Nothing quite compares to the comfort of enjoying a warm, hearty bowl of creamy pasta for dinner. When you’re short on time, but want something cozy and warm, these creamy pasta recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less. Recipes like High-Protein Penne with Ground Turkey & Mushrooms and our Baked Brie, Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Pasta are perfect for getting a delicious meal on the table that will leave you feeling satisfied.
High-Protein Penne with Ground Turkey & Mushrooms
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This pasta is a delicious, protein-packed meal, thanks to its powerhouse ingredients. Lean ground turkey teams up with cottage cheese, which not only boosts protein but also adds creaminess without relying on heavy cream. Mushrooms bring a savory depth of flavor while being low in calories, and whole-grain penne adds fiber for a hearty and balanced meal!
One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This comforting dish combines tender orzo, protein-packed white beans and tangy sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy garlic-and-herb cheese sauce. This one-pot meal is both quick and satisfying, perfect for those busy evenings when you want something hearty without the hassle.
Baked Brie, Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Pasta
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Creamy, melted Brie creates a velvety sauce that fills in the ridges of fusilli pasta, while Parmesan cheese adds nutty, savory depth. Sun-dried tomatoes bring a tangy sweetness that balances the richness. A little crushed red pepper adds heat and wilted spinach provides earthy notes and nutrients.
Cheesy One-Pot Chicken-Broccoli Orzo
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
This dish brings crowd-pleasing flavors together in one pan for easy cleanup. It’s perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying, comforting and delicious. Sharp Cheddar cheese adds savory flavor, but another easy-melting cheese like Gruyère or Swiss would work well too.
Taco Skillet Pasta
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This one-pan wonder that combines pasta with classic taco ingredients cuts down on cleanup and packs a serious protein punch, thanks to lean ground beef and shredded Mexican cheese. Top it off with fresh cilantro, avocado, tomato and a dollop of sour cream for a nutritious, flavor-packed meal that’s sure to become a weeknight favorite.
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
This rich and creamy butternut squash mac and cheese has hints of roasted squash whirled into a cheesy sauce flavored with fresh sage for a delicious plant-based meal any day of the week. We call for pre-chopped butternut squash to keep prep at a minimum, but feel free to chop your own or experiment with another winter squash like honeynut or acorn squash in place of the butternut.
Creamy Lemon-Garlic Spaghetti & Spinach
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
This spaghetti is a bright and richly creamy dish, thanks to sour cream that adds a tanginess that blends seamlessly with lemon zest and juice. Meanwhile, the spinach wilts in the pasta water in record time for a fast weeknight dinner. Parmesan cheese adds the bulk of the savory flavor.
Fajita-Inspired Pasta Bake
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
This easy pasta bake perfectly blends the vibrant flavors of classic fajitas with a rich and creamy pasta dish. The result is a mouthwatering fusion of flavors, offering the best of both worlds in a single, satisfying meal. Chopped jalapeño and canned chipotle chiles add heat to this delicious meal.
Creamy Spinach Pasta with White Beans
Here, we whir up fresh spinach and kale with cream cheese and Gruyère for the luscious sauce that highlights this rich pasta dish. Paired with beans, it makes a filling vegetarian meal.
Creamy Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Pasta Bake
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
This creamy garlic-Parmesan chicken-and-spinach pasta bake is a comforting crowd-pleaser that’s sure to satisfy everyone at the table. This dish features tender pieces of chicken, fresh spinach and pasta, all enveloped in a rich and creamy garlic-Parmesan sauce.
Spaghetti with Creamy Lemon-Spinach Sauce
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Give your veggie servings a boost with this easy spaghetti with spinach sauce recipe. Loosely inspired by the flavors of classic pesto, this vibrant pasta packs in plenty of spinach and basil with a garnish of nutty walnuts and savory Parmesan cheese.
Creamy Zucchini & Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Bake
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
This creamy zucchini and chicken pasta bake is the perfect choice for dinner tonight. The zucchini melts into the sauce, while Dijon mustard and lemon zest brighten the flavor.
Creamy Green Pea Pesto Pasta
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Mint and peas are a natural pairing in this creamy pasta dish. It works well as a vegetarian main dish or can be divided into smaller portions as a side dish. If you have pine nuts on hand, sprinkle them over the top for a little crunch. Parmesan cheese grated fresh with a microplane grater will give you the best results.
Baked Feta-Mushroom Pasta
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This feta-mushroom pasta bake brings together the creamy tang of melted feta with the earthy, savory notes of cremini mushrooms. The convenience of pre-sliced cremini mushrooms makes this dish a timesaver, but you can easily switch things up by incorporating other varieties like oyster, shiitake or maitake mushrooms for added depth and complexity.
Creamy Lemon & Spinach Pasta Bake
Fred Hardy (photographer); Jennifer Wendorf (food stylist); Shell Royster (prop stylist)
This creamy and comforting vegetarian pasta bake is perfect when you want a pasta dinner that is light, bright and flavorful. This easy pasta bake is packed with spinach. Feel free to swap the spinach out for another green like kale if you have it on hand.
Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This chicken pasta bake is cheesy with a smoky kick, thanks to the combination of chipotle peppers and smoked Gouda cheese. If you want to mellow the smoky flavor, regular Gouda works just as well.
Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta
Feta softens in the oven before it’s combined with spinach and pasta, with the pasta cooking right in the baking dish. Enjoy this one-pan pasta with feta dish on its own as a vegetarian main or serve with sautéed chicken breast for a boost of protein.
Creamy Mushroom & Spinach Pasta
Make this creamy mushroom and spinach pasta for an easy, healthy dinner. Be sure to save some of the pasta-cooking water as it helps the sauce emulsify.
Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
The more cheese the merrier in this baked macaroni recipe, which also features butternut squash and whole-grain pasta.
Baked Tomato & Feta Pasta
Tomatoes and briny feta cheese form the base of the sauce that coats the pasta in this easy one-pan meal. Enjoy on its own as a vegetarian dinner or top with grilled chicken for some extra protein.
Chicken Tinga Baked Pasta
This spicy baked pasta features leftover chicken tinga, a dish hailing from Puebla, Mexico. The rich tomato-chipotle sauce adds heat and creaminess to the dish.
Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara
Fresh pasta cooks up faster than dried, making it a must-have for fast weeknight dinners like this luscious yet healthy meal. Eggs are the base of the creamy sauce. They don’t get fully cooked, so use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs if you prefer.
Creamy Broccoli Pasta
If you’re looking for a simple weeknight pasta dish, look no further. This vegetarian dinner is done in only 20 minutes and packs plenty of broccoli along with creamy goodness thanks to mascarpone cheese and low-fat Greek yogurt.
Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
This creamy Cajun shrimp pasta dish packs plenty of veggies to lighten up the creamy sauce. The Cajun spice gives this dish a little kick, and the sour cream adds a nice tang to the cream sauce that coats the shrimp.
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