20 Tasty Italian Pasta Recipes

This delicious vegetarian lasagna with ricotta is a meatless Italian pasta recipe that's hearty and crowd-pleasing. The tomato sauce has just the right zing and garlic nuance, and the spinach ricotta cheese filling is classic and creamy. It’s scented with fresh thyme and a little lemon zest, which takes it over the top.

One of the most classic of all Italian pasta recipes? Cacio e pepe! This Roman pasta dish translates to "cheese and pepper", with a simple sauce made of butter, Pecorino Romano cheese and pepper. It makes an irresistibly creamy warm pasta that bursts forth with flavor. Italian cuisine at its finest!

Here’s an Italian staple recipe that every home cook should know: Pasta Pomodoro! This classic Italian sauce is pure in its simplicity: simmering tomatoes and a few aromatic vegetables make a straightforward yet nuanced flavor. It takes a little time to simmer, but it’s well worth it for the ease of this recipe: and the bold flavor! 

Here’s an Italian pasta recipe that’s simple, hearty and pleases a crowd: Stuffed Shells! Stuff pasta shells with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and spinach, then bake them up in a bath of garlicky tomato sauce. It makes your kitchen smell heavenly, and the first bite into one of those jumbo shells confirms it’s just as tasty as the smell. 

Looking for a pasta recipe to impress? Try the signature Italian dish Pasta alla Norma! This impressive recipe hails from Sicily and like any classic Italian dish, it’s all about elegant simplicity. Sauteed eggplant tastes savory and meaty against a tangy tomato sauce, al dente pasta and salty ricotta salata cheese. Simply called “la Norma” when you order it in Sicily, it’s a standout Italian pasta that will impress everyone.

Often associated with Naples, Italy, pasta puttanesca has a flavorful, rich sauce made from anchovies, capers, olives, and sometimes garlic, chili peppers, and red pepper flakes. It's generally served with spaghetti, but pasta puttanesca can work with any long pasta shape. It's full of zingy, zesty flavor!

Vodka sauce is a classic Italian pasta recipe: a tomato sauce that’s simmered with vodka, and often mixed with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. The vodka adds an herbal, peppery undertone to the sauce.

Here’s a quick and simple Italian pasta recipe that’s the perfect shortcut for weeknights: Lemon Ricotta Pasta! Mixing ricotta cheese with olive oil, Parmesan and a little pasta water makes a makeshift white sauce that’s ideal for coating on long noodles. The zing of the lemon zest makes it absolutely irresistible not to keep slurping down noodles.

This eggplant pasta recipe has got it all! It’s packed with savory and zesty flavor: tender roasted eggplant, zesty marinara sauce, and peppery basil. It’s meatless but lacks nothing in the flavor department.

Gnocchi are pillowy dumplings that are a classic Italian pasta recipe: and you can buy them prepackaged at the store. Here’s a trick to making them quickly: Skillet Pesto Gnocchi! You don’t even need to boil the gnocchi. Cook them up in a skillet and they cook right in the sauce, helping to thicken it as they release starch. Stir in purchased pesto and you’ve got a bright and herbaceous sauce: in just 10 minutes total.

Need a great Italian pasta sauce? Try Arrabiata Sauce! This spicy, garlicky tomato sauce is an Italian favorite for good reason: the simple flavors make any pasta taste incredible. When it comes to tomato sauce, this is most often the one we reach for. 

Homemade marinara sauce can be easy to make and adds the extra love that takes it from a cheater dinner to a real deal Italian meal! This pasta marinara is ultra flavorful, with a tangy sweetness from fire-roasted tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar.

Pasta carbonara is one of the classic pastas of Rome. It's traditionally made with guanciale, a cured pork product that's common in Italy, but you can swap in bacon which is easier to find. via Giada de Laurentiis

Here’s a dish that will be a winner any day of the week: Baked Ziti! This Italian American pasta recipe is packed with savory flavor and cozy nostalgia. Its surface is filled with pockets of seasoned ricotta, lakes of garlicky tomato sauce, and punctuated by strands of gooey mozzarella.

Pasta alla Norma is a classic Sicilian dish. Soft and silky eggplant is tossed with pasta in a bright tomato sauce and served in a snow fall of ricotta salata. via Giada de Laurentiis

Orecchiette is a small, cup-shaped type of pasta that originates from the Puglia region in Italy. The word means “small ears” in Italian, which refers to its shape. The center of the pasta is thinner than the edges, and that gives it a satisfying chewy texture when you take a bite. Here it's paired with cherry tomatoes and basil for a bright and tasty dish.

Homemade ravioli is Italian pasta at its finest! These ravioli are unique - the dough only requires flour and water, with no egg or semolina flour required. This creates a pasta dough that's airy and light and results in a soft, delicate dumpling. Want to make it with purchased ravioli? Head to the recipe and follow the sauce instructions. via Giada de Laurentiis

 One of the best ways to make majestic burrata cheese into a meal? This Burrata Pasta, a beautiful example of Italian-style culinary simplicity. The majestic balls of fresh mozzarella sit atop a pasta twirls entwined with a rustic tomato basil sauce. Breaking into the cheese releases its creamy, rich interior into each bite. 

Here’s an Italian American pasta that marries basic Italian flavors into a mess of garlicky, gooey goodness: Baked Rigatoni! It’s a pasta bake that’s got all the comfort of tomato sauce and cheese, but has intrigue and uniqueness in the flavors. The tomato sauce is full of garlic and a little fennel for meatiness, and it’s got lots of fresh peppery basil for a herbaceous kick. 

Paccheri pasta is a large tube pasta that is like a bigger version of rigatoni. You can substitute rigatoni, penne or any tube shaped pasta here! Here it's served with Marsala mushrooms, freshly grated parmesan cheese, arugula, and a sprinkling of pistachios, and works just as well for a casual weeknight as it does for a dinner party. via Giada de Laurentiis

Here's a quick pasta you can make with all pantry ingredients! Whiz sun-dried tomatoes, green olives, garlic, basil, lemon and olive oil in a food processor until it's a chunky pesto-like consistency. After that, toss with cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese for a super flavorful and quick dinner that requires almost no cooking. via Giada de Laurentiis

Last but not least: pasta Bolognese! Bolognese sauce is an Italian meat sauce that originated from the city of Bologna, made with ground beef, onions, tomatoes and fresh herbs. It's a staple dinner recipe that will please anyone. For vegetarian eaters, substitute plant-based meat crumbles (or try with this Vegan Ground Beef). via Feel Good Foodie