Pasta recipes are some of these most versatile dishes out there. Cooking a romantic dinner for two? There’s a pasta recipe for that. Need a quick and easy dinner on a weeknight? There’s a pasta recipe for that. Serving a crowd? There’s one for that too. Below, you’ll find 25 easy pasta recipes we’ve made and loved on all sorts of occasions – family gatherings, date nights in, and times when I’ve been at a loss for what to cook for dinner. Oftentimes, those nights have yielded the best pasta dinners we’ve had. Turns out, it only takes simple ingredients – olive oil, fresh herbs, and a splash of wine or sprinkle of cheese – to create pasta recipes worth making again and again. These pasta dishes are some of our favorites. I hope you love them as much as we do!
Spaghetti & Linguine Recipes
Pesto Pasta This one’s a classic for a reason! Luckily for us, it comes together in 15 minutes flat.
Lemon Linguine with Roasted Tomatoes Sometimes, the best pasta recipes are the simplest. Here, slow-roasted tomatoes and lemon add chewy texture and rich flavor to tangles of linguine, arugula, and creamy mozzarella cheese.
Spaghetti Bolognese You won’t miss the meat in this vegetarian spaghetti bolognese! French green lentils, walnuts, and cremini mushrooms make it hearty and substantial, while rosemary, sage, and a splash of red wine fill it with savory flavor.
Baked Pasta Recipes
Easy Baked Ziti This baked ziti recipe is perfect for any and every occasion, from a busy weeknight to a holiday dinner. It’s quick and easy to make, great for serving a crowd, and delicious to boot!
Roasted Vegetable Lasagna If you like a LOT of vegetables in your lasagna, this recipe is the one for you. I pile over 5 cups of roasted veggies between layers of creamy ricotta, pasta, and tomato sauce. They make it flavorful, hearty, and good for you, too!
Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells These stuffed shells are an all-time Love and Lemons fan favorite, and once you try them, you’ll see why. The filling – made of roasted butternut squash and a vegan spinach “ricotta” – is bright and creamy. They’d be good if you stopped there, but serving them with a pinch of red pepper flakes and luscious cashew cream sauce makes them totally irresistible.
Zucchini Lasagna This is no ordinary zucchini lasagna! Instead of ricotta, I use a creamy blend of tofu, zucchini, and walnuts, and zucchini planks step in for half the noodles. Still, even lasagna purists will fall for it. It may not be traditional, but it’s savory, fresh, and comforting nonetheless.
Creamy Pasta Recipes
Fettuccine Alfredo This nutty, velvety fettuccine Alfredo has a secret ingredient hiding inside it: cauliflower! Blended with Parmesan cheese, pasta water, and a touch of butter, it creates an Alfredo sauce that’s lighter than – but every bit as delicious as – the classic version.
Creamy Vegan Pasta You don’t need dairy to make a luscious pasta sauce, and this vegan pasta is here to prove it! The protein-packed sauce is a rich, creamy blend of white beans, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast. Trust me, you’ll want to go back for seconds!
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese An oldie, but a goodie! Steamed veggies and dollops of pesto add a fresh element to this creamy, comforting mac and cheese.
Creamy Pasta Pomodoro If Jack would let me, I’d eat this pasta pomodoro for dinner every night of the week. The creamy tomato sauce is comforting, yet light, made by blending homemade marinara with cashews. It adds delicious tangy flavor to the hearty noodles and sautéed veggies in this dish.
Creamy Sweet Corn Pappardelle, page 167 of Love and Lemons Every Day When sweet corn is in season, I can’t get enough of this sweet/smoky summer pasta! The juicy corn kernels blend with the “milk” from the cobs to become a perfect cream sauce without using actual cream.
Creamy Miso Brussels Sprout Fettucine, page 65 of The Love and Lemons Cookbook Nothing beats the bold umami flavor in this creamy vegan pasta sauce. Add seared Brussels sprouts and fettuccine into the mix, and you have a dish that even the pickiest eaters will love.
Vegetable Pasta Recipes
Roasted Vegetable Pasta Make this flexible, veggie-packed pasta with whatever produce you have on hand! Toss the caramelized veggies with feta cheese, fresh basil, and a big squeeze of lemon juice to make a bright, satisfying dish.
Sun Dried Tomato Pasta with Kale The ultimate winter pasta dish! Crunchy walnuts, caramelized fennel, and a splash of white wine make it flavorful and fun to eat.
Herb & Garlic Mushroom Pasta This pasta recipe is a terrific choice for a date night in, especially if your date loves mushrooms as much as mine does. It feels elevated, but it’s deceptively easy to make. I won’t tell if you won’t! Here are a few more of our favorite veggie-ful pastas:
Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli Butternut Squash Pasta with Chile Oil, Feta & Mint Lemony Summer Squash Orecchiette Tomato Tagliatelle with Greens Whole Wheat Shells with Roasted Cauliflower Zucchini Lemon Orzo One-Pot Penne Pasta
No-Noodle Pasta Recipes
Sweet Potato Noodles with Garlic & Kale My vibrant spin on spaghetti aglio e olio! I toss garlicky sweet potato noodles with fresh basil, sautéed greens, toasted pine nuts, and a shower of Parmesan cheese.
No-Noodle Sweet Potato Lasagna Lasagna and baked sweet potatoes are two of my favorite comfort foods, so I thought, why not combine them? I add chopped sage and tangy feta to the creamy ricotta filling to highlight the cozy flavor of the sweet potato “noodles.” There’s nothing I crave more on a cold winter night!
Zucchini Noodle Puttanesca, page 177 of Love and Lemons Every Day This recipe did the impossible: it got Jack and me to love olives! They add intense briny flavor to this super fresh summertime pasta.
How to Make Zucchini Noodles Lighten up your favorite pasta dishes by swapping zoodles for traditional noodles! Layer them into a lasagna, or sauté them and top them with any pasta sauce you love. Alternatively, try using strands of roasted spaghetti squash with your favorite pasta sauce.
What to Serve with Pasta Recipes
These recipes can all act as full meals on their own, but they’re also delicious with something fresh on the side. I particularly like to serve pasta with my Caesar salad, classic Caprese salad, or Greek Salad, but any of these favorite salad recipes would pair nicely with the easy pasta recipes here. Alternatively, forego the salad and serve a roasted vegetable instead! Roasted broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts are all great partners for pasta. And if you’re serving a crowd, charred cherry tomatoes, a burrata platter, or homemade focaccia would make a fantastic starter. Bon appétit!
More Favorite Dinner Ideas
If you love these pasta recipes, check out my favorite easy dinner recipes, 85 best vegan recipes, or top soup recipes next!
