Enjoy these easy Italian pasta recipes that everyone will love. These Italian dishes may look impressive, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t easy to make for a delicious meal.
I may be slightly biased due to the fact I grew up in an Italian home, but Italian cuisine is the only type of food that gives me great joy when cooking. The number of various dishes you can prepare for weeknight dinners or special occasions are endless, so take a look and give them a try.
Easy Italian Pasta Recipes
Below you’ll find a growing list of Italian pasta dishes that taste amazing and are simple to prepare. Take a look and let me know what pasta dishes are your favorite!
1
Italian Meatless Lasagna
This delicious meatless Italian lasagna recipe is so easy to make. We use regular traditional boxed lasagna noodles that are boiled and are layered between your favorite Italian marinara sauce and a wonderful ricotta cheese mixture. This dish is perfect for making ahead and freezing for later.
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2
Spinach Manicotti Recipe
These manicotti are filled with a spinach and ricotta cheese mixture. Learn how to make this class Italian dish using store bought manicotti. You can also use the mixture for homemade manicotti as well. This easy recipe will impress everyone at the table!
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3
Pasta with Chicken and Olives
One of my favorite ways of serving pasta is by combining it with the flavors of cooked chicken and kalamata olives. This mediterranean style recipe can be made in a single pan and is ready is about 30 minutes – even sooner if your chicken is pre-cooked!
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4
Manicotti Crepes Recipe (homemade)
Have you ever made pancakes? If so, then you'll have no trouble making these. These manicotti crepes are like thin pancakes with a simple flour mixture for the batter. This is the authentic Italian recipe for manicotti and I know you'll love them!
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5
Pasta with Cauliflower
One of my favorite ways to eat cauliflower is when it's combined with Romano cheese – wow, the flavor is so good! Now just add it to some pasta and you're all set. This easy pasta dish is one of the best ways to eat some veggies for dinner!
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6
Italian Tuna Pasta Salad
This delightful protein-filled pasta salad can be ready to go by the time you've cooked and cooled the pasta. If you don't have any tuna on hand, try using a can of chicken instead. This salad is a great dish for hot summer days.
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7
Pasta with Asparagus and Peas
Wondering what to do with your asparagus? Make a pasta recipe out of it! This Italian pasta recipe sautes the asparagus over the stove and serves it mixed in with the pasta and peas topped with a light alfredo sauce.
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8
Midnight Pasta
When it's late at night and you want a quick dish with minimal effort, this midnight pasta dish is the perfect choice. Long thin pasta is an ideal choice for this simple Italian recipe.
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9
Pasta Alfredo con Pollo (Chicken)
This pasta and chicken dish is great for using up leftover chicken. Use a linguini or fettuccini pasta coated with a refreshingly light cheese alfredo sauce. Top the dish with some freshly chopped Italian parsley and fresh parmesan cheese.
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10
Pasta with Breadcrumbs
Enjoy this easy pasta recipe mixed with some toasted seasoned breadcrumbs. The crunchiness of the breadcrumbs are like fireworks going off with every bite. I don't use store bought breadcrumbs, instead I use my own that are toasted in a pan mixed with olive oil and garlic. The result – delicious!
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11
Pasta with Eggplant and Zucchini
This recipe was inspired by watching my Italian mother-in-law combine eggplant and zucchini from the garden with her cooked pasta. I took the idea and decided to combine it with some tortellini and it was an instant winner. The cheese filled tortellini added a nice robustness to the entire dish, although you can use any type of tortellini or other small pasta.
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12
Ravioli with Butter Sauce, Sage and Mushrooms
I'm so used to red sauces I don't dabble much with butter sauces until recently. I love this sauce because it's light and doesn't cause the ravioli to drown in it. It's also very flexible and I provide you with tons of tips and options.
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13
Eggplant, Tomatoes, Zucchini with Pasta
Here's another eggplant and zucchini hearty pasta recipe but this time we combine it with chopped tomatoes. It's a single pan recipe and goes great with thick pasta types such as rigatoni or penne.
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14
Ravioli Salad
We don't usually think of ravioli as a salad but this cold pasta recipe tastes great. It's refreshing and light, and a true delight to eat. It is ready to serve as soon as you cook the pasta and let it cool. It also tastes great the next day when left in the fridge to marinate in the Italian seasonings and flavors.
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15
Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
This Italian pasta recipe is served cold and is full of black and kalamata olives, red peppers and other Mediterranean flavors. Make sure the tortellini are fully cooked since it will stop cooking when you run them under cold water. This dish is delicious and is perfect for a summer picnic!
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16
Angel Hair Pasta Salad
Next time you want to make a pasta recipe using angel hair, try this salad. The pasta is mixed with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, olives, and is tossed with a balsamic olive oil vinaigrette. It makes perfect leftovers because no reheating is required.
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17
Pasta with Lemon and Asparagus
Lemon and asparagus are a perfect match but when you serve it with some linguini coated with a light Alfredo sauce and fresh herbs, you're really cooking! Add a dash of white wine for some extra depth. Enjoy this recipe for a nice lunch or light dinner. It's easy, quick and refreshing!
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18
Shrimp and Spaghetti
If you enjoy pasta with seafood, you should try this shrimp and spaghetti recipe. It's a quick dish prepared in a large skillet and tossed with olive oil, garlic, and Italian parsley. The shrimp taste amazing and the whole family will love it.
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19
Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta
I grew up having stuffed shells for special occasions and always thought it would be hard to make. Let me tell you, this Italian recipe is easy! It's so impressive when served so just make sure you don't tell anyone how easy it is. Use chopped frozen spinach with the ricotta cheese filling, no need for fresh spinach. Top with your favorite pasta sauce and you're ready to go. This recipe also stores very well in the freezer or in the fridge if you make it the day before. See my article on how long to cook frozen stuffed shells for more information.
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20
Pasta and Peas Recipe
This is one of the earliest recipes I learned and I still make it today. Simply cook up some peas and toss with some pasta, olive oil and garlic and top with Parmesan cheese or Romano cheese. It's quick, easy, and a great way to serve peas to finicky eaters!
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21
Italian Pastina Soup
This Italian pasta recipe is more of a risotto style soup and is the ultimate Italian comfort food. It uses pastina (tiny pasta) which comes in various shapes which are cooked in the chicken broth. The most common pastas are acini di pepe which I love, but there are other shapes such as stelline, which is the star shaped pasta. This pasta dish is perfect for days when feeling under the weather and you just want a soul-warming pasta recipe.
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22
Easy Italian Pasta Bake
This baked pasta recipe is a meatless version, so no Italian sausage or beef is needed. Simply create the cheese mixture and mix with the al dente pasta and then finish it off in the oven. This recipe can be frozen in meal size portions ahead of time for proper meal planning. This classic Italian pasta recipe is easy and convenient and can be served with a side salad and toasted garlic bread.
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23
Pasta and Broccoli Recipe
Give your broccoli some life by adding it to some cooked pasta. This is one of those easy dinners that does wonders for getting family to eat their greens. The garlic with the broccoli and coated pasta in olive oil is a delicious combination.
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24
Sausage Pasta Salad
Here's another pasta recipe that can be served cold or warm. I like to serve this pasta salad with sausage cold, but then heat up the leftovers the next day over the stove. It helps give me another meal so I don't feel like I'm eating leftovers. This easy recipe takes no time to prepare and I use precooked Italian chicken sausage to really speed things up. Plus it's a healthier option to regular pork sausage.
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25
Baked Orzo Italiano Recipe Details
If you love pasta, try this baked orzo dish. It's full of cheese and Italian flavors and is topped with a breadcrumb crust. It's unique and different. You can use it as a main meal or serve it as a side dish.
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26
Pasta fa*gioli Soup Recipe
Pasta added to soup is delicious, and this recipe for pasta fa*gioli aka pasta fazool is a perfect example. Loaded with chunks of vegetables and beans, cooked in a tomato-based broth, this soup is hearty and classic. Top with some fresh basil when serving.
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27
Pasta with Fresh Tomato and Garlic
This Italian recipe uses fresh garlic and fresh tomatoes. It's served warm, but is perfect for summer dishes. The fresh tomatoes go great with chopped fresh basil that is a classic combination in Italian cuisine. I like to use penne pasta for this simple recipe.
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28
Pasta with Swiss Chard and Tomatoes
Another way to serve your pasta is to cook it with sauted greens such as swiss chard. Cook it over the stove along with some fresh tomatoes, olive oil and garlic. Then add in the cooked pasta (any pasta type will do), and top with some freshly grated cheese. For an extra kick, sprinkle the pasta with some red pepper flakes. Make sure to remember to save some of the pasta water to keep the pasta from sticking when you add it to the other ingredients.
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29
Mushroom Ricotta Pasta
Enjoy your pasta with an easy ricotta creamy sauce along with tender sliced mushrooms. The mix of flavors is amazing and it's so easy to make! You'll have dinner on the table in no time!
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30
Easy Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Olive oil and Garlic
Shrimp and lemon go great together, but add it with some pasta and a garlic sauce, you're really in business!
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Storing and Reheating Italian Pasta
You’ve made it this far, congrats! I hope you’re getting inspired by all of these easy pasta recipes. If you’re wondering how to properly store and reheat your pasta creations, then look no further.
Storing your pasta
For long-term storage in the freezer, I only recommend baked pasta dishes that are covered in a tomato sauce, such as lasagna and stuffed shells.
Otherwise, you can store your pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. My general rule of thumb is 3 days for meats and 5 days for non-meat recipes.
Reheating pasta noodle dishes
The best way to reheat the majority of pasta dishes is over the stove in a skillet or frying pan. Simply place the pasta in the pan and add a little bit of water to prevent sticking and to encourage steam to form.
Then cover the dish and reheat over low to medium heat for about 5 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the pasta. Give the pasta an occasional stir to help it reheat evenly.
Reheating stuffed pasta shells
For baked pasta dishes I recommend reheating them in the microwave. This helps preserve the shape of the stuffed shells and will heat them more thoroughly at a quicker rate. Make sure to cover the dish to prevent your pasta or spaghetti sauce from splattering inside the microwave walls, creating a mess for you to clean up!
Common Italian Pasta Dish Seasonings
If you’re looking for a way to spice up your pasta recipes, then these following helpful tips might do the trick.
- Add a dash of red pepper flakes to the final dish, once served. Not everyone likes these so do this on an individual basis.
- Even though the cheese will contain salt, some people prefer a bit more. Add a dash of salt and black pepper to enhance the flavors.
- Use fresh herbs with your pasta. The most common traditional herbs are basil, parsley and oregano. Oregano can be very strong, so if creating your own seasoning mix use it sparingly.
- Add a dash of chicken broth or even white wine to add extra depth when appropriate.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of easy Italian pasta recipes. Make sure to share your favorite pasta recipes below!
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