17 pasta recipes to spice up your weeknight dinner routine

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Tired of the same old pasta dishes? Twirl your fork into something new and exciting with our collection of 17 pasta recipes to spice up your weeknight dinner routine!

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

Baked Manicotti

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

Stuff your weeknights with excitement with Baked Manicotti, where cheese-filled pasta shells meet a hearty beef and marinara hug. It’s the kind of dish that brings the comfort of Sunday dinner to a Tuesday night.
Get the Recipe: Baked Manicotti

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

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

Who needs Olive Garden when you can whip up their famous Chicken Gnocchi Soup right in your own kitchen? Toss chicken, veggies, and pillowy gnocchi into the slow cooker and let the magic happen.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Spicy Chicken Riggies

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

Turn the heat up on your dinner routine with Spicy Chicken Riggies, a dish that’s got a bit of a kick. Chicken and hot peppers simmer in a creamy tomato sauce that’s just begging to be twirled on a forkful of rigatoni.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Chicken Riggies

Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Cheese covered slow cooker chili mac in the crock pot with a wooden spoon.
Slow Cooker Chili Mac. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Unleash the power of your crock pot with Slow Cooker Chili Mac, where chili and macaroni join forces for a match made in weeknight heaven. Just set it and forget it, and come dinnertime, you’ll be diving into a bowl of hearty, cheesy goodness.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

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

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs is the one-pot wonder that’s here to save your spaghetti night. Homemade meatballs mingle with sauce and pasta in a pressure-cooked paradise that’s ready in no time.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Crock Pot Baked Ziti

A bowl of pasta with meat and tomatoes.
Crock Pot Baked Ziti. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Crock Pot Baked Ziti is the set-it-and-forget-it hero of hectic weeknights, layering up ziti, marinara, cheese, and sausage for a slow-cooked love affair. The slow cooker works its magic, melding all the flavors into a comforting, cheesy masterpiece.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Baked Ziti

Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

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

Bring the flavors of Olive Garden home with this slow cooker chicken pasta that’s so tender and cheesy, it practically falls apart when you look at it. It’s a creamy, dreamy pasta dish that simmers all day to perfection, making you the copycat chef with the mostest.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Instant Pot Gnocchi with Sauce

An Instant Pot recipe for a bowl of pasta with meat and vegetables.
Instant Pot Gnocchi with Sauce. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Say ciao to bland dinners with Instant Pot Gnocchi with Sauce, where pillowy gnocchi and hearty meat sauce come together fast. This is weeknight dining with a flair for the dramatic and a taste for the divine.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Gnocchi with Sauce

Pasta Aglio Olio e Peperoncino

pasta aglio olio e peperoncino is mixed with a black pasta fork.
Pasta Aglio Olio e Peperoncino. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Pasta Aglio Olio e Peperoncino is the simple yet sultry dish that’ll add some sizzle to your supper. Golden garlic, rich olive oil, and spicy chili peppers tango with pasta for a minimalist masterpiece.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Aglio Olio e Peperoncino

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

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

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is the creamy, cheesy antidote to any dreary weekday, crafting comfort food magic while you go about your day. It’s the kind of side that sneaks its way into main dish territory because nobody can resist just one more spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Creamy Pea Pasta

Image shows Creamy Pea Pasta in an enameled cast iron pot.
Creamy Pea Pasta. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Creamy Pea Pasta is the bright and zesty sidekick your Meatless Monday didn’t know it needed, ready to make a weeknight cameo that’ll steal the show. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s bursting with that fresh pea pop.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta

Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta

Chicken and pasta in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon.
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Add a little jazz to your weeknights with Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta, where the flavors of Louisiana slow dance in a creamy, spicy sauce. Tender chicken and pasta come together in a dish that’s as easy to make as it is to love.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta

Penne Pasta Bake

A wooden spoon scooping a portion of penne pasta bake.
Penne Pasta Bake. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Mix up your midweek meals with a Penne Pasta Bake that’s a triple threat of penne, beefy marinara, and melty cheese. Baked to bubbly perfection, this dish is a warm, cheesy embrace that’s perfect for sharing—or not.
Get the Recipe: Penne Pasta Bake

Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti

A crock pot filled with spaghetti and chicken.
Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Let the slow cooker work its cozy magic with Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti, creating tender chicken, perfect pasta, and velvety cheese sauce. You’ll walk in the door to a meal that’s been getting better with every tick of the clock.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti

Meatball & Pasta Bake

A casserole dish with meatballs and pasta.
Meatball & Pasta Bake. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Enjoy the no-nonsense deliciousness of a Meatball & Pasta Bake, where all you need to do is dump, stir, and bake your way to a hearty meal. Get ready to be the weeknight warrior with this one-pan wonder.
Get the Recipe: Meatball & Pasta Bake

Crock Pot Beef and Noodles

Closeup of Slow Cooker beef with egg noodles.
Crock Pot Beef and Noodles. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Enjoy the comfort of Crock Pot Beef and Noodles, where beef gets fall-apart tender and mingles with noodles in a slow-cooked embrace. It’s the effortless comfort food that’ll have you looking forward to dinner all day long.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Beef and Noodles

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