25 Pasta Dishes That Are Easy on the Hip Pocket

I’ve always really loved pasta.

In fact, macaroni and cheese is STILL my favourite food, although because of the calories, I don’t enjoy it as much as I’d like these days.

Not many households wouldn’t have at least two different types of pasta sitting in the pantry. If you have pasta, you have a meal! These are some of my favourite recipes for pasta that I’ve accumulated over the years. Many of them I have eaten all my life, so I’d like to share them with you!

1. Sausage Stroganoff

This combines the best of both worlds – pasta and sausages are cheap and well loved by children everywhere.

2. Faster Pasta

This recipe happened quite by accident, like most good recipes do. I had nothing in the cupboard – but had some bacon lurking in the fridge that had to be used up. Added little bits of stuff here and there – and the kids inhaled it! It’s been a permanent fixture on my monthly menu ever since! Plus it only takes 10 minutes from whoa to go!

3. Slow Cooker Lasagna

Yep you can make lasagna in your slow cooker. It can slowly cook over many hours, making mouths water. The key to making this work is to keep the ingredients as dry as you can, otherwise you’ll end up with slop – and no one wants that!

4. Tuna Macaroni Salad

Keep it fresh with this super simple recipe. Most people have a tin of tuna stashed away in the pantry somewhere. A perfect salad that is ideal for light lunches or barbecues. To add a lil something something, throw in some bacon because well. Who doesn’t love bacon!

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5. Chicken Carbonara

Chicken Carbonara…my fav in the world of pasta. I cook this all year round. It’s wonderful in the winter time as comfort food and fresh in summer with a side of salad. Switch the recipe up from time to time by using fettuccine. The kids will love the “Slurps & Splatters’ that comes with inhaling the pasta!

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6. One Pot Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Double Yummy! This roasted red peppers, Italian sausage, spinach, goat cheese, and garlic flavor dish will leave your family thinking you’re a culinary chef. An authentic hearty meal that’s as satisfying as realising you only have one pot to wash after dinner. Winning!

7. Beef Lombardi

While it sounds like a fancy dish, beef lombardi is simply a mixture of ground beef and chopped tomatoes smothered over an array of creamy noodles, topped with cheese and baked. Yep, it’s as easy as that!

8. Spicy Chorizo and Red Pepper Pasta

Creamy, cheesy and packed full of veggies. This spicy chorizo and red pepper pasta is warming, comforting and oh so tasty baby!

9. Buffalo Chicken Alfredo Bake

If ever there was a ‘guilty pleasure’, here it is! This buffalo chicken pasta bake is CHEESY, CREAMY, and absolutely amazing. A truly great recipe for super busy weeknights.

10. Poor Man’s Lasagna

If you’re looking for a great ethnic dish that doesn’t require a ton of prep work, a poor man’s lasagna is a hearty and filling option for the long, cold winter nights. Good for making large batches and freezing. An inexpensive alternative to a traditional lasagna. Leave it thin on top, so that the noodles get crispy-chewy.

11. Ham and Cheese Tortellini

Winner, Winner. This dish is so incredible and comforting. Loaded with ham, peas and cheese-filled tortellini, it will get a thumbs up around the table for lunch or dinner! Oh, and I must remind you that this is a one pot meal. Yes, ma’am! Easy dinner and easy clean-up makes me love this all the more.

12. Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta

A simple but delicious vegetarian dish that requires bugger all washing up! It’s also an easy way to get all that healthy spinach into your kids’ mouths. This recipe is a definite plate licker!

13. Parmesan Garlic Spaghetti

Parmesan Garlic Spaghetti is what family dinner dreams are made of. The best part is this meal is made almost entirely of pantry and fridge staples (spaghetti, garlic, butter, and parmesan cheese). The parsley adds colour and fresh flavour, but it’s not totally necessary and you don’t need to make a special trip for it.

14. Creamy Mozzarella Shrimp Pasta

Don’t skimp on this shrimp recipe when planning your weekly dinners. This super easy recipe will have your family thinking you have slaved over the stove for hours! If you have a chilli dodger in the house like we do, scrap the chilli flakes and replace it with shallots. Nobody will know a thing!

15. Creamy Sausage and Mushroom Rigatoni

Enjoy this easy-to-follow Italian pasta dish at your next family dinner. The tubes of rigatoni are the perfect size to hold the creamy sauce and small pieces of sausage inside, giving you flavour in every bite. Add a dash of chilli flakes for extra kick.

16. One Pot Pepperoni Pizza Pasta

One-Pot Pizza Pasta is an easy, cheesy, comforting dinner recipe loaded with flavour thanks to all of your favourite pizza toppings”¦and as a bonus, everything gets cooked in the same pot!

17. Baked Stuffed Ricotta Shells

If you’re going meat-free with your pasta, try this delicious Baked Stuffed Ricotta Shells recipe that’s a great vegetarian option.

18. Turkey Bolognese Pasta Bake

You’ll definitely be begging for more after a taste of this sumptious Turkey Bolognese Pasta Bake.

19. Basil Pesto Chicken Pasta

Even just the smell of this delightful Basil Pesto Chicken Pasta recipe will make you instant pesto lovers.

20. Creamy Cranberry Chicken Pasta

For a little zing to your usual creamy chicken pasta, try adding cranberry just like this flavourful Creamy Cranberry Chicken Pasta that’s a treat to your taste buds.