From easy lasagne and mac 'n' cheese to fancy crab spaghetti, there's nothing more comforting than a plate of pasta. Whether you like to use shop-bought pasta or prefer to make your own, we have all the inspiration you need for tasty, saucy, hearty meals that hit the spot every time. Join us as we count down to our favourite recipe – providing some genius hacks and tips for pasta perfection along the way.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover 42 tasty, comforting pasta recipes you can make at home, counting down to our favourite recipe of all.
Can’t decide whether you want pasta or a comforting stew? Roll them both into one with this easy take on a classic Roman dish. To make it, simmer together store cupboard ingredients spaghetti hoops, tinned chickpeas and tomatoes with garlic and some dried herbs and spices. It's as tasty as it is thrifty!
Hailing from Trapani in Sicily, Trapanese pesto ditches pine nuts for almonds and adds tomatoes for extra zing. It's almost as easy to make as opening a jar of the Genovese version – and it can be kept in the fridge for several days, so it'll be ready and waiting to be served with your favourite pasta shapes.
Perfect for feeding a family, this dish needs just one pot – so it's a great option if you're not in the mood for tackling stacks of post-dinner washing up. The spaghetti is cooked in stock and cream along with mushrooms and onions, and it all thickens up seamlessly. Finish it off with parsley, Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon.
If you always have a bag of prawns in the freezer, give this speedy meal a try – it'll be on the table in just a few minutes. Cook down some leeks, then add tomatoes, garlic, the prawns and a pinch of chilli. Throw in your cooked pasta, and dinner is ready!
A very simple and inexpensive pasta bake, this is the perfect dish for when you need to make do with what's in the cupboard and fridge. Mushrooms, crispy bacon and peas are all combined in a cheese sauce with fusilli (corkscrew pasta), then the whole thing is finished off with a layer of melty, bubbling cheese.
Get the recipe for creamy mushroom and bacon pasta bake here
If you're looking for a vegan pasta dish that takes you beyond tomatoes and garlic, this is the recipe you need. Here, jackfruit (a meaty-textured fruit) is combined with soy sauce, lemon and seaweed flakes to make tuna-like chunks that pack a tasty punch. Even die-hard fish fans will be satisfied!
This speedy and wholesome dish comes complete with a sauce made from frozen spinach, garlic and cream – and teeny-tiny orecchiette shells are the perfect vessel to carry it. Frozen spinach isn't second best either, as it gives the sauce more depth of flavour than fresh.
This tangy aubergine and tomato dish originated in Sicily, where it's known as pasta alla norma. Traditionally, it's served with a grating of ricotta salata – a salty hard cheese – but you can add a dollop of the soft, creamy type instead. It'll still taste just as delicious!
Get the recipe for aubergine, ricotta and tomato spaghetti here
Made from ricotta and flour, these tender dumplings require a little effort to make – but once you've nailed the technique, you'll be richly rewarded. They're a bit like a pasta-less pasta filling, hence their name (gnudi translates to 'naked'). You don't need to slather them in sauce; they're best served unadorned, with a little melted butter.
Farfalle (butterfly pasta shapes) are always a hit – with kids and adults alike. To make this simple dish, cook your pasta with frozen vegetables and bacon or pancetta, depending on what you have to hand. If you'd prefer to omit the meat, add a spoonful of pesto instead. What could be easier than that?
A great use-up for leftover ham, this super-quick linguine recipe is done and dusted in 15 minutes. The sauce is a simple combination of mustard, honey and parsley, and it's all topped off with a perfect poached egg. When you break the yolk, it mingles beautifully with the spaghetti.
Bright, sweet, rich and smoky, this super-speedy meal is a great way to use up leftover roasted butternut squash. A crumble of blue cheese and a spoonful of crème fraîche will loosen up the sauce and make it silky smooth. Perfection!
This creamy, spicy pasta dish is packed with protein thanks to the addition of juicy chicken – so, whether you’re trying to bulk up or you're just after an easy way to maintain a balanced diet, it's always a great midweek meal to have up your sleeve. The perfect meal prep recipe, it's made with silky cream cheese, piquant peri peri seasoning and a good grating of Parmesan.
Spaghetti and meatballs is a time-honoured classic – but that doesn't mean you can't experiment with a few new ingredients to spice things up a little. Why not try this easy recipe for pork and chorizo meatballs instead? They come paired with a fiery tomato sauce and nutty spelt spaghetti, which is easier to digest than the regular kind.
Get the recipe for pork and chorizo meatballs with spaghetti here
If you have a little more time on your hands, give this recipe for pumpkin gnocchi and almond pesto a go. Roasted pumpkin, flour and nutmeg make up the little dumplings, while sage, almonds, garlic, nutritional yeast and olive oil are blitzed into a delicious pesto sauce.
This simple seafood recipe takes just 30 minutes to make. First, whip up a sauce using fresh chopped tomatoes, onion and a splash of balsamic vinegar. The prawns and scallops should be added to the pan at the last minute so that they don't overcook. Toss in some cooked linguine (flat spaghetti) or tagliatelle, and you're all done.
A true showstopper. To make this restaurant-quality dish, little pockets of homemade pasta are filled with creamy burrata, ricotta and tomatoes, then served with confit tomatoes (tomatoes slow-cooked in oil), even more burrata, and a garnish of marjoram leaves (a herb similar to oregano).
Get the recipe for tortellini with burrata and tomatoes here
These moreish parcels of fresh pasta are stuffed with spinach, Parmesan, buffalo mozzarella and ricotta, and served doused in herby melted butter. We'll let you in on a secret: you can make ravioli out of fresh lasagne sheets if you don't have time to make your own pasta dough.
A tasty dish with very few ingredients, spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and chilli is a staple dinner in Italy. It's also the perfect weeknight meal when you've got a bare fridge and need something quick and tasty to eat.
Get the recipe for spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and chilli here
Fat rigatoni tubes are the perfect pasta pairing for a classic amatriciana – a tomato sauce packed with pancetta, garlic and chilli. It's finished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and basil, plus plenty of Parmesan shavings (because who doesn't love a cheesy topping?).
There are few things more joyous than thick ribbons of pasta entwined with a rich ragù. In this recipe, beef skirt is slow cooked in red wine and tomatoes until it's so tender that it falls apart – and it's then served with plenty of pasta and Parmesan. Need to prep a few meals ahead of time? It's always worth making double the quantity and freezing the leftovers for later.
A little time and effort are required to make these posh pasta parcels, but they’re well worth the wait. The caramelle, which look like cute little sweets, are made by stuffing pasta dough with a mixture of sweet potato, goats’ cheese and Parmesan. After being boiled to perfection, they're served with a buttery spinach sauce and a scattering of nuts (and yet more cheese).
Get the recipe for caramelle with sweet potato and goats' cheese here
Nobody does pasta dishes quite like an Italian grandma, and this one comes courtesy of Adriana, one of YouTube's famous Pasta Grannies. You'll only need a few ingredients to make it, and they come together quickly, resulting in a dish that tastes like sunshine. The sauce is a mix of lemon, parsley, mint, garlic and chilli – and as it cooks, it takes on a delicious nuttiness, both from actual nuts (pine nuts or walnuts) and a good grating of Parmesan or pecorino cheese.
This recipe takes a classic cocktail and transforms it into a sumptuous pasta dish you'll want to make again and again. It all starts with the Italian American staple, vodka sauce; simply add Bloody Mary–inspired ingredients such as celery seeds and Worcestershire sauce for wonderfully savoury, lip-smacking results.
This surf 'n' turf pasta dish combines prawns with spicy chorizo in a rich, zingy tomato sauce. When plating up, tear over a few basil leaves for an extra layer of herby flavour. Don't have any chorizo? Bacon lardons will work just as well.
A vegetarian take on traditional lasagne, this one-pan wonder replaces meat with mushrooms, courgette and spinach. Tomato sauce and lasagne sheets are added to the same pan, then topped with Parmesan and mozzarella – and it's all slid under the grill until golden.
When it comes to puttanesca, nothing you can buy in a jar comes close to a homemade version. It's very simple: tomatoes, anchovies, capers, olives, chilli and garlic are all simmered into a sauce. Stir in spaghetti or linguine, then serve with a snip of parsley, if you have it.
For a taste of luxury, pull out all the stops and make this crab spaghetti. Though it sounds fancy, really, it's just a combination of garlic, chilli, parsley, crab meat (if you can't find fresh, use tinned) and a squeeze of lemon. We love it with spaghetti, but feel free to use whatever pasta you have available.
Cannelloni may take a little time to put together, but it isn't difficult to make. In this satisfying dish, the spinach and ricotta filling is flavoured with lemon zest and garlic, making it light and moreish. The pasta tubes are tucked in a saucy bed of passata, then baked until the Cheddar topping turns irresistibly melty.
Linguine vongole, also known as spaghetti with clams, is a favourite in Southern Italy. It's really simple to make, but you have to be careful with your timings to ensure that nothing overcooks. Serve it up with some crusty bread to mop up the deliciously salty juices.
Why not take advantage of your slow cooker to make this deeply flavoured ragù? It's healthy and hearty, and it contains absolutely no meat. Once you’ve sautéed your vegetables and added a glug of wine, all that's left to do is to pour everything into the slow cooker – along with hot stock, lentils, passata and thyme – and leave it to do its thing. When it's ready, serve it with tagliatelle or pappardelle (wide, flat pasta ribbons).
Made with a combination of meats and a mixture of mushrooms, this rich ragù has incredible depth. To make it, slow-cook pork, veal and beef with your choice of mushrooms, vegetables and red wine. It's absolutely fabulous folded into pappardelle.
This hearty soup is filling enough to serve as a main course. It contains plenty of vegetables – you can throw in whatever you have to hand – plus smoked bacon, lentils and orzo (rice-shaped pasta). Serve it with crusty bread and a good grating of Parmesan for the ultimate in cosy comfort food.
Yearning for the comfort of a good pasta dish, but don’t want to spend ages in the kitchen? This tagliatelle creation can be on the table in just 20 minutes. Crispy pancetta and toasted pine nuts complement the earthiness of chestnut mushrooms, while mascarpone adds creaminess and helps the sauce to coat the pasta.
Get the recipe for tagliatelle with mushrooms, pine nuts and pancetta here
A comforting combination of smoked sausage, ribbon-like pappardelle and creamy mustard and onion sauce, this flavour-packed dish is guaranteed to lift your mood in the tastiest possible way. It's a satisfying twist on a classic Swedish dish that's often served with rice.
This soothing soup is made nearly exclusively from store cupboard ingredients. You don't need to soak any beans; just open a couple of tins instead. For a flavour-packed finishing touch, add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and rosemary, if you have them to hand.
Mac 'n' cheese is always a winner, but this deluxe version is made extra indulgent with double cream, Gruyère, Emmental and pancetta. Serve it with plump grilled tomatoes – their sweetness and acidity will cut through the rich cheese perfectly.
Get the recipe for mac 'n' cheese with grilled tomatoes here
This pasta bake is mac 'n' cheese's rebellious cousin – and it's so tasty, it could be your new favourite dinner. Indulgent and filling, it contains juicy pieces of fennel, sweet Parma ham and thick tagliatelle, all tangled up in a rich white sauce.
Get the recipe for Parma ham, fennel and tagliatelle bake here
An exciting take on the humble pasta bake, this recipe takes the classic combination of meat, cheese and tomatoes and zings it up with green chilli, za’atar and halloumi. Once it's prepped, bake it in the oven until bubbling, then give it a quick blast under the grill to brown the cheese.
The joy of this delicious Tuscan pasta dish lies in its simplicity – the sauce comprises just sweet roasted tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and a touch of chilli. All you need is a glass of wine, and you'll be transported to Florence at the first bite.
Get the recipe for roasted tomato, chilli and garlic pasta here
Like your mac 'n' cheese spicy? This dish is packed full of crayfish tails and piquant chorizo, and amped up with cayenne pepper, paprika and nutmeg. If it's a really special occasion, you could even use lobster tails instead of crayfish to wow your guests.
Everyone needs a good lasagne recipe up their sleeve. This is a straightforward dish that layers a rich ragù, a creamy white sauce and plenty of silky pasta sheets – and of course, it comes crowned with that all-important crunchy cheese lid.
Get the recipe for our easiest-ever lasagne here
Find more inspiration with our ranking of the greatest pasta dishes in the world
Last updated by Laura Ellis.