Pasta Night, Upgraded: 20 Weeknight Dinners You Need

Nothing beats cozy pasta weeknight dinners after a long day, especially when they go beyond the usual jarred sauce and noodles. I found some seriously good recipes that are easy enough for a Tuesday but still feel a little fancy. Think creamy, spicy, cheesy, or loaded with veggies—whatever mood you’re in. These dishes are total game-changers for dinner time.

Stuffed Shells With Spinach And Ricotta In Meat Sauce

A stuffed shell being removed from a baking dish — Stuffed Shells With Spinach And Ricotta In Meat Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Stuffed Shells with Spinach, three cheeses, a fabulous tomato sauce, and with either Italian or chicken sausage make for an Italian meal that’s restaurant worthy.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Shells With Spinach And Ricotta In Meat Sauce

Baked Chicken Gnocchi

An iron skillet with baked gnocchi — Baked Chicken Gnocchi. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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Make an easy and simple Baked Chicken Gnocchi for dinner this week. Rotisserie chicken and packaged or frozen gnocchi can transform into a yummy meal in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Gnocchi

Shrimp Carbonara With Grilled Corn

A skillet of creamy shrimp carbonara. — Shrimp Carbonara With Grilled Corn. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Follow these easy make-ahead steps for shrimp carbonara with grilled corn (it doesn’t have to be grilled) and bacon.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Carbonara With Grilled Corn

Shrimp Pasta With Mascarpone

Parmesan being added to shrimp and pasta. — Shrimp Pasta With Mascarpone. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This easy shrimp and spinach pasta with mascarpone is rich and creamy and can be on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Pasta With Mascarpone

Cheesy Chicken Mac

A close-up of chicken mac in a floral-patterned dish. The pasta is covered in a creamy sauce and mixed with cooked spinach and chunks of tender chicken. A serving spoon is scooping out a portion, capturing some of the gooey, cheesy topping. — Cheesy Chicken Mac. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This Cheesy Chicken Mac is less like mac and cheese and more like a casserole with its creamy sauce, tender chicken, and fresh spinach.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Mac

Ricotta Cheese And Broccoli Pasta

A large bowl of broccoli pasta with ricotta. — Ricotta Cheese And Broccoli Pasta. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Ricotta pasta with roasted broccoli makes a perfect quick weeknight dinner. A lighter, but still flavorful, mac and cheese dish.
Get the Recipe: Ricotta Cheese And Broccoli Pasta

Rich And Creamy Chicken Mushroom Spaghetti

A black plate holds a serving of pasta mixed with diced tomatoes, herbs, and melted cheese—an inviting choice for easy date night dinners. A vintage-style fork rests on the side atop a gray tray set on a white, hexagon-tiled surface. — Rich And Creamy Chicken Mushroom Spaghetti. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This delicious chicken mushroom pasta is a blend of tender, juicy chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and a mouthwatering tomato-based mushroom sauce.
Get the Recipe: Rich And Creamy Chicken Mushroom Spaghetti

30-Minute Baked Mac & Cheese With Spinach

A spoon full of baked mac and cheese with spinach. — 30-Minute Baked Mac & Cheese With Spinach. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Baby spinach leaves are mixed into this rich, creamy gruyere and cheddar macaroni and cheese before it’s baked to perfection for 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Baked Mac & Cheese With Spinach

Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe

A black platter of lemony chicken pasta on a grey napkin. — Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Lemon Chicken Pasta is an easy weeknight dish with tender chicken and a lemony cream sauce. A 30 minute meal you’ll love.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe

Lasagna With Bechamel

A serving of homemade lasagna — Lasagna With Bechamel. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This Homemade Lasagna Recipe is an all time favorite comfort food. Smothered in a creamy béchamel sauce it’s the best homemade lasagna you’ll find. Easier than it sounds and perfect if you want to feed a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna With Bechamel

Baked Penne With Vodka Sauce, Ricotta & Sausage

A spoon full of baked pasta. — Baked Penne With Vodka Sauce, Ricotta & Sausage. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This recipe for baked penne pasta combines homemade vodka sauce, withricotta cheese and crumbled Italian sausage. An easy pasta casserole!
Get the Recipe: Baked Penne With Vodka Sauce, Ricotta & Sausage

Creamiest Tomato Mascarpone Pasta

A bowl of bucatini pasta topped with tomato sauce, grated cheese, and fresh basil, with a fork resting on the side—perfect inspiration for your next pasta recipes. — Creamiest Tomato Mascarpone Pasta. Photo credit: Josie and Nina.

A skillet of tomato mascarpone pasta is the best weeknight meal and welcome cure to a long day. Rich mascarpone makes a creamy tomato sauce!
Get the Recipe: Creamiest Tomato Mascarpone Pasta

Pesto Chicken Pasta

Bursting with tomato and basil pesto flavor, this quick and easy pesto chicken pasta recipe is sure to become a new family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Chicken Pasta

Baked Spaghetti With Creamy Vodka Sauce

A close-up of a cheesy baked spaghetti casserole with tomato sauce and ground meat, topped with melted cheese and herbs, makes for one of those easy date night dinners—served with a fork lifting a gooey, delicious portion. — Baked Spaghetti With Creamy Vodka Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Baked spaghetti with vodka sauce is a creamy pasta that makes an easy meal that you can prepare in twenty minutes for a hungry crowd.
Get the Recipe: Baked Spaghetti With Creamy Vodka Sauce

Lemony Cauliflower Pasta Bake With Ricotta Cheese

A blue casserole dish with baked cauliflower pasta. — Lemony Cauliflower Pasta Bake With Ricotta Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Creamy cauliflower pasta bake has surprise pockets of ricotta cheese along with lemon and capers and a crispy topping.
Get the Recipe: Lemony Cauliflower Pasta Bake With Ricotta Cheese

30 Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta With Artichoke Hearts

Sun-Dried pasta with artichokes in a skillet. — 30 Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta With Artichoke Hearts. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Mix up pasta night and try Penne with Artichokes and Italian sausage. Artichokes add just the right flavor along with some sun-dried tomatoes for an easy pasta dish you can make in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: 30 Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta With Artichoke Hearts

Pancetta Pasta

Tongs pulling up pasta. — Pancetta Pasta. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Enjoy diving into Fettuccine Carbonara with Pancetta, for a rich and creamy sauce that comes together in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Pancetta Pasta

One Pan Pasta With Italian Sausage, Onions And Apples

a bowl of pasta with sausage apples and onions. — One Pan Pasta With Italian Sausage, Onions And Apples. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This Pasta with Italian Sausage, Onions, and Apples is a delicious, comforting dish perfect for cozy weeknights with a sweet and savory twist.
Get the Recipe: One Pan Pasta With Italian Sausage, Onions And Apples

Easy Sweet Potato Pasta With Creamy Sauce

This creamy sweet potato pasta recipe is made with smooth silken tofu, milk, and sweet potatoes for a rich, velvety sauce.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sweet Potato Pasta With Creamy Sauce

15-Minute Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta

Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta top view. — 15-Minute Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Parmesan and Garlic Linguine Pasta is super easy, fast and SO flavorful! This is sure to be one of your new favorite linguine recipes!
Get the Recipe: 15-Minute Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta

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