There’s something quietly magical about a great pasta recipe — the kind that turns a random Tuesday into a small celebration. We rounded up 9 tried-and-true pasta recipes from food writers we trust, all in one place so you can find your next favorite. Pull up a chair, scroll slowly, and bookmark the ones that catch your eye.
Each recipe here was tested by its original author and links straight to the full method, ingredient list, and notes. We’ve also added a quick read on what makes each one special, so you can decide where to start. Ready? Let’s dig in.
The Full List
Tap any recipe below to jump straight to it.
- Baked Ziti
- Butternut Squash Lasagna
- Mexican Lasagna
- Italian Drunken Noodles
- Easy Baked Penne with Sausage
- Spicy Vodka Pasta Bake
- Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Pasta Bake
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Lasagna Bake
Why We Love These Recipes
What ties all 9 of these recipes together is that they actually work the first time. Every author on this list cooks in a real home kitchen with regular ingredients, and they’ve all refined their recipes through dozens of test batches. We’re not just collecting clickbait here — these are the pasta dishes food writers make for their own families on a Wednesday night.
The Recipes
Here they are — one by one, in no particular order. Save the ones that speak to you, and let us know which one you try first.
Baked Ziti
If you’ve been searching for a baked ziti that actually delivers, The Cozy Apron’s version is worth bookmarking.
Recipe adapted from The Cozy Apron
Butternut Squash Lasagna
The Cozy Apron’s take on butternut squash lasagna has become a quiet favorite in our test kitchen — and once you try it, you’ll see why.
Recipe adapted from The Cozy Apron
Mexican Lasagna
Few mexican lasagna recipes strike the balance of easy and impressive the way this one from The Cozy Apron does.
Recipe adapted from The Cozy Apron
Italian Drunken Noodles
When The Cozy Apron shared this italian drunken noodles recipe, it instantly earned a permanent spot in our weeknight rotation.
Recipe adapted from The Cozy Apron
Easy Baked Penne with Sausage
This easy baked penne with sausage from Salt & Lavender is the kind of dish that makes you wonder why you ever ordered it out.
Recipe adapted from Salt & Lavender
Spicy Vodka Pasta Bake
Comforting, weeknight-friendly, and a little bit special — Salt & Lavender’s spicy vodka pasta bake ticks every box.
Recipe adapted from Salt & Lavender
Million Dollar Spaghetti
This million dollar spaghetti from Salt & Lavender is one of those recipes that disappears faster than you can plate it.
Recipe adapted from Salt & Lavender
Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Pasta Bake
If you’ve been searching for a chicken bacon pumpkin pasta bake that actually delivers, Pinch of Yum’s version is worth bookmarking.
Recipe adapted from Pinch of Yum
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Lasagna Bake
Pinch of Yum’s take on garlic parmesan chicken lasagna bake has become a quiet favorite in our test kitchen — and once you try it, you’ll see why.
Recipe adapted from Pinch of Yum
Pick Your Pasta Night
With 9 pasta recipes on this list, you could cook a different pasta dish every week for the next couple of months and never repeat yourself. That’s the dream, isn’t it? A rotation of cozy, reliable, deeply satisfying pasta dinners that everyone in the family actually looks forward to.
If you’re new to cooking pasta at home, start with one of the simpler recipes on this list — the ones with five ingredients or fewer. As you get more comfortable, work your way up to the slow-braised ragùs and the baked pasta bakes. Pasta is one of the most forgiving categories of cooking, and these writers have all done the hard work of testing so you don’t have to.
A Few Last Thoughts
Pasta is the great equalizer of home cooking. It doesn’t need fancy equipment, hard-to-find ingredients, or years of training. It needs a pot of salted water, a good sauce, and about twenty minutes of your attention. The recipes on this list are some of the very best examples of that simplicity done well.
Bookmark this page, share it with a friend who loves pasta, and let us know which recipe wins your heart. We’re always collecting more, and we love hearing from readers who try them at home. Happy cooking — and don’t forget to save the pasta water.
—Elowen Thorn