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50 Quick and Satisfying Pasta Recipes

We get easily bored of the pasta dishes in our lineup. Here are 50 genius ways to change it up.

parmesan and sausage bolognese
Emily Kate Roemer

We get easily bored of the pasta dishes in our lineup. Here are 50 genius ways to change it up. Bonus: We kept the cooking times and ingredient lists short.

Looking for more fast meals? Check out these fast dinner dishes and these fast five-ingredient recipes.

1

Parmesan and Sausage Bolognese

parmesan and sausage bolognese
Emily Kate Roemer

Whip up this simple but satisfying pasta dish for unexpected dinner guests, or for yourself when you're craving something hearty.

Recipe: Parmesan and Sausage Bolognese

2

Turkey Meatball Stroganoff

turkey meatball stroganoff
Con Poulos; Food styling by Simon Andrews; Prop styling by Marina Malchin

Your family will never notice that lower fat turkey has been subbed for the beef usually found in stroganoff recipes — the turkey mixture is incredibly flavorful and the creamy sauce that tops this modified classic tastes seriously indulgent.

Recipe: Turkey Meatball Stroganoff

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3

Orecchiette with Roasted Butternut Squash

orecchiette with roasted butternut squash

This hearty vegetarian pasta dish is laden with the sweet and herbaceous fragrances of fall.

Recipe: Orecchiette with Roasted Butternut Squash

4

Pasta and Beans

pasta and beans
Thinkstock

Simple and satisfying, hearty pasta and white beans get a bit of oomph from bacon, tomato, and classic Italian seasonings.

Recipe: Pasta and Beans

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5

Pasta with Quick Meat Sauce

pasta with quick meat sauce
Con Poulos

Cinnamon, nutmeg, and red pepper lend a gentle, unexpected spice to the lean ground beef so you don't have to sacrifice flavor for health.

Recipe: Pasta with Quick Meat Sauce

6

Huevos Rancheros Spaghetti

huevos rancheros spaghetti
Gentl & Hyers

This recipe takes the genius of combining spaghetti and another dish, à la Cincinnati chili, and adds the popularity of breakfast-for-dinner nights. Mixed with the pasta, salsa becomes a tangy reinvention of tomato sauce instead of just a condiment.

Recipe: Huevos Rancheros Spaghetti

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7

Pasta with Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

pasta with chicken and brussels sprouts
Kate Mathis

Combining two quick and easy favorites, this pasta with chicken will make any night of the week delicious.

Recipe: Pasta with Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

8

Chicken Carbonara

chicken carbonara
Kate Mathis

A decadent dinner doesn't mean hours in the kitchen with this pasta, topped with bacon-studded, creamy Pecorino Romano cheese and egg sauce.

Recipe: Chicken Carbonara

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9

Spaghetti with Red Onion and Bacon

spaghetti with red onion and bacon
Marcus Nilsson

Traditional spaghetti and tomato sauce gets an upgrade with the addition of smoky, salty bacon and zesty red onion.

Recipe: Spaghetti with Red Onion and Bacon

10

Easy Carbonara

easy carbonara
Kate Mathis

This quick and easy take on the Italian classic spaghetti carbonara makes a delicious, home-cooked dinner on any night when you're tempted to order takeout instead.

Recipe: Easy Carbonara

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11

Tex-Mex Lasagna

tex mex lasagna
Kate Mathis

Beans, corn, chili powder, and salsa recreate this classic, gooey dish with southwestern flair. No-boil lasagna noodles mean you spend less time making and more time savoring your dinner.

Recipe: Tex-Mex Lasagna

12

Quickie Cincinnati Chili

quickie cincinnati chili
Kate Mathis

Taking the guilt out of this comfort food by using lean ground beef and multi-grain pasta allows you to enjoy every spicy bite.

Recipe: Quickie Cincinnati Chili

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13

Spaghetti Pie

spaghetti pie
Kate Mathis

This spaghetti-casserole fusion adds in some sure-to-please ingredients like bacon and cheese. It just might be your family's new favorite.

Recipe: Spaghetti Pie

14

Rustic Pasta Toss with Tuna and Tomatoes

pasta with tuna and tomato
Con Polous

This pasta salad is loaded with farm-stand squash and zucchini — and two pounds of tomatoes. Just combine the raw veggies with canned tuna and campanelle pasta for a beat-the-heat — and beat-the-clock — meal.

Recipe: Rustic Pasta Toss with Tuna and Tomatoes

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15

Pasta with Chicken, Tomato, and Feta

pasta with chicken tomato and feta
Courtesy of Martha Stewart

Keep your cool this summer by turning off the oven — without sacrificing delicious meals.

Recipe: Pasta with Chicken, Tomato, and Feta

16

Baked Macaroni and Peas

baked macaroni and peas
Matt Armendariz

Instead of a cheesy, fatty baked pasta dish, try this lighter version of macaroni, which calls for fresh veggies, spices, and coconut milk to add lots of flavor.

Recipe: Baked Macaroni and Peas

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17

Fried-Zucchini Spaghetti

fried zucchini spaghetti
John Kernick

This pasta is an ode to the mountains of fried zucchini Gwyneth Paltrow ate at Elio's, an Italian restaurant on Manhattan's Upper East Side, growing up. Here, she adds the crispy zucchini slices to spaghetti that's tossed with shredded Parmesan cheese (which adds texture to the dish) and plenty of olive oil and basil.

Recipe: Fried-Zucchini Spaghetti

18

Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe

spaghetti cacio pepe
John Kernick

Pasta cacio e pepe ("cheese and pepper") is made with Pecorino Romano (a tangy aged sheep's-milk cheese originally from Rome) and lots of freshly ground black pepper.

Recipe: Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe

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19

Lemon Zest Pasta

lemon zest pasta
Anna Williams

"This recipe came from having nothing in the house but a box of spaghetti and some lemons. I grab whatever fresh herbs are available in my garden, about two handfuls' worth, total. I usually serve the pasta with a nice piece of fish grilled on the panini press for a few minutes." — Oprah Winfrey

Recipe: Lemon Zest Pasta

20

Cheesy Tortelloni with Veggies

cheesy tortelloni with veggies
Con Poulos

This summery dish is ready to enjoy in just 25 minutes.

Recipe: Cheesy Tortelloni with Veggies

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