If you think there’s no such thing as too much garlic, you and I are going to get along great. These pasta recipes treat garlic as the main character, not the supporting act. I rounded up the best of the best from trusted food bloggers — real recipes that real people make over and over again, and that I think you’re going to love too.
From slow-roasted whole cloves to sharp raw slices fried golden, every one of these is a love letter to the most underrated ingredient in the pantry. Grab a fork and dig in.
What’s Inside
Here’s the full lineup — click any recipe to jump straight to it.
- Creamy Lemon Pasta (Pasta al Limone)
- Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta
- Tomato, Basil, and Garlic Pasta
- Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta
- Bucatini Pasta with Garlic Butter Sauce
- Pasta Puttanesca
- Easy Greek Lemon Garlic Olive Oil Pasta
- Skordomakaronada (Crunchy Garlic-Rusk Pasta)
- Jo Mama’s World Famous Spaghetti
- Balsamic Tomato-Basil Pasta
- BA’s Best Baked Ziti
- Easy Baked Ziti
- Baked Ziti
- Pasta Primavera
- Spaghetti with Roasted Corn and Tomatoes
- Creamy Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
- Pasta alla Norma
- Pasta with Tomatoes & Shiitakes
The 18 Recipes
From quick weeknight staples to the special-occasion showstoppers, here are the 18 pasta recipes that I think everyone should know how to make. Each one has been tested, loved, and made-on-repeat by home cooks all over the world.
Creamy Lemon Pasta (Pasta al Limone)
Butter, cream, lemon zest, and parmesan — five minutes of cooking, a lifetime of cravings. Bon Appétit’s take is bright, rich, and exactly what pasta was made for.
Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta
Food.com’s take on creamy garlic penne pasta is one of the most-loved versions on the internet. It’s the kind of recipe that turns an ordinary weeknight into something a little bit special.
Tomato, Basil, and Garlic Pasta
Good tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and patience — that’s the whole game. Food.com’s version lets each ingredient shine.
Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta
Food.com’s take on creamy garlic butter pasta is one of the most-loved versions on the internet. It’s the kind of recipe that turns an ordinary weeknight into something a little bit special.
Bucatini Pasta with Garlic Butter Sauce
Bucatini’s hollow strands trap every drop of garlicky butter. The Cozy Apron’s version is the comfort bowl I want on cold nights.
Pasta Puttanesca
Anchovies, olives, capers, and tomatoes make a sauce that punches way above its weight. This The Cozy Apron version is bold, briny, and unapologetically Italian.
Easy Greek Lemon Garlic Olive Oil Pasta
Butter, cream, lemon zest, and parmesan — five minutes of cooking, a lifetime of cravings. Diane Kochilas’s take is bright, rich, and exactly what pasta was made for.
Skordomakaronada (Crunchy Garlic-Rusk Pasta)
Greek yogurt, fresh herbs, and good olive oil make a sauce that’s creamy without being heavy. Diane Kochilas’s version is bright, fresh, and a little bit different.
Jo Mama’s World Famous Spaghetti
Food.com’s take on jo mama’s world famous spaghetti is one of the most-loved versions on the internet. It’s the kind of recipe that turns an ordinary weeknight into something a little bit special.
Balsamic Tomato-Basil Pasta
Good tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and patience — that’s the whole game. Food.com’s version lets each ingredient shine.
BA’s Best Baked Ziti
Tube pasta, three cheeses, and a long bake make this the Bon Appétit recipe I bring to every potluck.
Easy Baked Ziti
Tube pasta, three cheeses, and a long bake make this the Food.com recipe I bring to every potluck.
Baked Ziti
Tube pasta, three cheeses, and a long bake make this the The Cozy Apron recipe I bring to every potluck.
Pasta Primavera
Whatever’s in season gets tossed with pasta in this endlessly adaptable The Cozy Apron recipe. It’s a great fridge-cleanout move.
Spaghetti with Roasted Corn and Tomatoes
Daring Gourmet’s take on spaghetti with roasted corn and tomatoes is one of the most-loved versions on the internet. It’s the kind of recipe that turns an ordinary weeknight into something a little bit special.
Creamy Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Basil, pine nuts, garlic, and parmesan blitzed into a bright green sauce. Daring Gourmet’s version is the kind of thing you put on everything.
Pasta alla Norma
Roasted eggplant, tomatoes, basil, and ricotta salata. Daring Gourmet’s version of this Sicilian classic is the most underrated pasta in Italy.
Pasta with Tomatoes & Shiitakes
Greek yogurt, fresh herbs, and good olive oil make a sauce that’s creamy without being heavy. Diane Kochilas’s version is bright, fresh, and a little bit different.
That’s a lot of pasta (and I mean that as a compliment)
Your kitchen is going to smell incredible. Your breath might be a different story. Worth it. My personal favorite from this list changes with my mood, but if I had to pick one right now, I’d go with the creamy lemon pasta (pasta al limone) — it’s the one I make when I need a quick win on a Tuesday night.
If you try any of these, I’d love to hear which one becomes your go-to. Drop a comment and let me know — and happy cooking.
—Elowen Thorn
Sources & Credits
Every recipe in this roundup is the work of a talented food blogger. I’m just the messenger. If you love one of these dishes, please click through to the original source and leave a kind comment — these creators make the internet a more delicious place.
- Creamy Lemon Pasta (Pasta al Limone) — Bon Appétit
- Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta — Food.com
- Tomato, Basil, and Garlic Pasta — Food.com
- Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta — Food.com
- Bucatini Pasta with Garlic Butter Sauce — The Cozy Apron
- Pasta Puttanesca — The Cozy Apron
- Easy Greek Lemon Garlic Olive Oil Pasta — Diane Kochilas
- Skordomakaronada (Crunchy Garlic-Rusk Pasta) — Diane Kochilas
- Jo Mama’s World Famous Spaghetti — Food.com
- Balsamic Tomato-Basil Pasta — Food.com
- BA’s Best Baked Ziti — Bon Appétit
- Easy Baked Ziti — Food.com
- Baked Ziti — The Cozy Apron
- Pasta Primavera — The Cozy Apron
- Spaghetti with Roasted Corn and Tomatoes — Daring Gourmet
- Creamy Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto — Daring Gourmet
- Pasta alla Norma — Daring Gourmet
- Pasta with Tomatoes & Shiitakes — Diane Kochilas