Saucy, creamy, and dreamy: 15 irresistible pasta dishes for your dinner

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Pasta is a universal comfort food, loved for its versatility, simplicity, and the sheer joy it brings to the dinner table. Try these 15 pasta dishes and discover a symphony of flavors that’ll make every dinner special.

Olive garden chicken pasta on a fork.
Olive Garden Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Chicken Riggies

Chicken riggies in a bowl topped with Parmesan and green onion.
Chicken Riggies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This delightful recipe brings together succulent chicken, rigatoni pasta, and a slightly spicy, creamy tomato sauce. It’s an easy dish that’s perfect for when you need comfort food, but still easy enough for any family weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Riggies

Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Chili mac in a bowl with tortilla chips.
Slow Cooker Chili Mac. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Combining the goodness of chili with kid-pleasing mac & cheese, this slow cooker Chili Mac gives a much-needed cozy twist to your weeknight meals. Using the slow cooker makes dinner a breeze.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Bowl of copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup in a bowl with breadsticks in the background.
Chicken Gnocchi Soup – Upstate Ramblings.

Nothing screams family favorite like a warm bowl of Slow Cooker Gnocchi Soup. Just toss the ingredients in your slow cooker and let it work its magic. With velvety gnocchi and rich flavors, this soup offers a nourishing meal with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Crock Pot Mac & Cheese

A spoonful of pasta macaroni and cheese in a slow cooker.
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Whip up the easiest mac & cheese in no time with this slow cooker recipe. It’s a hassle-free, comfort food that will be a kid-favorite – perfect for those busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast!
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Gnocchi with Sauce

Instant Pot Gnocchi with Sauce. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.
Instant Pot Gnocchi with Sauce. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Soft, pillowy gnocchi enveloped in a robust beefy sauce, all made in your Instant Pot! This recipe offers a family favorite meal that feels gourmet, but is simple enough for a weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Gnocchi with Sauce

Mini Lasagna Cups

Mini lasagna cups cut open to show the insides.

Mini Lasagna Cups are the ultimate pasta lover’s dream! These adorable little cups make weeknight cooking a breeze, combining the rich, cheesy flavors of lasagna in a single-serving size. Perfect for both kids and adults, they bring fun and flavor to the table without the fuss.
Get the Recipe: Mini Lasagna Cups

Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Olive garden chicken pasta on a fork.
Olive Garden Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Craving for Olive Garden but stuck at home? No problem! This recipe recreates the popular Olive Garden Chicken Pasta at home, giving you a comforting, restaurant-quality family meal right at your dinner table.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with Sausage

Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with Sausage. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.
Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with Sausage. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Creamy, rich, and loaded with savory sausage, this Fettuccine Alfredo takes your family dinner to the next level. Thanks to the Instant Pot, you can have this deeply satisfying dish ready in a flash – ideal for those weeknights when you want something indulgent.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with Sausage

Baked Manicotti

Baked manicotti in a cast iron skillet.
Baked Manicotti. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

With its pasta tubes stuffed with cheesy goodness and covered with a rich tomato sauce, this baked manicotti recipe is pure comfort food. It’s a classic Italian dish that’s perfect for a leisurely weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Baked Manicotti

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Plate of spaghetti and meatballs topped with parmesan.
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Who can resist the classic combination of spaghetti and meatballs? This recipe makes it even easier with the Instant Pot, serving up a one pot meal that will surely be a hit at your weeknight dinner table.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Tortellini & Meatballs

Two black bowls filled with Blackstone Tortellini & Meatballs.
Tortellini & Meatballs. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Outdoor cooking just doesn’t get any tastier than this! Loaded with tender tortellini, tasty meatballs, and oodles of goodies like spinach, peppers, and onions, this satisfying and colorful dish is easy and can feed a crowd!
Get the Recipe: Tortellini & Meatballs

Tuna Pesto Pasta

Tuna pesto pasta on a white plate with a copper fork.
Tuna Pesto Pasta. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This easy, under 30-minute tuna pesto pasta recipe with burst cherry tomatoes, spinach, and garlic is a weeknight meal the entire family will love.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Pesto Pasta

Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup

Spaghetti and meatballs soup in a cup.
Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup. Photo credit: Feast + West.

Spaghetti and meatballs becomes even cozier when it’s made into soup. This 30-minute dinner idea takes pasta night to new heights and will be an instant classic.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup

Pasta alla Norma

Pasta alla Norma in a Dutch oven.
Pasta alla Norma. Photo Credit: Splash of Taste.

Our pasta alla norma recipe will have your family asking for seconds. This Sicilian classic is a perfect blend of roasted eggplant, tomatoes, cheese, and fresh basil, all tossed in a delicious, flavorful sauce.
Grab the Recipe: Pasta alla Norma

Viral Gigi Hadid Pasta

A white bowl filled with a red pasta topped with cheese and herbs.
Gigi Hadid Pasta. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum

Prepare to be captivated by this effortless yet intensely flavorful creamy and spicy vodka sauce pasta, without the need for vodka. Indulge in the robust and bold taste that this recipe brings to the table while enjoying how easy it is to make on a busy weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Gigi Hadid Pasta

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