Small Plates

65 Kid-Friendly Pasta Recipes

Simple, hearty bowls of noodles that will get dinner on the table quickly and please everyone in the family.
Cauliflower carbonara made with orecchiette on a pink plate with a redhandled spoon.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
  • Image may contain Dish Food Meal Plant and Pasta
    Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Judy Mancini
    1/65

    Summer Squash and Basil Pasta

    When cooked long enough, the squash gets jammy and saucy, ideal for coating big pieces of pasta, like paccheri or ziti.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    2/65

    One-Pot Pasta Primavera With Shrimp

    This lightning-fast version of the classic spring pasta calls for just the right amount of water that magically cooks down to create a silky sauce, no draining necessary.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    3/65

    Cacio e Pepe Pie

    In this extra cheesy, extra comforting meal, spaghetti pie meets an Italian classic: cacio e pepe.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    4/65

    Ramen Noodles With Miso Pesto

    Springy ramen noodles and a cilantro-miso sauce bring a welcome twist to a classic pesto recipe.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    9/65

    Cauliflower Carbonara

    Cut into small pieces, roasted cauliflower mingles with pasta, bacon, and Parmesan in this hearty, comforting twist on classic carbonara.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    10/65

    Pasta Salad with Spring Vegetables and Tomatoes

    Ginger-roasted cherry tomatoes, skillet-charred snap peas and scallions, and plenty of fresh basil and mint make this lighter pasta salad eminently craveable.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    11/65

    Simple One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta

    The chicken, sauce, and pasta for this dish all cook in the same pan. You can add broccoli, mushrooms, herbs, or a little chipotle at the same time that you stir in the Parmesan.

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  • Photo by Marcus Nilsson
    12/65

    Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs

    If you haven't mastered the Italian-American classic yet, now's the time to go on a journey to pasta nirvana.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    13/65

    Broccoli Bolognese with Orecchiette

    Blanch chopped broccoli before cooking your pasta in the same water, then toss the whole thing with crumbled sausage and plenty of chile flakes, butter, and Parmesan.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    14/65

    Macaroni & Cheese for a Crowd

    Using evaporated milk makes this baked mac and cheese exceptionally rich and creamy—it may be for a crowd, but it's bound to go quickly.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    17/65

    Mueller's Classic Lasagna

    While their new iteration simplifies things a bit, we love this original recipe for Mueller's lasagna, which starts with a homemade meat-and-tomato sauce and ends with one decadent, satisfying bite.

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  • Photo by Colin Price
    18/65

    Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

    This is a creamy, cheesy, classic mac 'n' cheese you can make using your favorite new kitchen appliance!

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege
    21/65

    Grilled Ratatouille Pasta Salad

    If you grill the vegetables a day or two ahead, this satisfying pasta dinner comes together in a snap.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li
    22/65

    Baked Pasta alla Norma

    This easy dinner packs all of the classic flavors of classic Pasta alla Norma—eggplant, tomatoes, and basil—into a pan with spaghetti, garlic, and Parm.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    29/65

    Sheet-Pan Pasta Bake With Chicken and Kale

    So much more crispy topping per bite than your standard pasta casserole.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    30/65

    Pasta With 10-Minute Pesto

    Blanching fresh basil leaves before blending is the key to this vibrant, ultra-herby pesto. Perfect for pasta, it also dresses up pizza, scrambled eggs, and more.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    35/65

    Our Favorite Mac and Cheese

    Creamy, cheesy macaroni with a light, crunchy topping: this is the macaroni and cheese that dreams are made of.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    36/65

    Fridge-Dive Pesto Pasta

    Turn any extra hardy greens or herbs you can find in your fridge into dinner tonight with this pesto pasta.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Molly Baz
    37/65

    3-Ingredient Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

    The key to balancing the richness of the cream and the sweetness of the pumpkin in this simple sauce is salty, starchy pasta water.

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  • 38/65

    Sweet Potato Macaroni and Cheese

    This macaroni and cheese looks like it's been made with artificially colored, cheap squeezy cheese or out of a box, when in fact the exotic glow comes courtesy of the earthy goodness of a sweet potato.

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  • Photo by Ted Cavanaugh
    49/65

    Spaghetti With Ramps

    The pungent garlic notes in ramps make them the perfect accompaniment for any pasta dish.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi
    50/65

    Bucatini All'Amatriciana

    It's hard not to love this classic Italian pasta—it's just the right mix of spicy and sweet.

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  • Photo by Liz Clayman
    51/65

    Cavatelli With Roman Cauliflower

    If you can't find Romanesco, you can substitute standard cauliflower in this creamy, secretly vegetable-packed pasta dish.

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  • Color photography by Andrew Scrivani
    52/65

    Carroty Mac and Cheese

    A simple, kid-friendly homemade food with the added grown-up appeal of lots of healthful carrots tossed into the mix.

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  • Photo by Danny Kim, food and prop styling by Ali Nardi
    55/65

    Penne With Almond Pesto and Green Beans

    This vibrant summer pasta has plenty of healthy greens in the mix.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi
    56/65

    Cacio e Pepe

    This version of the classic pasta packs enough of a flavor punch for the adults, and enough creamy comfort to please the kids.

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  • Photo by Peden & Munk
    59/65

    Ditalini Risotto

    Rather than being cooked in salted water, the pasta is treated like risotto—simmered in stock and stirred until cooked and creamy—which gives it plenty of time to pick up meaty flavors.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    60/65

    Pasta with Smoky Pumpkin Cream Sauce

    Don't be fooled by the simple ingredient list: the combo of pumpkin purée and heavy cream turns into a luxurious pasta sauce with a rich smokiness thanks to Spanish smoked paprika.

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