21 Protein-Packed Pasta Recipes That'll "Beef" Up Your Weeknight Rotation

One-pot taco spaghetti is a fast-as-can-be weeknight dinner that pairs all your favorite taco fixin’s with spaghetti rather than taco shells. It's perfect for those nights when you just cannot stand the thought of a sink full of dirty dishes.

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We love that everything in this goulash cooks together in one pot– even the pasta! Once you cook pasta this way, you might never go back to boiling water again.

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In this recipe, gnocchi gets the taco treatment for a simple weeknight meal. Alongside some ground beef, black beans, and plenty of cheddar cheese, it’s a fun twist on the potato-based pasta.

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Based on the traditional lasagna alla Bolognese from the Emilia-Romagna province in Italy, we grabbed what we loved most about the timeless, classic recipe and simplified it to make it weeknight-friendly.

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The flavors of this meat sauce are more evocative of Greek dishes like moussaka and pastitsio than other chilis, but what really makes this dish extra-special is how it’s served—atop a plate of spaghetti!

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Think beyond the bun! You don’t need to sandwich a sloppy Joe to enjoy it; transform the classic comfort food into a date night staple with this sloppy Joe orzo instead.

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Hamburger Helper comes in a wide variety of flavors, but for this recipe we’re keeping it classic with an update on their original cheeseburger macaroni. This upgrade is a whole ‘nother level; handmade cavatelli pasta, freshly ground beef straight from the butcher’s block, decadent sour cream, and you can't forget the sharp cheddar cheese. Hold on to your noodle for this one and let this hamburger help you rejuvenate your childhood memories.

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In this pasta sauce, the meatballs are so tender, little bits break off into the sauce as they simmer away, pork ribs fall off the bone indicating peak sauce richness, and delightful oily puddles pool at the top of the pot only to be folded in at the end for maximum umami.

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What could possibly make taco salad even better? Pasta, of course! This cowboy pasta salad incorporates all the flavors of your favorite Tex-Mex dinner into the classic pasta salad, resulting in a simple side dish to bring to all your summer cookouts. Ready in under 30 minutes, this fresh take on the classic summer side is the perfect way to switch up your picnic or BBQ bash.

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These SpaghettiOs and meatballs mimic the canned pasta-and-marinara delight you loved as a kid, but with sophisticated upgrades for adult flavor preferences. (Don’t worry, it’s still kid-approved.)
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Would you rather enjoy a bowl of pasta with a homemade beefy, rich tomato sauce laced with Parmesan and basil, or mystery meat in a glass jar? We bet we know the answer. Put down the jar—all you need are an hour and a handful of staple ingredients to make this classic, rich pasta sauce right at home.

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One of Olive Garden’s most iconic dishes has to be their meatballs. Sauced in bright marinara and perched atop a glossy mound of spaghetti, they transform into a show-stopping entrée that still manages to deliver those down-home comfort food vibes.

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This is less a traditional stew and more of an amazing beefy chili mixed with some macaroni and (lots) of cheese. It's hearty comfort food at its finest and would make an excellent addition to any tailgating session.

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Derived from the Italian word pasticcio, which means “mix” or “hodgepodge,” pastitsio is a classic Greek casserole best described as a cross between lasagna and moussaka. Rich and hearty, creamy and comforting, it’s well worth the extra effort it takes to put together.

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Traditional Bolognese sauce might take forever to cook, but this weeknight version is done in just 30 minutes. Delicate and earthy miso paste adds serious depth to the ground beef sauce that you're going to love.

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We originally developed this recipe for kids, but then we became obsessed ourselves. Reason #1: The squiggly pasta is too fun—both to look at and eat (it’s got crazy slurpability!) Reason #2: It’s got some Hamburger Helper vibes going on in the best way possible.

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We finally cracked the code. Savory spiced meatballs in a creamy, velvety sauce... without the trip to Ikea. Since lingonberry jam can be hard to come by, we love serving them with a quick homemade cranberry sauce or with a big pile of egg noodles.

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Italian night is better when your two favorite pastas combine. Try this and you might just start swapping in ravioli to all your fave pasta dishes.

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If you're looking for a super simple, comforting, no-frills bowl of spaghetti and meatballs to impress your date, you've come to the right place. And if you're feeling adventurous, it's also a great jumping-off point to make your own version of this classic dish!

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A good bolognese takes time. The longer you let this meat sauce simmer, the better and richer it becomes. Another key aspect, though it may be surprising, is milk. It helps to thicken the sauce and make a more cohesive sauce that clings really beautifully to pasta.

Get the Pappardelle Bolognese recipe.