaghetti noodles are boiling? This one is tasty.
Greek Feta Linguine - I love this one because you can use canned tomatoes in the winter or fresh tomatoes and basil in the Summer and both taste great. The feta cheese makes it pop!
Baked Chicken Spaghetti - while fresh, hot spaghetti noodles are fun, I love them baked into a dish! The creamy milk sauce, sauteed chicken and mushrooms in this one give it great flavor.
Macaroni/Rotini
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad - this pasta salad gets eaten by the bowlfuls in the Summertime. It can be a side dish or a full meal. The barbecue seasoning and creamy sauce is something like you've never had. People always ask for the recipe!
Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta - if your kids love the store bought Hamburger Helper go ahead and try my homemade version. It's a one skillet dish, doesn't have all the fake ingredients and tastes even better!
Instant Pot Mac & Cheese - if you frequently use your instant pot, this recipe is one to try. I never would have thought cooking noodles in there would be so easy. This creamy, cheesy mac rivals any restaurant.
Ravioli/Tortellini/Jumbo Shells
Cheesy Sausage Tortellini Bake - my kids request this dish at least once a month. It's always an easy "yes" from me as it only requires six easy ingredients. By the end of the night there is never a spoonful left.
Ravioli Lasagna - ever tried making lasagna with store bought ravioli instead of lasagna sheets? It's really quite simple and what makes it more fun is you can buy any stuffed ravioli you like - spinach, chicken, sausage, all cheese - so many possibilities.
Chicken & Spinach Stuffed Shells - I break out this recipe for lazy weekends and the whole family rejoices. You don't see too many stuffed shell recipes with shredded chicken, but I promise you these are incredible!
Cheese Tortellini Minestrone Soup - do you love a chop, dump and simmer soup? If so, this is one to try. Full of fresh veggies, seasonings and cheese tortellini it is the perfect soup for the first chilly day in the Fall.
Egg Noodles
Ground Beef Egg Noodles - this shortcut stroganoff recipe is a mainstay in our house. What makes it simple is using ground beef instead of cubed steak. The sauce is homemade, yet comes together really quick.
Creamy Slow Cooker Beef & Noodles - we like to use Amish egg noodles in this dish (they are thick & hearty), but regular egg noodles work just fine too. I've never met a person who doesn't love this stick to your ribs dinner.
Ziti/Penne
Chicken Bruschetta Pasta Salad - what a treat this one is! Grilled chicken tossed with pesto, grill seasoning, cubed fresh mozzarella and a homemade bruschetta. The flavors pop with this one. Make it for lunch or dinner.
5 Ingredient Cajun Ziti - you can't beat a five ingredient dinner! This one has Cajun flavors from some creole seasoning, but after that all you need is chicken, cream and Parmesan cheese.
Which pasta dish do you want to try first?
