If I had to guess how often I eat pasta, it would be around four nights a week. There are lots of reasons for this, perhaps one of the simplest being that I just love pasta. One of the major downsides to having it so often, though, is that it can sometimes feel a little repetitive, a little boring, a little This, again?
If you’ve made it here, you can probably relate. But don’t worry—the 11 recipes below cure any pasta night boredom you might face. All of the recipes featured here have a five-star rating from Simply Recipes readers, so you can trust that you’ll love them.
Dig in now and find out for yourself why these five-star recipes are so great. Plus, you’ll get helpful tips and tricks from our editors, contributors, and readers.
01 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Featured On: Creamy Cavatappi
“Add the Parmesan a little at a time, letting each handful melt before adding more to better emulsify into a creamier sauce.” —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Editor
02 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Featured On: Paccheri With Quick Sausage Ragu
“This ragu uses spicy sausage and chili flakes to give it a nice kick. If you’d prefer a milder sauce, leave out the chili flakes and/or use sweet sausage.” —Devan Grimsrud, Simply Recipes Contributor
03 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Featured On: One-Pan Baked Penne alla Vodka
“To make sure the pasta cooks evenly, it’s important to keep it as submerged as possible throughout the process. There are two times to keep this advice in mind—when you first put the pasta in the oven, and when you mix it and return it to cook uncovered.” —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Simply Recipes Contributors
04 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mica Siva
Featured On: Vegan Cacio e Pepe
“Cashew butter is the star of this dish. If you can’t find unsweetened cashew butter, try using tahini or raw, unsweetened almond butter instead.” —Micah Siva, Simply Recipes Contributor
05 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Featured On: Creamy One Pot Pasta With Zucchini
“If all the moisture cooks off and the pasta is still undercooked, you can always add an extra splash of water.” —Sara Tane, Simply Recipes Contributor
06 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Featured On: Chicken Carbonara
“This recipe relies on the residual heat of the pan, the cooked pasta, and the pasta cooking water to make the creamy sauce, so having all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go is key to keeping things smooth.” —Devan Grimsrud, Simply Recipes Contributor
07 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Featured On: Chicken Caesar Pasta
“I made this last night, and it was really good. I substituted anchovy paste and just used a little to give it some authentic Caesar taste without being too fishy, and it worked well. I also substituted chicken strips as I couldn’t find tenderloin.” —Greg, Simply Recipes Reader
08 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
Featured On: Easy Italian Sausage Spaghetti
“Make the sauce and boil the spaghetti simultaneously. The sauce should be done in the time it takes to heat the pasta water and cook the spaghetti.” —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder
09 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Featured On: Shrimp and Asparagus Pasta
“The best shrimp for this recipe are ‘medium’ or ‘large’ pre-shelled, deveined shrimp labeled ‘21/25’ from the freezer aisle.” —Georgia Freedman, Simply Recipes Contributor
10 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Featured On: One-Pot Mac and Cheese
“You can swap cheeses in this recipe, but don’t replace the cream cheese, which makes the sauce extra creamy and silky.” —Kayla Hoang, Simply Recipes Contributor
11 of 11
Credit: Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Featured On: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
“One key to making this pasta perfectly: Undercook the spaghetti just a bit. You’ll finish the cooking process in the sauce, so drain the pasta when it’s just shy of al dente. It should have a pronounced bite to it without being crunchy.” —Katie Morford, Simply Recipes Contributor
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