If you’ve been relying on that jar of marinara, it’s time to step up your pasta game. These 17 recipes will show you just how much more pasta can be when you add a little creativity. With each bite, you’ll forget about the jar and wonder how you ever settled for it. These dishes are easy, tasty, and will leave you wondering why you didn’t try them sooner. Pasta night will never be the same again.
Sausage Parmigiana
Wait until you hear about this game-changer that combines hearty sausage with a cheesy topping that’s hard to resist. Sausage Parmigiana isn’t your everyday pasta dish; it’s the kind of meal you want to brag about making from scratch. Each bite brings a comfort that’s perfect for a family dinner or impressing your dinner guests. And the best part? It proves that marinara sauce can be more than just a simple addition but a star on its own.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Parmigiana
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Ever wondered if a pasta dish can be both refreshing and gratifying? Enter Grilled Bruschetta Chicken, a dish where grilled chicken meets the fresh taste of bruschetta atop a bed of pasta. It’s a unique blend that’ll have you rethink combining these ingredients together. The first forkful might surprise you, with flavors that complement each other in ways you didn’t expect. It’s an invitation to explore pasta in a lighter, yet utterly fulfilling way.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Baked Pesto Salmon
For those nights when you’re feeling fancy and want something different, Baked Pesto Salmon comes to the rescue. This dish is a beautiful marriage of ocean-fresh salmon and the herby goodness of pesto, all resting over a pasta that welcomes both. It’s an upscale twist on pasta night that doesn’t require hours in the kitchen. This dish promises to turn a regular evening into a special occasion. It’s a testament to how versatile pasta can be.
Get the Recipe: Baked Pesto Salmon
Pizza Sauce
Now, you might be thinking, “What’s so special about Pizza Sauce on pasta?” Well, it’s all about transforming a familiar flavor into something unexpected. This recipe takes the beloved taste of pizza and introduces it to pasta in a way that’s both comforting and exciting. It’s a simple swap that upgrades a basic dish to something that feels new. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to shake up pasta night with a sauce that everyone already loves.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Sauce
Garlic Shrimp Scampi
Ever crave something light yet utterly flavorful? Garlic Shrimp Scampi is the answer, with its succulent shrimp and a garlic punch that wakes up your palate. This dish manages to be both simple and sophisticated, making it ideal for both a quick dinner and special occasions. It’s the kind of meal that reminds you how simple ingredients can create something unexpectedly wonderful.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Shrimp Scampi
Low-Carb Baked Feta Pasta
For those watching their carb intake but still longing for the cozy embrace of pasta, Low-Carb Baked Feta Pasta is a dream come true. This dish redefines indulgence with a creamy, tangy sauce that envelops your favorite low-carb pasta alternative. It’s a modern take on a classic, proving that adjustments for dietary preferences don’t mean compromise on flavor. Each forkful is a revelation in how deliciously pasta and health-conscious choices can coexist.
Get the Recipe: Low-Carb Baked Feta Pasta
Shrimp Scampi Pizza
If you’re torn between ordering a pizza or making pasta, Shrimp Scampi Pizza has got you covered. This creation is a bold fusion where the lively flavors of shrimp scampi spread their wings atop a pizza base. It’s unexpected, it’s creative, and it’s absolutely delicious. The novelty of this dish lies in its ability to break norms while gratifying cravings for both Italian favorites. It embodies the adventurous spirit of cooking.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi Pizza
Creamy Low Carb Chicken Marsala
Brace yourself for a dish that brings comfort without the carb overload. Creamy Low Carb Chicken Marsala blends the rich, deep flavors of a classic marsala with the lightness of low-carb pasta. It challenges the norm, offering a creamy, gratifying experience that leaves you feeling light. This dish is perfect for those special dinners where you want to indulge without straying from your dietary goals.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Low Carb Chicken Marsala
Birria Pizza
Who knew that combining two popular dishes could result in something so extraordinary? Birria Pizza is the culinary experiment turned dinner perfection, marrying the spicy, tasty notes of birria with the universally beloved pizza. It’s a dish that not only breaks the mold but sets a new standard for what fusion cooking can achieve. Every slice is a discovery of textures and tastes, proving that stepping out of your comfort zone can be rewarding.
Get the Recipe: Birria Pizza
Pesto Orzo Salad
For a light, refreshing take on pasta, Pesto Orzo Salad comes through with flying colors. This dish is a summer in a bowl, with its vibrant mix of flavors that feel like sunshine on your palate. It’s quick to prepare, making it the perfect choice for last-minute meals that still need to impress. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or looking for something uplifting for your lunchbox, this salad answers that call beautifully.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Orzo Salad
Zuppa Toscana Soup
When the craving for something warm and comforting hits, Zuppa Toscana Soup stands ready to fulfill that need with its hearty ingredients and soul-soothing qualities. This soup is a hug in a bowl, with a richness that nourishes and comforts from the first spoonful. It’s an embodiment of homestyle cooking, making it a favorite for those chilly days or when you’re in need of a culinary cuddle. It’s proof that pasta’s versatility goes beyond the plate.
Get the Recipe: Zuppa Toscana Soup
Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
Think pasta salads are all the same? Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette begs to differ, offering a zippy twist that’ll make you reconsider what a pasta salad can be. This dressing merges with pasta to create a dish that’s both familiar and surprisingly new. It’s perfect for those who love a bit of tang with their pasta, upgrading the humble salad to something you’ll want to make again and again. Pasta salads can be the main event, not just a side dish.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
Tortellini Soup with Kale & Chicken
For a bowlful of comfort that packs a nutritional punch, Tortellini Soup with Kale & Chicken delivers on all fronts. This soup marries the heartiness of tortellini with the goodness of kale and chicken, creating a balanced dish that’s gratifying and wholesome. It’s the epitome of comfort food with a healthy twist, perfect for those days when you want something soothing yet substantial. It’s a celebration of flavors that nourishes the body and soul.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Soup with Kale & Chicken
Pasta with Ricotta & Tomatoes
Sometimes, simplicity is the key to a memorable meal, and Pasta with Ricotta & Tomatoes exemplifies this perfectly. This dish focuses on the fresh flavors of tomatoes and the creaminess of ricotta, proving that fewer ingredients can indeed lead to a more profound taste experience. It’s an ode to minimalist cooking, where quality stands out, and each element gets a chance to shine. This dish is a lesson in the beauty of simplicity.
Get the Recipe: Pasta with Ricotta & Tomatoes
Tortellini Soup with Sausage
Craving something hearty that feels like a meal in a bowl? Tortellini Soup with Sausage wraps comfort and flavor in every bite, combining robust sausage with pillowy tortellini in a tasty broth. It’s a soup that doesn’t skimp on the fillings, making sure you’re satisfied with each spoonful. Ideal for a cool day or when you’re in need of a filling meal that feels like a warm embrace. It’s a bold reminder of how soups can be both nourishing and deeply fulfilling.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Soup with Sausage
Sausage & Broccoli Rabe Pasta
There’s something magical about the combination of sausage and greens, and Sausage & Broccoli Rabe Pasta showcases this duo in a splendid way. This dish brings a slightly bitter green into the mix, perfectly complementing the richness of the sausage. It’s a testament to how contrasting flavors can come together to create something harmonious. Perfect for those looking to add a bit of green to their pasta dishes without compromising on taste.
Get the Recipe: Sausage & Broccoli Rabe Pasta
Greek Spaghetti
Ever thought pasta could take you on a trip to the Mediterranean? Greek Spaghetti does just that, blending the iconic flavors of Greece with the comfort of spaghetti. It’s a dish that transports you to sunny shores with its combination of flavors that are bold yet perfectly balanced. Ideal for when you’re looking to shake up pasta night with something that’s wonderfully different. It’s a delicious reminder that pasta has the power to bridge worlds.
Get the Recipe: Greek Spaghetti
