The best thing about pasta is you probably already have some. Whether it’s freshly rolled cavatelli (briefly) staying in your fridge or the shelves of dried penne lining your doomsday bunker, it’s something we can’t help but stock up on. And if it’s not already in your cupboard, a more than adequate version is likely sold at your nearest gas station, corner store, and definitely wherever you buy groceries. Of course, pasta’s ability stretches beyond its availability: it’s delicious, quick to make, and looks great covered in Parmesan. While this isn’t news to anyone, it’s always worth repeating: Pasta is good, you should make it.
Our community members know this already—just look at pasta’s significant representation among our most popular recipes of all time. However, when you do take this advice, it’s best to have a recipe you’re excited about making. Here are our 52 best pasta recipes of all time, ranked by popularity.
52. Zucchini Lasagna
This vegetarian lasagna swaps noodles for thinly sliced zucchini, a substitution that introduces brightness without sacrificing texture. It’s worth noting that this recipe is much more convenient and consistent if you slice your zucchini on a mandoline.
51. Swiss Chard and Lemon Ricotta Pasta
“Tender Swiss chard, creamy ricotta cheese, crispy bacon, and lemon zest combine with spaghetti to create a dish brimming with fresh, lovely flavors,” writes our Test Kitchen. “This dish comes together quickly and doesn’t feature unusual ingredients, making it perfect for a weekday dinner.”
50. Kale and Italian Sausage Lasagna with Pumpkin Béchamel
“Layers of kale, Italian sausage, sugar-pie pumpkin béchamel, herbed-ricotta, and fresh mozzarella marry perfectly between lasagna noodles,” writes recipe developer Mary Catherine Tee. “The béchamel base is of the one-and-only Julia Child (from 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking') with some pureed cooked pumpkin and nutmeg added for depth.”
49. Jamie Oliver's Super Green Spaghetti
Sir Jamie’s vibrant spaghetti is as easy as it gets: two minutes of prep, 11 minutes of cooking time, and only using five ingredients. Make this when you’re in a pinch.
48. Pasta alla Norma (Eggplant and Tomato Pasta)
Proof that eggplant can be fried, smothered in tomato sauce, and topped with something other than Parmesan and mozzarella. Enter, ricotta salata—a sheep’s milk cheese that is less creamy, but saltier than traditional ricotta—it's ideal topping for this bright pasta.
47. No-Mayo Peperonata Pasta Salad
“Peperonata—the classic Southern Italian side dish of sweet peppers, onions, and tomatoes melted in olive oil—is a swell companion to pasta,” writes recipe developer Emily. “It’s packed full of vegetables and serves as the dressing (a win for pasta salad, a big win for you).”
46. Pasta Piselli
This straightforward soup highlights how quality ingredients can transform simple dishes into sources of culinary marvel. For best results, don’t take any shortcuts: Make the pasta yourself and use homemade stock. You’ll notice—and enjoy—the difference.
45. Lobster Fra Diavolo (Pasta with Spicy Lobster-Tomato Sauce)
Pasta with spicy tomato sauce and lobster sells itself. Even better, this recipe teaches you how to make lobster stock from scratch.
44. Pasta con le Sarde
This recipe’s ingredients list is a murderer’s row of delicious, pasta-adjacent pantry staples: pine nuts, bucatini, fennel, white wine, sardines, anchovies, red pepper flakes, and garlic.
43. Cook's Illustrated's Italian Pasta Salad
This Genius recipe combines salty salami, briny olives and capers, acidic pepperoncini, and earthy sundried tomatoes to create a pasta salad that is equally bright and complex. Pro tip: Make more than you need, and use your leftovers in a frittata the next day.
42. Bucatini Pasta with Pork Ragu
What you’ll want on a lazy Sunday.
41. Summer Weekend Pasta
Part vegetable, part pasta, this breezy, vibrant dish from Food52 co-founder Amanda Hesser tastes like a summer barbecue (looking at you, corn and basil). Serve alongside grilled fish and your favorite dry white wine.
40. Pasta With Marinated Artichoke Sauce
This artichoke pasta maintains a perfect, five-star rating among our community members. Here are some of their reviews: “Really good and easy. Perfect for an everything-from-the-pantry night or also great if you want to clean out the fridge. Yum!” writes MVLISA. “Been doing this forever and it's really yummy,” says Organicmom. “So easy-so good!” claims Scott P.
39. White Pasta with Garlic Parmigiano Breadcrumbs
“This recipe is a brilliant reminder of the pleasure that can come from combining just a few simple ingredients,” writes community member Etta. “I was surprised by the quantity of breadcrumb topping—1 ½ cups is a lot of breadcrumbs—but it really does set this dish apart by providing a welcome contrast to the richness of the ricotta.”
38. Jamie Oliver's Garlic Mushroom Pasta
Another quick and easy pasta from Sir Jamie. Let’s run down the facts: It requires just two minutes of prep, only 14 minutes of cooking time, needs just 5 ingredients, and consistently develops a rich, hearty, nourishing, mushroom-forward flavor.
37. Creamy Lemon Spaghetti with Crunchy Breadcrumbs
This is the ultimate date night pasta. It’s quick and easy, elegant looking, and—most importantly—delicious. Good on its own or topped with chicken or fish, serve this with an asparagus salad and a glass of your favorite white wine.
36. Craig Claiborne's Pasta con Asparagi
This Genius recipe from Craig Claibourne first appeared in The New New York Times Cookbook in 1979. Since appearing on our site in 2013, this tomatoey, asparagus-having, carbonara-adjacent pasta situation has been beloved by some of our most loyal readers.
35. Baked Pasta with Chicken Sausage
This sausage penne from Food52 co-founder Merrill Stubbs contains all the joys of a well-made baked pasta: a crunchy top layer, deeply flavorful sauce, and the unique ability to become significantly better when reheated the next day.
34. Pasta With Green Pea Sauce & Lots of Pecorino
Another perfectly rated, five-star recipe, we’ll once again turn to community member reviews to sing the praises of this green pea pasta: “I can't believe I logged into Facebook to write this but this is ABSOLUTELY delicious.” says Sharada. “WOW. That is all I can say. This is probably the best pasta I have ever made,” writes Taylor S.
33. Speedy Skillet Ravioli Lasagna From Grace Parisi
This hassle-free, Genius lasagna requires just one pan and is ready to serve in less than an hour. Oh, and it swaps the dish’s traditional noodles for ravioli—what’s not to like?
32. Master Pasta Dough, Two Ways
If you’ve got the time and energy, you can improve any of these recipes by using pasta that you made from scratch.
31. Ketchup Spaghetti for One
This recipe from former Food52 editor and current New York Times columnist Eric Kim celebrates ketchup’s role in Korean pasta history. Like all of Eric’s recipes, it’s delicious, thoughtful, and worth making more than once.
30. Pesto Pasta With Green Beans & Potatoes From Nancy Harmon Jenkins
This Genius recipe from Nancy Harmon Jenkins is quick to make (less than 30 minutes), big on flavor (we’ll eat anything with homemade pesto), and perfect for highlighting summer’s greatest produce (green beans and fresh basil).
29. Vito's Shrimp Scampi
As recipe developer Max McDonough is quick to point out, this dish—with its cream sauce and chopped tomatoes—isn’t really a scampi. But who cares? Vito doesn’t. Once you try it, neither will you.
28. First Night in Florence Spaghetti
A community favorite, this spaghetti from community member Boulangere has amassed over 230 positive reviews since being posted to the site in 2021. Although easy to make and reliant on basic ingredients like cherry tomatoes, canned tuna, and spinach, its complex flavor makes this pasta fit for any occasion.
27. Birthday Lasagna
Another baked pasta from Merril Stubbs, this lasagna swaps traditional ricotta for a creamy, nutty bechamel.
26. Rhonda's Spaghetti with Fried Eggs and Pangrattato for One
“I just love this dish—the yolks coat the pasta and the whites provide little puffs of yumminess throughout this peppery, garlicky dish,” writes recipe developer and community member Rhonda. “The Pangrattato tops it all off by adding bits of crunch and bright bursts of lemon and rosemary.”
25. Pasta With Silkiest Eggplant Sauce From Francis Lam
Included in our Food52 Genius Recipes: 100 Recipes That Will Change the Way You Cook cookbook, this pasta from Francis Lam avoids eggplant’s textural uncertainty by transforming the sometimes mushy vegetable into a savory, garlic-forward sauce.
24. Chuck Roast Bolognese
Re: lazy Sunday meals. A glass of Chianti and this chuck roast bolognese are the last two things I want to see before melting into my couch.
23. Simple, Stop-Trying-So-Hard Broccoli Spaghetti
“This recipe is made with humble pantry staples like spaghetti, broccoli, and lemon, and it's an unusual marriage between Italian and Korean flavors,” writes chef and recipe developer James Park. “Unlike traditional cream pasta, this dish is served in a spicy, soul-warming broth whose base is an unlikely candidate: milk.”
22. Creamy Asparagus, Lemon, and Walnut Pasta
“This is a perfect Sunday evening supper for spring, and makes the most of seasonal asparagus,” writes community member Amelia. “The lemon keeps things fresh and zesty, while the walnuts contribute the 'crunch' factor.”
21. Andy Bennett's Creamy Cauliflower Pasta Carbonara
This Genius recipe from Andy Bennett leverages cauliflower’s abundance of pectin (a natural thickening agent) to develop a luxurious sauce without the help of cream or eggs.
20. Smoky Minestrone With Tortellini & Pesto
This tortellini-having minestrone pairs an abundance of hearty vegetables with bacon and pesto to create a nourishing, flavorful soup. Serve with your favorite loaf of warmed, crusty bread.
19. Breakfast Pasta
One of our most saved recipes of the year (so far), this dish from Olivia Mack McCool uses the fewest possible ingredients to achieve a nourishing pasta that is best enjoyed at all hours of the day.
18. Pasta e Ceci (Pasta with Chickpeas)
Make this on a snow day. It exclusively uses pantry ingredients (dried chickpeas, canned tomatoes, garlic, pasta), will warm your soul, and requires 12 hours of prep time, meaning you probably only can make this if you’re stuck inside all day.
17. Pasta With Lemon-Parmigiano Sauce
If you hadn’t noticed yet, it should be clear by now: Our community loves pasta covered in lemon, butter, garlic, and parm. This simple, quick spaghetti from Jennifer Clair is no exception.
16. Pasta with Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil & Brie
Another banger from Merrill Stubbs, this low-effort dish relies on Brie’s natural creaminess to give the pasta a velvety, luxurious coating. Serve with grilled chicken, a simple salad, and be sure to make extra—it’ll be good for the coming days.
15. Spicy Eggplant Pasta
“Roasting the eggplant brings out its natural sweetness and tenderness, while combining it with a savory tomato sauce gives it a chance to soak up all of the garlic, oregano, and spicy red pepper flakes, a delight in texture and flavor,” writes recipe developer Gena Hemshaw. “The dish is hearty, satisfying, and easy to whip up—even on a weeknight, as you roast the eggplant while you cook the sauce.”
14. Nigel Slater's Really Good Spaghetti Bolognese
This is nothing more than Bolognese with pancetta—and that’s a good thing.
13. Fall Weeknight Pasta
According to Eric Kim, this recipe is for those busy, fall nights where all you want to do is “wear [your] favorite sweater and carbo-load in front of the television.” Pro tip: Double the recipe to ensure you’ve got leftovers, then spend the next several nights embracing pasta-induced autumnal comfort.
12. Creamy Mushroom Pasta
Another perfectly rated, five-star recipe, out of the 75 positive reviews here are my favorites: “INCREDIBLE, you need this in your life. This has become my all-time favorite pasta. It’s THAT good,” writes gtracey.”This was the first recipe I made on food52 and oh boy it was amazing!” shares Tim. “I made this recipe exactly as written and it was delicious! I wouldn’t change a thing,” says Maddy.
11. Sue Kreitzman’s Lemon Butter Angel Hair Pasta
Another example of our community’s unwavering love for pasta covered in lemon and butter.
10. Kathy Brennan & Caroline Campion's Skillet Lasagna
Thanks to the convenience of no-boil noodles, this lasagna comes together in under an hour, making it an actually possible weeknight meal. Of course, this recipe will still work if you’d like to use regular lasagna noodles.
9. Spaghetti Carbonara
“This is no-frills, classic carbonara. It's also great made with rigatoni. Serving suggestions: straight outta the serving bowl,” writes recipe developer Brette Warshaw.
8. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio e Salsiccia (Spaghetti With Garlic, Olive Oil & Sausage)
The pasta Jon Favreau makes for Scarlett Johansson in the movie Chef, but with sausage in it. Bonus: It takes just 15 minutes.
7. Barbara Kafka’s Creamy Lemon Pasta
According to Kristen Miglore, this Genius pasta from legendary food writer Barbara Kafka, “sparkles in just about any situation you can throw its way.” The creamy, lemony, elegant dish belongs at a dinner party or your bedside table at 1 a.m.
6. Spaghetti alla Nerano (Spaghetti with Zucchini)
This legendary zucchini spaghetti from Nerano, a small town along the Amalfi coast, is beloved by many (including Stanley Tucci). A vibrant dish that celebrates the harmony of garlic, olive oil, parmesan, and freshly cracked black pepper. It’s a pasta you’ll make often, forever.
5. Victoria Granof’s Pasta con Ceci
Chickpea pasta made simple. Instead of spending hours soaking and then cooking dried chickpeas, this recipe opts for the convenience of canned, pre-cooked beans. This swap allows you to focus on nailing critical flavor-building techniques—like actually using enough olive oil and making sure your garlic truly browns.
4. Ina Garten's Pasta alla Vecchia Bettola
What makes this Ina Garten pasta so great? According to Kristen Miglore, the secret is roasting an adequate tomato sauce in the oven for an hour and a half, allowing it to concentrate, turn jammy, and introduce deeply complex flavors into an otherwise simple preparation.
3. Miso-Mushroom Pasta
One of our most popular recipes of all time, this pasta confirms that the marriage between mushrooms and miso remains delicious.
2. Pasta With Garlic Butter Sauce
This garlic-heavy, butter pasta from former Food52 food editor Emma Laperruque has range. Make this for an easy weeknight meal, a last-second midnight snack, or topped with a fried egg for breakfast—it’s a tasty, simple pasta you can make wherever, whenever.
1. Martha Stewart's One-Pan Pasta
Also our most popular Martha recipe of all time, this one-pan pasta is convenient, consistently delicious, and easily made in the most primitive of kitchens (including a campsite). Keep this on file for nights when you’ve got minimal energy and barely any time to cook.
Join The Sandwich Universe co-hosts (and longtime BFFs) Molly Baz and Declan Bond as they dive deep into beloved, iconic sandwiches.
Listen Now
See what other Food52 readers are saying.