The 30 BEST Italian Pasta Recipes

We absolutely love Italian food, and at the heart of that famous cuisine is pasta!

This collection of traditional Italian Pasta Recipes includes 30 great dishes, many familiar along with some very regional dishes you may not have heard of.

The variety here is huge. From a wide array of tomato based pastas, to decadent and creamy recipes, to very simple and light meals. No matter what pasta you're craving, you'll find it here.

Cook your way through all of these amazing Italian pasta recipes. We bet you'll keep coming back to them!

Buon appetito!

Italian Pasta Recipes:

1. Lamb Ragu

We're starting this list of Italian pastas with a real bang!

Lamb Ragu is an incredibly flavorful and comforting Italian sauce, and tossed with hearty pappardelle pasta it makes the most amazing meal.

It does require a bit of patience, because these amazing flavors take time to develop, but it's so worth it in the end.

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2. Fettuccine Alfredo

This Fettuccine Alfredo is the BEST, hands down! It's pure creamy Italian bliss that you won't be able to get enough of.

Fettuccine Alfredo is pure Italian comfort food. Perfectly cooked pasta smothered in a decadent creamy cheese sauce. All in about 20 minutes!

One of the quickest Italian pasta recipes you'll ever cook.

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3. Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

If you've never tried Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe, you need to add this easy pasta recipe to your collection. Like, yesterday.

Combining a variety of distinctive flavors, this dish comes together beautifully. No wonder this super regional dish from the southeast corner of Italy has spread so far!

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4. Clam Linguine (Linguine alle Vongole)

Clam Linguine, or Linguine alle Vongole, is an elegant restaurant quality dish. But don't be intimidated, it's super easy to make.

It's a gorgeous, yet light, pasta in a lemony, garlicky wine sauce. This is one of those dishes that is easy enough for any weeknight, yet impressive enough for special occasions.

It's one of our favorite Italian pasta recipes ever!

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5. Scallop Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

This Scallop Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes is one of our favorite new recipes. It's super quick and easy, in about 20 minutes you have an amazing meal on your table.

This elegant dish is sure to impress guests, but it's so quick to whip up it's even great for busy weeknights.

And all it takes is a few simple ingredients. So what are you waiting for?

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6. Spicy Sausage Pasta

A bowlful of this Spicy Sausage Pasta is what cozy nights are meant to be. Adding a crusty piece of bread with a glass of red is just an extra bonus.

Make this spicy sausage pasta when your heart craves for something easy, yet tantalizing.

This easy pasta dish is perfect for a quick dinner for busy weeknights, but equally wow worthy if you're looking for an easy pasta dinner for your company get together.

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7. Pesto Pasta

Pesto Pasta is a light and fresh Italian dish with a beautiful sauce. And it's almost too easy!

Get your hands on the biggest bunch of some fresh basil. Whip up a quick Pesto Sauce and swirl it with the pasta of your choice. That's it, dinner is served.

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8. Meatball Minestrone Soup

Minestrone is a hearty Italian vegetable soup made with tomatoey broth and pasta along with any veggies and beans you can lay your hands on.

This recipe gives a slight twist to the traditional dish by adding in meatballs. It's so good!

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9. Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Fettuccine

Shrimp Fra Diavolo – because spicy is Delicious! Spice up your life, embrace this bowl of succulent plump shrimp, tomatoes and a kick of heat… some pasta doused in that sauce or nice crusty bread.

Save a cozy night for some Shrimp Fra Diavolo. Aaaand, since you are the chef in your own kitchen, you can adjust that heat too.

Just don't turn it down too much, otherwise it's not Shrimp Fra Diavolo!

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10. Sicilian Pasta

If you've been on the lookout for a tasty new pasta recipe, here it is! This Sicilian Pasta is bursting with flavor from mixed olives, capers, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes and some great flavor enhancers!

It's a light pasta meal, perfect for meatless nights, and comes together super fast. This gorgeous dish can be your easy weeknight dinner or a meal for special occasions.

It just may become one of your go-to Italian pasta!

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11. Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

This Pasta Primavera recipe is a perfect dinner when you're looking for something light, yet satisfying.

Your favorite pasta is tossed in a delicate cream sauce with plenty of fresh veggies and plump shrimp.

This versatile dish is perfect for spring and summer when the vegetable seasons are at their peak, but you're going to want this treat all year long.

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12. Pasta Alla Vodka

This amazing homemade Pasta alla Vodka recipe is going to make you forever pass by the store bought stuff… it's that good!

You're going to be amazed how easy it is to create such a decadent and gourmet sauce in your own kitchen.

With just a few pantry staples, and of course some vodka, you can create a restaurant quality meal that you'll come back to again and again.

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13. Tortellini al Forno

This Tortellini al Forno recipe is pure decadent comfort food. Plump, tender tortellini smothered in an amazing creamy sauce that's enhanced by bacon and a variety of cheeses.

Give this one a try on cozy night. Trust us, even your pickiest eaters will dig in with gusto!

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14. Creamy Tortellini Soup

Now this soup will tempt you to leave behind anything you're doing right now and come hover over a cozy bowl loaded with happy mood and happy flavors.

Packed with pillowy tortellini and Italian sausage, with a big flavor enhancement from sun dried tomato pesto, it's a sure hit!

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15. Lasagna

You know we can't have a list of Italian pasta recipes without Lasagna! This famous Italian delicacy is loved by everyone, and makes amazing comfort food for your family.

This classy lasagna is very simple to make with layers of pasta, rich meaty tomato sauce, béchamel, and lots of mozzarella cheese. It's super delicious!

Get the Recipe @ cafedelites

16. Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup is so comforting that you can relish it any time of the year.

It's tasty, loaded with juicy chicken meatballs, soup veggies, and an epic broth with a lot of parmesan on top. It's a must-try recipe for all soup lovers.

Get the Recipe @ damndelicious

17. Frutti di Mare Sauce

Frutti di Mare Sauce is for the seafood lovers!

It is a flavorful, decadent sauce that has a variety of seafoods like shrimp, scallops, mussels and squid in a thick red homemade arrabbiata sauce.

This one is perfect for special occasions.

Get the Recipe @ spoonforkbacon

18. Cacio e Pepe

Now you can't get more simple than this Italian classic, Cacio e Pepe. Tender noodles tossed with parmesan cheese, freshly cracked black pepper in a light sauce. So easy, yet so tasty.

Perfect answer for that last minute "oh no, what's for dinner?"!!

Get the Recipe @ foodiecrush

19. Stuffed Shells

Stuffed Shells is a delicious baked pasta dish you can make for dinner any night.

These Italian stuffed pasta shells are filled with spinach and ricotta, then baked in a tomato sauce with plenty of cheese to make an easy casserole.

The perfect family dinner!

Get the Recipe @ loveandlemons

20. Pasta Marinara

You can't get much more simple and classic than Pasta Marinara.

All it takes is some good quality tomatoes, garlic and a few basic herbs, then a little time for simmering, to make the best homemade marinara.

Toss it with pasta and you have a perfect Italian side dish or light dinner.

Get the Recipe @ acouplecooks

21. Spaghetti Carbonara

Carbonara is one of our favorite pasta. It's creamy and cheesy, with a big flavor boost from bacon.

It's also quite versatile. You can easily add veggies, chicken, shrimp or sausage to bulk it up.

Get the Recipe @ thebestblogrecipes

22. Three Cheese Manicotti

Now this is a hearty meal! Manicotti stuffed with three types of cheese, topped with tomato sauce and more cheese then baked to perfection.

This is a great company dinner or meal prep contender.

Get the Recipe @ jessicagavin

23. Penne Arrabbiata

Heat it up with this spicy Penne Arrabiata! A simple tomato sauce base gets a kick from a generous addition of red chili flakes.

It's very similar to marinara, but with the addition of heat.

Get the Recipe @ tastesbetterfromscratch

24. Pasta Puttanesca

Guys, make a traditional Italian restaurant-worthy meal at home with this stunning Pasta Puttanesca recipe!

The mouth-watering homemade tomato sauce with olives, capers, and herbs makes an easy and delicious meal.

It's one of our favorite Italian pasta recipes.

Get the Recipe @ dinneratthezoo

25. Rigatoni Bolognese

Bolognese is pure Italian comfort food. Ground meat is simmered for a long time in a tomato sauce with wine, seasonings, and milk.

In this recipe, the pasta cooks right in the tasty bolognese sauce. It's an extremely delicious meal for your loved ones, so just enjoy.

Get the Recipe @ savorynothings

26. Pasta all Checca

Checca Sauce is an uncooked tomato sauce, also featuring olive oil, basil and fresh mozzarella cheese.

Toss it with spaghetti for a great summer recipe when the heirloom tomatoes are in season.

Get the Recipe @ pinchandswirl

27. Pasta e Fagioli Soup

This Italian style soup is loaded with hearty ground beef, fresh vegetables, creamy beans, tender pasta and delicious herbs all in a rich and savory broth.

This Pasta e Fagioli is a MUST one pot meal for cozy comfort nights.

Get the Recipe @ cookingclassy

28. Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce

Ravioli may be one of the most fun pasta shapes. I think we all have fond childhood memories of those canned lunched.

In this recipe, the ravioli has grown up and gets tossed in an amazing sage brown butter sauce, along with spinach and walnuts.

All comes together to make an amazing dish.

Get the Recipe @ budgetbytes

29. Baked Ziti

This is the easiest, cheesiest and tastiest Baked Ziti recipe! This pasta bake is full of your favorite lasagna flavors and ingredients that make it amazingly delicious.

It's perfect to feed a crowd, and if there are any leftovers it makes great lunch for the next day. So enjoy!

Get the Recipe @ thefoodcharlatan

30. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

We're wrapping up this list with something so simple, yet so good. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is one of the easiest and tastiest Italian side dishes you will ever make at home!

You only need 4 basic ingredients to make this classic dish, which gets ready in no time.

Get the Recipe @ gimmesomeoven

We hope you enjoy these Italian Pasta Recipes as much as we do. Every single one is so good.

Check out these other great recipe collections!
Italian Recipes
Penne Recipes
Tortellini Recipes
Orzo Recipes
Spaghetti Recipes
Rigatoni Recipes
Italian Chicken Recipes
Italian Side Dishes

This collection of easy and comforting Italian Pasta Recipes includes thirty traditional favorites. We love this decadent alfredo pasta:

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
2 garlic coves, minced
1.5 cups heavy cream
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
8oz fettuccine pasta
parsley, for garnish

Instructions

Boil the pasta in salted water according to the directions to al dente. Drain in a colander.
Melt the butter over medium heat in a skillet, then add the garlic. Cook for a minute or two, till the garlic becomes soft and fragrant.
Add the cream and Italian seasoning. Bring to a low simmer, then stir in the cheese. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
Once the cheese has melted and everything is well combined, toss in the pasta and cook till warmed through.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

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