82 Easy Pasta Dinners The Whole Family Will Love

Chicken-and-Broccoli Skillet Pasta
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Whether you're in the mood for hearty comfort food or a light, bright summer pasta, you can never have too many pasta supper ideas. Pasta dishes are a great thing to have in your repertoire, especially these easy pasta recipes that won't take up too much precious weeknight time. Need a one-pot supper? Pasta to the rescue! Had a long day, tiresome day? Mix up a batch of our gooey macaroni and cheese and put your feet up. Unexpected drop-in guests? Wow them with fancier-than-it-looks skillet pasta.

When we're planning a dinner that we want every member of the family to enjoy, pasta dishes always come to mind. Plus, we're sure you probably have at least one box of pasta on hand in your pantry at all times. With this collection of our favorite pasta recipes, you'll always have at least one dish to turn to in a pinch. Plus, these dishes are all so easy to put together and feed a whole family. The kids will definitely be coming back for seconds.

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Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole
Greg DuPree

Chicken, penne, and cream sauce come together to create an all-star dinner casserole.

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Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

Southern Living Chicken Alfredo Lasagna in the pan to serve

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

We recommend shredding your cheese for this Alfredo lasagna to make sure it melts completely. Pre-shredded cheese won't melt as well due to the anti-caking agent coated on it. Store any leftovers you may have in the refrigerator for up to three days.

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Baked Ziti

Southern Living Baked Ziti in the baking dish ready to serve

Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Perfect for a family weeknight meal, this cheesy ziti casserole makes eight servings and comes together in just about an hour. Serve alongside a simple tossed salad for a delicious well-rounded meal.

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Chicken-and-Broccoli Pasta Bake

Chicken-and-Broccoli Pasta Bake
Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel

Ready in just 35 minutes, this comforting pasta dish is a great way to sneak in some veggies.

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Baked Ziti with Chicken

Baked Ziti with Chicken
Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar

Instead of ground beef, this new version of classic baked ziti calls for store-bought rotisserie chicken.

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Baked Tortellini Alfredo With Mushrooms

Baked Tortellini Alfredo with Mushrooms
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

A quick broil just before removing your skillet from the oven will give you a bubbly, golden-brown finish.

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Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese

Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Refrigerated ravioli helps dinner come together in just 35 minutes.

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Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta

Buttermilk Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Spinach
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Although this recipe calls for rigatoni, you can use whatever type of pasta you have on hand.

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Pasta with Pancetta, Artichokes, and Roasted Red Peppers

Pasta with Pancetta, Artichokes, and Roasted Red Peppers
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This five-ingredient pasta is packed with flavor thanks to some high-impact ingredients: salty pancetta, briny artichokes, and smoky roasted peppers. The juices come together to make a light and luscious pasta sauce, too.

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Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

You can cook every component for a classic spaghetti and meatball dinner in just one pot thanks to your multi-cooker.

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Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas

Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Convenience items like pre-peeled shrimp, frozen peas, and store-bought pesto help this filling pasta dish come together in under 30 minutes.

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Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole
Southern Living

Egg noodles serve at the base for a simple ground beef mixture that the whole family will love.

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One-Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo

One-Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This recipe uses Cajun seasoning, fresh garlic, and Parmesan cheese to deliver plenty of flavor in just one pot.

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Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta

Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

High-heat cooking cherry tomatoes releases their natural juices to form a flavorful sauce. Quick-cooking shrimp means everything is ready in less than 30 minutes.

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Baked Ziti with Sausage

Baked Ziti with Sausage
Southern Living

We used three types of cheese to make sure this baked ziti is oh-so-cheesy.

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Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce

Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce
Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

You're just 25 minutes away from dinnertime bliss. We recommend using fresh shrimp, not frozen, for the best flavor.

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One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta

One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta
Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

You need just one pot and 35 minutes to get this fajita pasta dinner on the table.

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Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Freshen up your tried-and-true pasta casserole with bright green kale. A creamy sauce keeps this 30-minute pasta bake feeling appropriately cheesy and indulgent.

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Meatball Pasta Bake

Meatball Pasta Bake
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

While they may not be the usual ingredients, orange juice and fennel add a bright flavor to this pasta bake.

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Cajun Shrimp Boil Pasta

shrimp-boil-pasta

Shrimp, corn, and smoked sausage form the base for this warm-weather pasta dish with a nice Cajun kick.

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One-Pot Pasta Primavera with Bacon and Feta

One-Pot Pasta Primavera with Bacon and Feta
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

We cook the pasta for this dish in chicken stock to create a rich and silky sauce.

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Tomato Carbonara

Tomato Carbonara
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This vegetarian-friendly version of your favorite pasta dish swaps bacon for burst cherry tomatoes.

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Shrimp and Peas with Farfalle

Shrimp and Peas with Farfalle
Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

You'll swoon over the lemony breadcrumbs that top this dish. If you're looking to save even more time, skip the fresh English peas and opt for frozen peas that have been thawed instead.

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Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage

Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Who knew sweet peppers and sausage could be such a winning combination?

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Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables
Alison Miksch

Have some surplus from your farmers' market haul? Add your extra produce to this catch-all, summery baked ziti.

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Cabbage, Mushroom, and Bacon Pasta

Cabbage, Mushroom, and Bacon Pasta
Greg DuPree

This one skillet, one pot dish makes cooking an elegant dinner easier than ever.

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Spaghetti Casserole

Spaghetti Casserole
Jennifer Davick

Southerners love our casseroles, and it doesn't get much easier than this Spaghetti Casserole.

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Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
Greg DuPree

Have a pack of ground beef on hand? Make this easy Spaghetti Bolognese your go-to dinner solution.

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Ham and Noodle Casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole
Jen Causey

Whether you want to serve it up for dinner or make it to freeze for later, this noodle casserole comes together in 45 minutes.

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Taco Dinner Mac and Cheese

Taco Dinner Mac and Cheese
Southern Living

With this recipe, you can enjoy the flavors of tacos even on pasta night.

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One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards

One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards
Greg DuPree

No one will ever suspect that a meal this elegant was cooking in just one pan. Talk about no cleanup!

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Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling Torie Cox

A stunning dish of gnocchi is shockingly easy to make – just pick up a package of the potato pasta at the grocery store and toss it in your skillet.

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Cheesy Sheet Pan Pasta

Cheesy Sheet Pan Pasta
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Pasta, cooked and crisped to perfection on a sheet pan? Don't knock it until you try it.

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Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi

Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi
Greg DuPree

This balanced bowl gives you full servings of vegetables and pasta in one, making it the ideal winter weeknight supper.

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Shrimp Alfredo

Shrimp Alfredo Recipe Image
Micah A. Leal

Add some seafood to your weeknight dinner with this incredibly simple shrimp Alfredo recipe. It's delectable and perfect for a spring supper.

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Pasta Shells with Spring Vegetables

Pasta Shells with Spring Vegetables
Alison Miksch

Pea tendrils, the tender tips of pea vines that taste just like the peas, make an unexpected and charming garnish.

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Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake
Iain Bagwell

Tortellini, chicken, broccoli, butter crackers, and pecans compose this casserole that bursts with flavor and texture.

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Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e Pepe
Heidi's Bridge

You'll need just four ingredients for this simple, classic recipe.

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Beefy Butternut Squash Pasta

Beefy Butternut Squash Pasta
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

With substantial pieces of butternut squash and browned beef, this pasta is a whole meal in one bowl.

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Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna

Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

A container of refrigerated pesto adds distinctive flavor to this basic beef-and-cheese lasagna, and the unbaked lasagna can be frozen for up to three months.

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Mac and Cheese with Ham

Baked Smokin’ Macaroni and Cheese
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Add some ham to mac and cheese to turn the classic side into a dinner-worthy casserole.

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Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole
Beth Dreiling; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

It's amazing what you can do with a jar of pasta sauce and packet of pepperoni. This casserole combines two family favorites.

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Spinach Ravioli Lasagna

Easy Pasta Recipes: Spinach Ravioli Lasagna
Van Chaplin

This top-rated spinach-ravioli lasagna uses convenience items, like store-bought pesto sauce, jarred Alfredo sauce, and frozen cheese-filled ravioli, to deliver a delicious main dish with little time and effort on your part.

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Chicken-and-Broccoli Skillet Pasta

Chicken-and-Broccoli Skillet Pasta
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

From the stove to the oven to the table, you can cook and serve this pasta dish all in one skillet.

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Pasta With Marinated Tomatoes

Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Ever marinate your tomatoes? They add zingy flavor to a classic veggie-packed pasta.

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Barbecue Mac and Cheese

Barbecue Mac and Cheese

What's better than mac and cheese? Mac and cheese enriched with all the barbecue flavors you love.

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Farmers' Market Pasta Salad

Farmers' Market Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are a summer staple, and this one includes all the flavors of the season.

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Million Dollar Spaghetti

Million Dollar Spaghetti

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Any dish with "million dollar" in the name has to be good, don't you think? This spaghetti recipe takes the classic up more notches than we can count.

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Creamy Andouille Pasta

Creamy Andouille Pasta

ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: LYDIA PURCELL; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN

Cajun flavors get the spotlight in this creamy dish that's enriched with Andouille sausage and perfectly cooked pasta.

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Ravioli Lasagna

Ravioli Lasagna Recipe
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Swap your sheets of pasta for squares of ravioli to make your next batch of lasagna even more delicious.

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One-Pan Garlic-Butter Shrimp with Orzo

one-pan garlic-butter shrimp with orzo

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Buttery pasta makes the perfect bed for succulent shrimp in this quick orzo-based recipe.

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Summer Orzo Salad

Summer Orzo Salad
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

Let this dish fill your summer with orzo salad that's packed with the flavors of the season.

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Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone
Hector Sanchez

Burst tomatoes really shine in this pasta dish, which balances them with dollops of creamy mascarpone cheese.

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Green Chile Mac And Cheese With Chicken

Green Chile Mac And Cheese With Chicken

ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: LYDIA PURCELL; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN

One surefire way to make your mac and cheese even more craveable is to add green chiles.

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Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ

Even if penne isn't your favorite pasta shape, it may just win you over in this easy and delicious preparation.

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Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese

Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is made even taster by the addition of Southern-favorite pimiento.

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Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Alison Miksch

The fresh flavors of the ingredients is only barely outshined by the vibrancy of the colors in this pasta dish.

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Tuscan Pasta With Tomato-Basil Cream

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream
Ralph Anderson

The tomato-basil cream really makes this indulgent pasta recipe one to remember.

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Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Southern Living Chicken Spaghetti Casserole in the dish to serve

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Think you can only make spaghetti with beef? Think again, and then make our fan-favorite chicken spaghetti casserole for an easy weeknight dinner.

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Baked Linguine With Spicy Tomato-Cream Sauce

Baked Linguine with Spicy Tomato-Cream Sauce
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

When you have fresh tomatoes, there's no better strategy than to whip up a batch of this gorgeous baked linguine.

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Pasta Primavera With Shrimp

Pasta Primavera With Shrimp

JENNIFER CAUSEY; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX

Pasta primavera is a weeknight favorite, and we like it best when paired with plump, quick-cooking shrimp.

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Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

Chicken Tetrazzini

Brittany Conerly; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin

Perfect for potlucks, this bake-and-take tetrazzini casserole uses vermicelli as a pasta base.

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Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers

Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers

Take a classic baked ziti and jazz it up with Andouille, tomatoes, and peppers. It's a winning combination.

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Chicken Tortellini Salad

Chicken Tortellini Salad Recipe

ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

If you'd like your pasta with a bit of nutritious greenery, turn to this tortellini-studded salad recipe.

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Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Broccoli gets an infusion of flavor thanks to the addition of herby green pesto in this simple recipe.

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Creamed Corn Pasta

Southern Living Creamed Corn Pasta on plates to serve

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Creamed corn adds deliciously unexpected flavor and excellent texture to this recipe.

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Grilled Chicken and Veggie Tortellini

Grilled Chicken-and-Veggie Tortellini

Tortellini get strong support for tender grilled chicken and flavorful veggies in this dish.

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Greek Baked Ziti

Greek Baked Ziti
Greg Dupree

Few dishes are as satisfying as a baked ziti, and this one is an excellent one for your weeknight rotation.

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French Onion Pasta

Southern Living French Onion Pasta in a bowl to serve topped with fresh thyme

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This recipe takes all the flavor you love in French onion soup and puts it into a delectable pasta recipe.

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Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad in a white bowl with golden spoon

Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

If you're looking for a classic, easy pasta salad, you can't do better than this one, which adds broccoli for crunch and grapes for sweetness.

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Tuna Noodle Casserole

Southern Living Tuna Noodle Casserole with a serving scooped out on a plate beside

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Tuna Noodle Casserole is a tried-and-true favorite. Generations agree: It's what's for dinner tonight.

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Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Buffalo Chicken Casserole
Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

The flavor profile that will satisfy everyone from kids to the grandparents, buffalo chicken gets an easy upgrade in this casserole preparation.

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Fettuccine With Collards And Bacon

Fettuccine With Collards And Bacon
ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: LYDIA PURCELL; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN.

Bacon and collards are a perfect pairing, and this recipe really does them justice.

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Lemon Chicken Pasta

Southern Living Lemon Chicken Pasta ready to serve

Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Lemon chicken is a weeknight favorite, and this recipe makes the combo even more filling with the addition of pasta.

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Our Best Lasagna

Our Best Lasagna

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Everyone needs a go-to lasagna recipe, and this is ours. It's the most classic of all the traditional preparations.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole

Sloppy Joe Casserole
Southern Living

The camp-classic Sloppy Joe is transformed into the most family-pleasing casserole in this recipe.

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Pimiento Cheese Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Pimiento Cheese Chicken-Broccoli Casserole
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

The weeknight-favorite chicken-broccoli casserole gets a touch of unexpected flavor with the addition of pimiento in this recipe.

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Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff
Antonis Achilleos

Sirloin beef tips and egg noodles combine to make the most comforting and special dinnertime dish.

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Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Recipe

Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez

The dinnertime trifecta of turkey, noodles, and poppyseeds make for a hearty mealtime.

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Church Supper Spaghetti

Southern Living Church Supper Spaghetti in the baking dish and ready to serve

Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

If it's popular for church suppers, you know it has to be good. With spaghetti, frozen peas, frozen corn, and a host of other fresh veggies, it's filling and can feed a crowd too.

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Butternut Squash Lasagna

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This recipe relies on butternut squash for structure, but it also uses no-boil lasagna noodles to make things even easier.

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Beefy Skillet Lasagna

Beefy Skillet Lasagna
ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: LYDIA PURCELL; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN.

While we're often partial to an oven-safe-dish-baked lasagna, using a cast-iron skillet can help make your edges even crispier.

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