Plate of cheesy pasta with marinara sauce beside a slice of garlic bread topped with cheese.

22 Easy Pasta Meals for Your Family Dinner Rotini

Want to add some easy pasta recipes to your family dinner routine? We're saving you time by collecting the "greatest hits" family pasta dinner ideas from our parent-curated recipe lists, plus any other all-time favorite kid-friendly pasta dishes our community adds right here.

To make your go-to pasta meals a little more exciting without having to reinvent the wheel (or to modify a recipe you think your kids might not go for), try serving them with a fun and different pasta shape, or change up the protein and veggies.

Need picky eater pasta dishes, or just have a variety of different food preferences in your house? Try offering a deconstructed pasta meal where everyone gets to build their own. Serve a few different jarred sauce options like marinara, Alfredo and pesto that can be mixed and matched. You can also clear our the fridge of any leftover cooked meat, veggies, and bits of cheese.

Add your own favorite easy pasta meals to the list! Submit a recipe link with your personal review below.


 
    realsimple.com

    Gnocchi With Sausage and Spinach

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    This easy recipe combines savory sausage, garlic, and wilted spinach with pillowy gnocchi and Parmesan for a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner.

    Kelly R said:  The flavor of this dish is deceptively complex, even though it just calls for a handful of simple ingredients. It's one of my go-to easy family dinners! The Italian sausage (use a chicken or turkey variety if you prefer) makes it delicious, and makes even the leafy greens kid-approved.

    inquiringchef.com

    20-Minute Chicken Ramen Stir Fry

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Tender pieces of chicken combine with broccoli and ramen noodles in a sweet-savory sauce for a homemade, healthier alternative to takeout that gets to the table just as quickly!

    Katie G. said:  It was during quarantine of 2020 that I discovered this recipe which has now become a family favorite. The combination of ramen, chicken and broccoli in a sweet Asian sauce is a winner with everyone. The leftovers (if there are any) are great as leftovers.

    the-girl-who-ate-everything.com

    Peanut Noodles

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Simple peanut sauce is easy to make with common pantry ingredients like peanut butter, soy sauce and sesame oil. Add fresh or frozen veggies to this peanut noodle recipe to round it out into a complete meal.

    themagicalslowcooker.com

    Slow Cooker Pesto Mozzarella Chicken Pasta

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Mommyx3 (Monique H) said:  My children tend to be verrry picky and from the oldest to the youngest the picky level goes up more lol. One thing they all love in common is some good chicken! The perfect blend of chicken, pesto, lemon, and mozzarella is definitely mind blowing and delicious. Side with some garlic bread for a little kick.

    budgetbytes.com

    Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Katie G. said:  My kids love the taste of these lasagna roll ups and I love the simplicity of the recipe. Feel free to add spinach or keep it out if your kids don't like "green stuff." I also add extra spices to my filling for a little extra flavor. Double a batch and throw one in the freezer for later.

    melskitchencafe.com

    Ground Beef (or Turkey) Stroganoff

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Kelly R said:  I always use turkey in this easy dinner recipe, and chop the mushrooms so they can't be distinguished. Great served over noodles, rice, or even cauliflower rice. I like to throw frozen green beans in with the boiling noodles to save time and effort.

    pressureluckcooking.com

    Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Vanessa M. said:  This was a big hit at our house. It reminds me of dreamy pasta dishes from fancy Italian restaurants. The combination of sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, Marsala wine (the alcohol fully cooks out so it is safe for kids), heavy cream, and parmesan cheese takes this pasta and chicken dish to a new level of yum!

    thedefineddish.com

    One Pot Hamburger Helper

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    christadiserio said:  This recipe is a healthier version of the delicious Hamburger Helper you ate as a kid. It uses minimal and everyday ingredients, which is great especially when you're looking for easy family dinner ideas you can throw together after a long day. If you feel like going a step further in making this recipe even healthier, you can always substitute ground turkey for the beef.

    damndelicious.net

    Spaghetti Carbonara

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Kristy Pepping said:  My kids love spaghetti and this 5-ingredient carbonara dish is super easy to throw together. One of my go-to easy family dinner ideas when I'm wondering what should I make! For an even healthier version, use turkey bacon and whole wheat pasta.

    melskitchencafe.com

    Instant Pot Creamy "Baked" Ziti

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Kelly R said:  This kid friendly Instant Pot dump recipe is the first thing I made in mine, and now I get what the fuss is all about. Pour in a variety of simple ingredients, pressure cook for a few minutes, and you're left with a wonderful creamy tomato pasta that tastes like it took much more effort than it did. We enjoyed ours with some warmed peas mixed in at the table. Easy peasy!

    foodnetwork.com

    Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Both the meatballs and the sauce are made from scratch in this classic and kid-friendly spaghetti and meatballs recipe from Rachael Ray.

    Kristy Pepping said:  As much as we get our kids to try new foods, we do always come back to this classic. Even our super picky eater loves this spaghetti and meatballs. This recipe is super easy to make, feeds even a larger family and pairs really well with some garlic bread and side salad. Plus, I have also made these meatballs separately and served on toothpicks as a party appetizer.

    foodnetwork.com

    Pasta Primavera

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Not your average primavera, this easy pasta recipe roasts a rainbow of veggies in the oven for a big flavor boost.

    food.com

    Jo Mama's World Famous Spaghetti

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Wendy Windham McBride said:  Jo Mama's World Famous Spaghetti is our all time favorite! It has great flavor and my son that has a family of his own always requests it when he visits!

    melskitchencafe.com

    Creamy Garlic Alfredo Sauce

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    This easy Alfredo sauce uses cream cheese for its silky texture, and comes together in a snap. Pair with your family's preferred pasta and add-ons.

    onceuponachef.com

    Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    This delicious kid-friendly pasta dish has simple ingredients and cooks quickly enough for any busy weeknight. The leftovers taste great, too.

Primary photo:  

Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.