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.
This Pasta Veggie Fruit Salad recipe is a wonderful dish to make up in the morning. Then, when dinner time comes and everyone is hot and tired, just set this dish on the table. Voila! Dinner is served.
Pasta Veggie Fruit Salad Recipe
This easy pasta veggie fruit salad recipe makes a quick and delicious meal that’s perfect for a hot day. The salad features spiral pasta, tender chicken, crunchy celery, sweet green grapes, juicy mandarin oranges, crisp water chestnuts, and a mix of chopped green pepper and red onion. It’s a vibrant, one-dish meal everyone will love. Prepare it in the morning, and when dinner time rolls around, just set it on the table—no fuss, no stress!
Ingredients
Dressing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta.
- While it is cooking, chop the rest of the ingredients and mix.
- Mix the dressing ingredients together.
- Add pasta and mix everything.
- Chill.
- Garnish with toasted slivered almonds, if desired.
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 envelope taco seasoning
1/2 lb. cooked hamburger or 1 cup cooked chicken
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 (2 oz.) can sliced black olives
8 oz. rotini or some type of pasta, cooked, drained and rinsed
8 oz. shredded Colby jack cheese or your favorite kind of cheese
1 (8 oz.) bottle Catalina or red French salad dressing*
Instructions
- Combine the taco seasoning and water in a medium skillet.
- Bring to a boil.
- Add the meat, simmering for 5-10 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Set aside to cool while you chop the veggies.
- Pour the pasta into a large bowl along with everything else.
- Toss everything to coat it with the dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
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.
And a Bonus Recipe! :-)
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.
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Thank you
Tara n Mike
What a lovely post! All the recipes look divine! Cant wait to make them all! Love the presentation of the pics & recipe ingredients & directions. Easy to follow! My family will be happy!
Thank you Frances hope you enjoy them!
We enjoy our cook book and your efforts online too
Continue your ministry of home economics it is appreciated
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Oh thank you so much KP – we do so appreciate it.
LOVE These Pasta Recipes! Can’t wait to try them all. Italian food is always WELCOME at our house. (smile) Been doing it for years and always on the LOOKOUT for new ones.
THANK YOU for these ..”can’t wait to try” Italian Pasta recipes.
Chris
For sure Chris you can’t go wrong with Italian. : ) : )