From quick 15-minute garlic pasta to hearty lasagna and creamy sun-dried tomato sauce — this is my complete collection of easy pasta recipes, all tested in my home kitchen. Pasta is the ultimate weeknight lifesaver, and these recipes prove it. Click any card to get the full recipe!
Ravioli Carbonara Olive Garden Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Kevin Belton Pastalaya Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Carrabba’s Fettuccine Weesie Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Costco Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Costco Spinach Ravioli Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Costco Lobster Ravioli Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Joanna Gaines’ Chicken Spaghetti Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Harry Hamlin Bolognese Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Cajun Ninja Shrimp Fettuccine Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Domino’s Chicken Alfredo Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
54th Rtreet Rattlesnake Pasta – Easy Kitchen Guide
Costco Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Costco’s Greek Pasta Salad Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Five Cheese Tortellini Costco Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Costco Pesto Pasta Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Healthy Noodle Costco Pad Thai Recipe- Easy Kitchen Guide
Costco Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Lidia Bastianich Lasagna Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide
Tips for Best Results
1. Salt your pasta water generously. The water should taste like mild seawater. This is your only chance to season the pasta itself — don’t skip it.
2. Cook 1-2 minutes less than the package says. Finish the pasta in the sauce pan — it absorbs the sauce flavors and reaches perfect al dente texture.
3. Save a cup of pasta water before draining. The starchy water helps sauces cling to pasta and creates a silky, restaurant-quality finish.
4. Match pasta shape to sauce. Thick sauces (Bolognese, meat ragu) → wide or ridged pasta (rigatoni, pappardelle). Light sauces → thin pasta (spaghetti, angel hair).
5. Finish in the pan. Transfer pasta directly to the sauce with a splash of pasta water and cook together for 1-2 minutes. This is the step that makes home pasta taste like restaurant pasta.
Common Questions Answered
How much dry pasta per person?
2 oz (56g) as a side dish, 3-4 oz as a main. For spaghetti, a bundle the diameter of a quarter ≈ 2 oz.
Can I make pasta dishes ahead?
Yes — especially baked pastas like lasagna. For sauced pasta, store pasta and sauce separately and add a splash of water when reheating.
Is pasta healthy?
Absolutely — especially paired with vegetables, lean protein, and a light sauce. Whole wheat adds extra fiber. Pasta has been a Mediterranean diet staple for centuries.
How do I prevent pasta from sticking?
Toss with sauce immediately after draining. If making ahead, toss with a small amount of olive oil. Never rinse — it removes the starch that helps sauce cling.
Pasta night is one of my favorites — quick, satisfying, and guaranteed to bring everyone to the table with a smile. I hope you find a recipe here that becomes a regular in your rotation.
Good food is a good mood! — Lori