27 pasta recipes for a cozy, comfort food dinner
Cozy dinners start with pasta, and we’ve got 27 recipes to keep your nights warm and tasty. Every idea hits that comfort food sweet spot. Pull up a plate and dig in. You know you deserve it.
Penne Pasta with Rich Meat Sauce
Baked penne pasta with rich meat sauce is loaded with savory sauce and gooey cheese. It’s the perfect comfort food for when you’re craving something filling. Get the recipe: Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce
Creamy Tomato Garlic Chicken Pasta
Fall in love with this marry me chicken pasta, where rotisserie chicken meets a rich, garlicky tomato cream sauce. Quick, flavorful, and totally dinner-table worthy. Get the recipe: Creamy Tomato Garlic Chicken Pasta
Lasagna al Forno
Lasagna al forno is a classic Italian baked dish made with pasta, meat sauce, vegetables, red wine, and a creamy béchamel. The pasta is soft, and the cheese is perfectly melty, crisped at the edges. It’s a comforting, homemade dinner. Get the recipe: Lasagna al Forno
Spaghetti with Creamy Goat Cheese
Spaghetti meets its match with this creamy goat cheese sauce that’s rich, smooth, and slightly tangy. Tossed with fresh herbs and a touch of garlic, it’s a simple yet elegant dish that’s ready in no time. Get the recipe: Spaghetti with Creamy Goat Cheese Sauce
Smoky BBQ Chicken Pasta
This creamy BBQ chicken pasta combines smoky, tangy, and savory notes in every bite. Tender chicken, a rich BBQ-infused sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta come together for an indulgent yet effortless dish. Get the recipe: Creamy BBQ Chicken Pasta
Pasta Puttanesca
Pasta puttanesca mixes garlicky tomato sauce with anchovies, olives, and capers. It’s rustic, made from pantry staples, and perfect with parsley and crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Get the recipe: Pasta Puttanesca
Pasta Shells with Greek Yogurt Rose Sauce
Are you looking for a delicious vegetarian option? Something simple and healthy, creamy yet light? Then this recipe for pasta shells with Greek yogurt rose sauce will be your new, easy, meatless choice for dinner. Get the recipe: Pasta Shells with Greek Yogurt Rose Sauce
Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake
This creamy chicken pasta tosses fresh spinach and tomatoes in a rich, comforting sauce and bakes it to perfection. Using Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream keeps it lighter without skimping on flavor. Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Gnocchi alla sorrentina is a comfort food classic with gnocchi, basil, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. This recipe from Sorrento is quick and easy with store-bought gnocchi, making it the perfect midweek dinner. Get the recipe: Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Pancetta Pea Pasta
Pancetta pea pasta is a dish everyone loves, with salty pancetta, sweet peas, creamy sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta. It’s filling, satisfying, and ready in just 30 minutes, which is perfect for busy weeknights. Get the recipe: Pancetta Pea Pasta
Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole
This creamy tuna casserole is the ultimate comfort food, loaded with noodles, tuna, and a rich sauce. Plus, it’s an easy recipe that makes weeknight dinners a breeze. Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuna Casserole
Ground Chicken Bolognese
This chicken Bolognese swaps ground beef for tender ground chicken for a lighter twist. It’s simmered with onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and red wine for a rich, flavorful sauce. Serve it over your favorite pasta. Get the recipe: Ground Chicken Bolognese
Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta
This creamy tomato and spinach pasta is simple, comforting, and easy to make. The rich sauce and fresh spinach come together for a dish that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Get the Recipe: Creamy Tomato Spinach Pasta
Rasta Pasta
Rasta pasta brings together creamy penne, spicy jerk chicken, and colorful peppers for a bold, cozy weeknight dinner. It’s rich, cheesy, and ready in about 30 minutes, making it an easy favorite for busy nights. Get the recipe: Rasta Pasta
Pasta alla Zozzona
Pasta alla zozzona is a hearty Roman dish that blends carbonara and amatriciana into one meal. It mixes a rich tomato sauce with crispy guanciale, sausage, and a creamy egg-and-cheese mixture. It’s the perfect pick for a family dinner or a cozy night in. Get the recipe: Pasta alla Zozzona
Easy Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
This buffalo chicken pasta turns your favorite wings into a creamy, cheesy pasta dish and is perfect for using up leftover chicken. Quick, flavorful, and ideal for busy weeknights. Get the recipe: Easy Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Sheet Pan Lasagna
If you’re into lasagna and love trying new things, this sheet-pan version is a must-try. Featuring noodles, beef, sausage, sauce, garlic, and way too much cheese. Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Lasagna
Frutti di Mare
Frutti di mare is basically your all-in-one seafood pasta moment, featuring shrimp, mussels, scallops, and squid in a rich tomato sauce. It’s fresh and garlicky, and it works just as well for a Tuesday night as it does for a full-on dinner party. Get the recipe: Frutti di Mare
Pasta alla Genovese
Pasta alla Genovese is that slow-cooked, cozy Italian dish where caramelized onions and tender beef turn into a rich sauce. It’s rustic, comforting, and perfect for those weekends when you actually want dinner to take its time. Get the recipe: Pasta alla Genovese
Chicken Riggies
Get ready for tender chicken, a creamy tomato sauce, and a spicy punch from cherry peppers that makes every bite pop. Hearty, cheesy, and easy, this upstate New York classic will probably earn a permanent spot in your dinner rotation. Get the recipe: Chicken Riggies
Rich Tomato Sauce with Only 3 Ingredients
With just three ingredients, this rich tomato sauce tastes straight out of a fine Italian restaurant. All you need is an onion, a can of tomatoes, and butter, and dinner’s on in under an hour. Get the Recipe: Rich Tomato Sauce with Only 3 Ingredients
Instant Pot Blackened Chicken Alfredo
This Instant Pot blackened chicken Alfredo hits the sweet spot between smoky and creamy. Chicken, peppers, and pasta get tossed in a rich homemade Alfredo sauce with a Cajun kick, perfect for family dinners or meal prep. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Blackened Chicken Alfredo
Stuffed Rigatoni Pasta Pie
Can’t choose between pasta and pie? Now you don’t have to. This stuffed rigatoni, or honeycomb pasta pie, combines the best of both with beef and onion filling and a creamy egg and ricotta topping. Get the recipe: Stuffed Rigatoni Pasta Pie
Boursin Chicken Pasta
This Boursin chicken pasta is creamy, herby, and ready in just 30 minutes. Perfect for tossing with rotisserie chicken and your favorite pasta for an easy weeknight dinner. Get the recipe: Boursin Chicken Pasta
Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
This sun-dried tomato chicken pasta is quick, flavorful, and dressed in a light parmesan sauce. Perfect for a tasty dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes. Get the recipe: Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Seafood Lasagna
This seafood lasagna is basically the cozy, creamy mash-up of shrimp, scallops, and crab you didn’t know you needed. It layers noodles, sauce, and melty cheese into something that tastes restaurant-level but feels totally doable at home. Get the recipe: Seafood Lasagna
Chicken Fra Diavolo Pasta
This chicken fra diavolo pasta is a cozy, comforting meal with a spicy kick. Perfect for heat lovers, but easy to adjust if you like it milder. Get the recipe: Chicken Fra Diavolo Pasta