Pasta recipes — 12 pasta dinner ideas to make on repeat

KitchenAid pasta attachments for your pasta recipes

If you often have pasta dinners, why not make them sensational? Create flavourful pasta from scratch with a KitchenAid mixer and its array of optional pasta attachments. A trusty stand mixer takes care of how to make pasta at home without all the effort of mixing and kneading by hand. It also powers a range of high-quality pasta attachments for fantastic results. 

If you’re a fan of lasagna, spaghetti, or fettuccine, the stainless steel Pasta cutters and roller 3-piece set does the job beautifully. You can adjust the thickness of the pasta before cutting it.

Pressing different shapes of pasta is also fun, and can be done with family and friends. With the Pasta press - 6 shapes,  you can easily make spaghetti, bucatini rigatoni, fusilli, as well as large or small macaroni shapes.

Pasta dough recipes for the basics

Not all pasta dough is the same. There are different varieties to explore making. You’ll soon learn the basics of making wonderful pasta dough at home and can keep it plain or incorporate flavours or coloured ingredients. Here are 2 firm favourites.

1. Fresh spaghetti pasta dough

Made with only 3 ingredients, this pasta dough is easy to make and promises a good texture. It can become the basis of all your pasta-making adventures.

2. Spinach pasta dough

Naturally green-coloured fresh pasta looks impressive on the plate. Delicately coloured with spinach, this tagliatelle is great accompanied by your favourite pasta sauce.

Meat or fish pasta recipes for dinner

From light seafood sauces to rich meaty creations, pasta has the texture and flavour to complement meat dishes well. Shrimp, salmon, chicken or beef… find what you like best.

3.

Who can hate lasagna? The combination of both flavourful tomato sauce, vegetables, meat, and cooked with white wine gives a complex and irresistible taste. Save the leftovers for tomorrow!

4.

Kids and grown-ups love this simple homemade macaroni and cheese dish with a crispy crust. Add fried bacon for a salty kick and don’t forget the nutmeg. Serve golden brown. 

5.

Intensely savoury, black pasta is made with nero di seppia (culinary squid ink), which you can pick up from an Italian store or fish market. Don’t be daunted — it’s delicious with seafood.

6. 

Zesty lemon and rocket salad top this straightforward but delicious pasta dinner. Created with homemade spaghetti and a sizzling tuna sauce, it’s perfectly balanced. 

Vegetarian pasta recipes for dinner

Pasta pairs well with Italian flavours like basil, parsley, tomatoes and oregano. However, there’s plenty of scope to be adventurous with in-season vegetables like butternut squash and fennel to liven up the plate.

7. 

Alive with fennel, basil and cherry tomatoes, this twist on a classic lasagne is ideal for a relaxed lunch. Resplendent with soft roasted vegetables, it’s a real joy to create.

8. 

This milky, buttery, pasta gratin roll is a perfect hearty dish during autumn and winter. Give yourself room to experiment with other types of cheese as well, to mix it up.

9. 

It’s fun to see the results when you add natural colour. This recipe has a combination of savoury and milky flavours, with a hint of herbs too.

Easy pasta sauce recipes for dinner

You can make a stock of fresh pasta sauces to complement that impressive homemade pasta. Try whizzing up one of these fragrant recipes with a blender or hand blender in seconds.

10.

Pesto is often on the menu for many of us. You can get your taste buds tingling with exciting pesto recipe variations, like this one made with roasted pistachio and fresh spinach. 

11.

Hearty and unusual, this butternut pasta sauce uses a blender to create a beautifully smooth texture. There’s a touch of the unexpected on the palate thanks to the hazelnuts and sage. 

12.

The absolute classic: you can hardly get bored of Italian green pesto. Made with basil, parmesan cheese and pine nuts, this vibrant pesto is also a great spread for bread.

Pasta creativity livens up mealtimes 

There’s more to pasta than penne and pesto from the supermarket. Amaze yourself by creating professional-level spaghetti, tagliatelle, macaroni, or lasagne sheets at home. You can either use it straight away, or store it for later - read about how to store pasta here. Then, try one of these tantalising pasta recipes that you’ve never done before and make dinnertime an event. Cheers!