Here are 10 easy pasta recipes your family will love! You’ll find a big variety of family friendly recipes and many of these recipes can be great ways to use leftovers!
10 Pasta Recipes Your Family Will Love!
Whether you’re in the mood for something light and cool, something baked, a soup or any of a big variety of flavors, you’re sure to find that one of these easy pasta recipes does the trick!
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
1/2 lb. Italian sausage
2 (16 oz.) cans stewed tomatoes, chopped, with juice
1 (8 oz.) can tomato paste
salt to taste
1 clove garlic, pressed, or garlic powder (to taste)
1 bay leaf
2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Crumble sausage in a 2-quart saucepan.
- Brown the sausage with the onion.
- Drain off the fat.
- Add the remaining ingredients.
- Simmer for 1 hour. Remove bay leaf before serving.
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
This BLT pasta salad recipe is a quick, easy and delicious pasta salad dish with the taste of a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. It is especially refreshing on warm days, but great for any day you feel like an easy cool and delicious meal. The recipe has no specific measurements, so you can add as little or much of each ingredient as you like.
Ingredients
Spiral pasta (or your favorite pasta), cooked
Bacon, cooked and crumbled
Tomatoes, chopped
Miracle Whip dressing
Lettuce
Instructions
- Mix the first four ingredients together.
- Serve on a bed of lettuce.
Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli Recipe Copycat
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
1 (15 oz.) can Northern beans
1 (28 oz.) can stewed tomatoes, sliced
16 oz. spagetti sauce
Italian seasoning, to taste
2 stalks celery, sliced thin
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups pasta, uncooked
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine everything in a Dutch oven.
- Bring to a boil on medium-high heat.
- Turn the heat down to low.
- Cover the pan with a lid.
- Allow to cook on slow simmer for 30 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Stir occasionally.
Easy Chicken Spinach Pasta Recipe
Experience the delightful combination of tender chicken and vibrant spinach in our easy Chicken Spinach Pasta recipe. This dish features succulent chicken breast and fresh spinach, all tossed in a savory garlic parmesan sauce. Quick to prepare and full of wholesome ingredients, this recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight or a casual dinner gathering. Treat yourself to a meal that’s as delicious as it is nourishing.
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
1 lb. fresh spinach, rinsed well
1 cup chicken broth
1 (16 oz.) pkg. pasta shells
1 tsp. olive oil or vegetable spray
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. nutmeg or mace
salt and pepper
1/2 lb. chicken breast, boned, skinned, grilled and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Cook the spinach in the broth until tender.
- Drain and reserve broth. Remove excess liquid by mashing.
- Cook pasta.
- In a heavy skillet over medium heat, add the oil or vegetable spray.
- Sauté the garlic, stirring constantly, until it is white (about 1 minute). Don’t allow it to brown.
- Add the spinach, nutmeg or mace and salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken pieces to the spinach and stir.
- Add a small amount of the reserved cooking broth.
- Stir the spinach until it is hot. If the spinach starts to get dry, add broth as necessary.
- Add the cooked pasta to the spinach mixture and blend well.
- Serve immediately with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.
This Green Chili Chicken Pasta Recipe is a delicious and easy Mexican themed dish. It’s an easy casserole with a different twist from a typical pasta dish.
PrintGreen Chili Chicken Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
4 oz. diced green chilies
1 lb. pasta, cooked
2 cups chicken cooked, shredded or chopped and seasoned with cumin and onion
2 cups (16 oz.) Monterrey Jack Cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan.
- Stir in flour to make a roux and let it bubble for 1 minute.
- Add in chicken broth, stirring constantly. Allow it to bubble and thicken for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Add sour cream and green chiles.
- In a greased 9×13 baking dish, layer pasta, chicken and cheese two times.
- Then pour the sauce over the top. Do not stir.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
Notes
- If you like, you can salt and pepper to taste or add any other seasonings you like.
- You might also add olives or garnish with tomatoes, parsley or cilantro.
Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe
This easy taco pasta salad recipe makes an easy one dish meal! Cool pasta with Mexican themed ingredients and finished with a tasty sweet dressing, it’s a perfect summertime family dinner recipe! It’s a great way to use leftover meat and veggies, too!
Ingredients
6 Tbsp. water
1/2 packet taco seasoning
1/2 lb. cooked hamburger or 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
8 oz. rotini pasta (or your favorite pasta shape), cooked, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 (2.25 oz.) can sliced black olives, drained
8 oz. shredded Colby Jack cheese (or your favorite cheese)
1 (8 oz.) bottle Catalina dressing or red French dressing*
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, combine the water and taco seasoning. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the cooked meat and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, seasoned meat, green pepper, onion, tomato, olives and cheese.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
- Stir before serving and add additional dressing if desired.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken works great in this recipe.
- This salad is easy to customize with ingredients you already have on hand. Try adding corn, black beans, avocado, jalapeños, or chopped lettuce just before serving.
- If you prefer a lighter salad, start with about 6 oz. of dressing and add more to taste.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
*The pasta will absorb some of the dressing as it chills, so the full bottle isn’t as much as it may seem. Add the dressing gradually if you prefer a less heavily dressed salad.
This ranch turkey pasta recipe is a quick and easy main dish recipe you can make to use some of your leftover holiday turkey. It is so fast you make it in less time than it takes to boil the pasta.
Ranch Turkey Pasta Recipe
This ranch turkey pasta recipe is a quick and easy main dish recipe you can make to use some of your leftover holiday turkey. It is so fast you make it in less time than it takes to boil the pasta.
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups uncooked medium tube pasta (or any other type of pasta or noodle)
6-8 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
3 cups turkey, cooked and cubed
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a skillet and add salad dressing mix.
- Add peas and carrots.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Drain the pasta.
- Add the pasta and the turkey to skillet.
Easy Pan Fried Lemon Chicken Recipe
This Easy Pan-Fried Lemon Chicken recipe is the perfect quick and budget-friendly dinner! Tender, breaded chicken strips are pan-fried to golden perfection, then paired with sautéed bell peppers and tossed over pasta. A simple, zesty lemon-broth sauce ties everything together for a fresh, flavorful meal—all for under $5! Whether you need a fast weeknight dinner or a satisfying meal without breaking the bank, this dish delivers big taste with minimal effort.
- Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients
2 bell peppers, chopped
1 whole chicken breast, boneless and skinless
1 Tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. olive oil
1/3 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. parsley, chopped
2 cups pasta, cooked
Instructions
- In a skillet, sauté bell peppers over medium heat in a small amount of oil.
- Cut chicken into strips.
- Mix flour, salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Coat chicken with flour mixture.
- Remove peppers from the skillet.
- Heat oil in the skillet, still on medium heat.
- Add chicken and cook 6-8 minutes, until brown.
- Add peppers and warm.
- Put the pasta on a serving dish.
- Place chicken and peppers on the pasta.
- Add chicken broth and lemon juice to the skillet.
- Stir over medium heat 2-3 minutes.
- Scrape the brown bits on the bottom of the pan and cook until reduced.
- Stir in parsley.
- Pour over chicken.
Notes
This recipe serves 2, but you can easily double it and still have dinner for under 5 dollars!
Sheala’s Easy Ham and Noodles Recipe
This easy ham and noodles casserole recipe is quick and easy and kids love it! Just 5 minutes preparation to a tasty meal without a lot of work!
Ingredients
1 (8 oz.) pkg. egg noodles or pasta, cooked
1/2 lb. ham, chopped
1(10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix the first three ingredients together in a casserole dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until warmed.
- Top with cheese.
- Bake an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.
Easy Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
Here’s an easy chicken and pasta dish your family is sure to love! This easy chicken cacciatore recipe is a tasty Italian dish that is quick and easy to make! A traditional family favorite that will leave everyone asking for more!
Ingredients
2-3 lbs. chicken pieces
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 (14 oz.) cans stewed tomatoes
2 cups mushrooms sliced
1 cup zucchini, sliced
1 tsp. fresh basil, crushed or 1/4 tsp dried basil
salt and pepper, to taste
4 cups pasta, cooked
Instructions
- Brown chicken in oil, 10 minutes, turning occasionally
- Drain.
- Add the rest of the ingredients except the pasta.
- Cover and simmer 25 minutes.
- Serve over pasta.
For more quick and easy recipes like these easy pasta recipes, check out our cookbook:
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