There is something magical about a bowl of comforting pasta. Whether it is baked until bubbly, simmered in a rich sauce, or tossed together in minutes, these dishes turn simple ingredients into the kind of meal that makes you breathe a little deeper and settle in. From creamy classics to hearty bakes, spicy skillet favorites, and even pasta pies, this lineup is full of feel-good dishes that hit the spot on busy weeknights or slow cozy evenings. So grab your favorite pot and get ready to twirl, scoop, and savor your way through pure comfort.
Penne Arrabbiata
This is the simplest yet most delicious dinner you will ever make for your family. With just a handful of everyday ingredients, it delivers a surprising depth of flavor and the kind of comfort that keeps everyone coming back for seconds. The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like something that simmered all afternoon. In Italian, arrabbiata means “angry,” so you know this dish brings a bold, spicy kick, the perfect balance of heat, richness, and rustic charm. It is quick, satisfying, and destined to become a weeknight favorite.
Get the recipe: Penne Arrabbiata
Creamy Pasta with Crispy Chicken
This spicy, creamy pasta with crispy chicken is a blend of indulgence and lightness that feels both comforting and inviting. The pasta is coated in a rich, velvety sauce with a gentle kick of spice that warms each bite without overwhelming the dish. The crispy chicken adds a satisfying contrast in texture, creating a combination that feels balanced and complete. It is an easy meal to prepare, yet it tastes like something you would order at your favorite restaurant. Perfect for busy weeknights or relaxed weekends, this dish is sure to become a fast favorite at your table.
Get the recipe: Creamy Pasta with Crispy Chicken
Pasta alla Nerano
Light, creamy and bursting with fresh flavor, this pasta alla Nerano from xoxobella is a simple yet iconic dish from Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Combining golden fried zucchini, aromatic garlic and basil, and a rich cheese sauce made without cream, this pasta proves that a few good ingredients go a long way. Originating from the small village of Nerano, the recipe has become a coastal classic. It’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but also special enough to impress guests.
Get the recipe: Pasta alla Nerano
Spaghetti Pie
Meet your new comfort food obsession: spaghetti pie! This cozy, crowd-pleasing dish from xoxoBella takes everything you love about classic pasta—savory Italian sausage sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey melted cheese—and bakes it into a sliceable pie with a crispy spaghetti crust. It’s hearty, satisfying, and just plain fun. Whether you’re feeding the family, planning for a potluck, or prepping meals ahead of time, this baked beauty delivers big on flavor and charm. It’s like your favorite spaghetti got a deliciously cheesy upgrade!
Get the recipe: Spaghetti Pie
Mostaccioli
This easy mostaccioli bake from xoxoBella is the ultimate comfort food, combining tender pasta, rich marinara sauce, creamy ricotta and layers of gooey mozzarella. Italian sausage adds the right amount of savory depth while herbs and garlic bring bold flavor to every mouthful. You’ll find this pasta casserole easy to assemble and it comes out bubbling hot with golden cheese on top. It’s the kind of dish that fills the kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma and makes everyone hurry to the dinner table.
Get the recipe: Mostaccioli
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
If you’re craving a cozy, cheesy, and downright delicious dinner, this chicken spaghetti casserole is calling your name! Tender chicken, perfectly cooked spaghetti, and a creamy, flavor-packed sauce come together in one easy, crowd-pleasing dish. It’s the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug—great for busy weeknights, potlucks, or just when you need a little extra comfort on your plate. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to use up pantry staples and sneak in some veggies without anyone complaining. Get ready to add this to your regular dinner rotation—it’s that good!
Get the recipe: Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Pasta alla Norcina
This hearty recipe for pasta alla Norcina captures the rustic flavor of Italy’s Umbria region. The dish hails from Norcia, a town known for its butchering arts, pork sausage and prized black truffles. A creamy blend of pork sausage, earthy mushrooms, white wine and Pecorino Romano clings to tender rigatoni for a savory and satisfying meal. This pasta dish delivers bold, traditional Italian flavors in an easy and comforting way. If you love creamy pasta dishes, you’ll definitely want to add pasta alla Norcina to your regular rotation.
Get the recipe: Pasta alla Norcina
Paccheri Pasta
You really can’t go wrong with a hearty pasta dish! This paccheri pasta has become one of my go-to baked pasta recipes. It has the flavors of a good Bolognese, but it’s way quicker to put together. Rich ground beef, herbs, sausage, and tomato get cooked together and baked with the pasta tubes so that the flavors meld beautifully. You’ll love that it gets topped with gooey cheese for that golden and stretchy topping we all love to see (and eat). It’s an easy dinner option for a crowd that is craving Italian comfort food.
Get the recipe: Paccheri Pasta
Sheet Pan Lasagna
If you love lasagna recipes and trying new lasagna variations, you might like to try out this layerless Giada sheet pan lasagna. Lasagna noodles combine with ground beef and Italian sausage, along with pasta sauce, seasonings, plenty of cheese, and garlic. Enjoy the viral TikTok sheet pan lasagna recipe for dinner paired with your favorite Italian side dishes. It’s so easy to make and has all those lasagna flavors (and its all crust!) you already know and love.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Lasagna
Chicken Riggies
If you’ve never tried this bold, comforting pasta dish from upstate New York, now’s your chance. This recipe delivers tender chicken, a rich tomato cream sauce and a spicy kick from cherry peppers that gives every bite serious flavor. It’s hearty, cheesy and perfect for cozy dinners or impressing guests with ease. With a quick homemade sauce and simple ingredients, chicken riggies deserve a spot in your regular dinner rotation. Just be warned, once you try it, you might be hooked.
Get the recipe: Chicken Riggies
Beef Short Rib Ragu
This beef short rib ragu with pappardelle is pure comfort in a bowl—rich, hearty, and impossibly delicious. The short ribs braise until they’re fall-apart tender in a red wine tomato sauce that’s bursting with flavor from fresh herbs and vegetables. Toss it with wide pappardelle noodles, top it off with a generous sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano, and you’ve got a dish that feels like a warm hug on a chilly evening. Whether you’re impressing dinner guests or treating your family to something special, this recipe is sure to steal the show. Don’t forget a glass of red wine—you’ve earned it!
Get the recipe: Beef Short Rib Ragu
Tortellini alla Panna
This delicious tortellini alla panna dish is easy to make and features tortellini, one of the tastiest stuffed pastas ever. Purists might prefer their meat-filled tortellini served in hot broth, but it’s also amazing in a creamy sauce. Butter, parmesan cheese and heavy cream really do make a rich and satisfying sauce for the tortellini. Ham steak adds a meaty element to this tasty dish. If you’re looking for a hearty pasta dish that’s ready in just half an hour, this one might be perfect.
Get the recipe: Tortellini alla Panna
Spaghetti Pizza
When you can’t decide between two of your comfort food favorites, why not have both? Spaghetti pizza brings the best of pasta and pizza together in one cheesy, saucy, baked dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or laid-back gatherings. With savory sausage, gooey cheese and crispy pepperoni all baked on a spaghetti base, it’s hearty, satisfying and totally crave-worthy. This is one of those meals that makes everyone ask for seconds. And maybe even thirds.
Get the recipe: Spaghetti Pizza
Manicotti
Perfectly tender manicotti pasta tubes are generously stuffed with a rich, creamy blend of cheese and spinach, then smothered in a sweet and tangy marinara sauce. This classic Italian-American favorite is bold, comforting, and packed with flavor. Whether you’re cooking for a cozy weeknight dinner or a special gathering, homemade manicotti is always a crowd-pleaser. These ridged pasta tubes—like oversized penne—are made for holding all that cheesy goodness. And let’s be real: cheese and spinach? That combo never misses.
Get the recipe: Manicotti
Pasta alla Carbonara
Few dishes embody the simplicity and elegance of Italian cuisine, quite like pasta alla carbonara. This classic Roman dish requires just a few simple ingredients—pasta, guanciale (cured pork cheek), garlic, eggs, Pecorino Romano, and black pepper—but mastering the technique is key to its creamy, luxurious sauce. The authentic version has been reimagined countless times, with some using garlic like this one. Ready in just 30 minutes, this indulgent dish is perfect for a quick yet satisfying meal. Follow our recipe to experience Carbonara as it’s made in Rome—buon appetito!
Get the recipe: Pasta alla Carbonara
Ravioli Lasagna
If you love lasagna and are looking for a quick and easy meal that doesn’t require hours in the kitchen, this ravioli lasagna recipe is the perfect solution! It’s a hybrid dish with a creamy cheese ravioli filling and plenty of rich meat sauce, along with a cheesy topping. This dish uses convenient frozen ravioli in place of traditional lasagna noodles. Simply layer the frozen pasta with your favorite sauce and mozzarella cheese, then bake until bubbly and golden. The result is a hearty, cheesy casserole that tastes just like lasagna but comes together in a fraction of the time, making it a go-to meal for the whole family.
Get the recipe: Ravioli Lasagna
Stuffed Rigatoni Pasta Pie
If you can’t decide between a pasta dish and a pie, the good news is you don’t have to! This stuffed rigatoni pasta pie (aka honeycomb pasta pie) combines the best of both worlds for a comfort food dinner everyone is going to love. Rigatoni pasta works as the pie crust holding a delicious beef and onion filling, and then on top, you have an egg and ricotta topping to finish the pie off beautifully.
Get the recipe: Stuffed Rigatoni Pasta Pie
Loaded Mac and Cheese
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with this 35-minute loaded mac and cheese recipe! This dish takes the classic macaroni and cheese we all know and love, and elevates it to new heights with the addition of crispy bacon and panko breadcrumbs. Ready in just minutes, this creamy, cheesy masterpiece is perfect for busy weeknights or when you’re craving a satisfying meal. Whether you serve it as a hearty main course or a crowd-pleasing side dish, this classic comfort food is a family favorite that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds.
Get the recipe: Loaded Mac and Cheese
Italian Drunken Noodles
If you are a fan of drunken noodles, this recipe with an Italian flair is for you! This flavorful dish makes a great midweek dinner and will be devoured. Expect bold, vibrant flavors and a dish that’s perfectly delicious and satisfying. Italian drunken noodles are made with hot Italian sausage, fresh vegetables, white wine, fresh herbs and pappardelle noodles. This fusion Italian dish, based on the Thai favorite, can be tweaked to your preference with different vegetables or meats.
Get the recipe: Italian Drunken Noodles
Rasta Pasta
Spice up your weeknight dinners with this vibrant and flavorful rasta pasta recipe with a creamy alfredo-esque sauce! A yummy fusion of Caribbean and Italian cuisines, this skillet dinner features creamy penne pasta tossed with spicy jerk chicken and colorful bell peppers. In just 30 minutes, you can enjoy a comforting meal that’s rich, cheesy, and bursting with jerk seasoning. Perfect for family gatherings or a cozy night in, this jerk chicken pasta is sure to become a favorite.
Get the recipe: Rasta Pasta
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