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Photo: Jen Causey
There is nothing more comforting than a big bowl of creamy pasta for dinner. When you’re short on time, but need something cozy and warm, these pasta recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less. Recipes like Creamy Artichoke Pasta and Creamy Sausage & Kale Pasta are perfect for getting a delicious meal on the table that will leave you feeling satisfied.
01of 20Creamy Spinach PastaView RecipeThis might be one of the creamiest light pasta dishes you’ve ever had! The mascarpone cheese adds a richness to the spinach pasta that’s unexpected—especially in a healthy pasta recipe.
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Creamy Spinach Pasta
View Recipe
This might be one of the creamiest light pasta dishes you’ve ever had! The mascarpone cheese adds a richness to the spinach pasta that’s unexpected—especially in a healthy pasta recipe.
02of 20Creamy Mushroom & Spinach PastaView RecipeJennifer CauseyMake this creamy mushroom and spinach pasta for an easy, healthy dinner. Be sure to save some of the pasta-cooking water as it helps the sauce emulsify.
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Creamy Mushroom & Spinach Pasta
Jennifer Causey
Make this creamy mushroom and spinach pasta for an easy, healthy dinner. Be sure to save some of the pasta-cooking water as it helps the sauce emulsify.
03of 20Creamy Sausage & Kale PastaView RecipeThis quick, comforting gluten-free pasta is perfect for weeknights when cooler weather sets in. Red lentil pasta is coated in a creamy, savory sauce flavored with sausage and packed with plenty of kale. Serve with a green salad on the side.
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Creamy Sausage & Kale Pasta
This quick, comforting gluten-free pasta is perfect for weeknights when cooler weather sets in. Red lentil pasta is coated in a creamy, savory sauce flavored with sausage and packed with plenty of kale. Serve with a green salad on the side.
04of 20Walnut Pesto Pasta SaladView RecipeThis cold pesto pasta salad will cool you off on a summer day. Fresh tomatoes and roasted red peppers add a pop of bright color and juiciness here, but any of your favorite pasta-salad veggies, like blanched broccoli and fresh bell peppers, would be delicious too.
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Walnut Pesto Pasta Salad
This cold pesto pasta salad will cool you off on a summer day. Fresh tomatoes and roasted red peppers add a pop of bright color and juiciness here, but any of your favorite pasta-salad veggies, like blanched broccoli and fresh bell peppers, would be delicious too.
05of 20Creamy Avocado PastaView RecipeJen CauseyThis creamy avocado pasta gets its vibrant color from spinach and avocado, which combine to create a flavorful sauce. Serve the pasta with grilled shrimp or salmon for a boost of protein. Or keep this avocado pasta vegan and top with a portobello mushroom.
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Creamy Avocado Pasta
Jen Causey
This creamy avocado pasta gets its vibrant color from spinach and avocado, which combine to create a flavorful sauce. Serve the pasta with grilled shrimp or salmon for a boost of protein. Or keep this avocado pasta vegan and top with a portobello mushroom.
06of 20Creamy Artichoke PastaView RecipeJen CauseyThis creamy artichoke pasta uses lemon zest and parsley to balance the richness of the Parmesan cheese sauce. You can use frozen or canned artichoke hearts in this healthy pasta recipe.
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Creamy Artichoke Pasta
This creamy artichoke pasta uses lemon zest and parsley to balance the richness of the Parmesan cheese sauce. You can use frozen or canned artichoke hearts in this healthy pasta recipe.
07of 20Rotini with Creamy Pumpkin Pasta SauceView RecipeWill DickeyThis creamy pumpkin pasta sauce, spiked with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese, is a great fall alternative to traditional tomato-based sauce. Here, we serve it with pasta, but it can also be used on pizza or as a dipping sauce alongside fresh-baked breadsticks.
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Rotini with Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
Will Dickey
This creamy pumpkin pasta sauce, spiked with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese, is a great fall alternative to traditional tomato-based sauce. Here, we serve it with pasta, but it can also be used on pizza or as a dipping sauce alongside fresh-baked breadsticks.
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Linguine with Lemon Alfredo Shrimp
09of 20One-Pot Pasta with Peas & ParmesanView RecipeVictor ProtasioA bowl of creamy pea pasta is colorful—and bright in flavor as well, thanks to the addition of lemon zest and juice. Made in just one pot, this easy pasta recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
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One-Pot Pasta with Peas & Parmesan
Victor Protasio
A bowl of creamy pea pasta is colorful—and bright in flavor as well, thanks to the addition of lemon zest and juice. Made in just one pot, this easy pasta recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
10of 20Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & MushroomsView RecipeSliced Brussels sprouts and mushrooms cook quickly and cling to the pasta in our fall version of pasta primavera. Look for presliced mushrooms to cut prep time. Serve with a tossed salad.
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Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms
Sliced Brussels sprouts and mushrooms cook quickly and cling to the pasta in our fall version of pasta primavera. Look for presliced mushrooms to cut prep time. Serve with a tossed salad.
11of 20One-Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta with ZucchiniView RecipeDiana ChistrugaThis one-pot creamy chicken with zucchini is comfort food at its best. Here, we take advantage of fresh summer zucchini, which lightens up the dish. This easy dinner is made all in one pot on the stovetop, so you can give your oven a rest on a warm day and enjoy an easy cleanup.
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One-Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta with Zucchini
Diana Chistruga
This one-pot creamy chicken with zucchini is comfort food at its best. Here, we take advantage of fresh summer zucchini, which lightens up the dish. This easy dinner is made all in one pot on the stovetop, so you can give your oven a rest on a warm day and enjoy an easy cleanup.
12of 20One-Pot Chicken AlfredoView RecipeThis creamy, simple chicken Alfredo recipe is incredibly comforting and cheesy from the combination of Parmesan and cream cheese. You’ll taste a nice pop of pepper and nutty notes from the whole-wheat pasta, too. Plus, it’s a one-pot meal, which means less cleaning for you and a dish that will quickly become your best chicken Alfredo recipe.
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One-Pot Chicken Alfredo
This creamy, simple chicken Alfredo recipe is incredibly comforting and cheesy from the combination of Parmesan and cream cheese. You’ll taste a nice pop of pepper and nutty notes from the whole-wheat pasta, too. Plus, it’s a one-pot meal, which means less cleaning for you and a dish that will quickly become your best chicken Alfredo recipe.
13of 20Beet Pasta with Goat Cheese & WalnutsView RecipePhotographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh HoggleBeets are blended to create a vibrant sauce for an easy way to amp up your veggie intake. We use marinated beets for extra flavor, but you can easily substitute plain cooked beets—just add a bit of lemon juice or white-wine vinegar to balance the sauce. Goat cheese adds creaminess while walnuts provide a satisfying crunch in this healthy pasta dish.
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Beet Pasta with Goat Cheese & Walnuts
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Beets are blended to create a vibrant sauce for an easy way to amp up your veggie intake. We use marinated beets for extra flavor, but you can easily substitute plain cooked beets—just add a bit of lemon juice or white-wine vinegar to balance the sauce. Goat cheese adds creaminess while walnuts provide a satisfying crunch in this healthy pasta dish.
14of 20Linguine with Creamy White Clam SauceView RecipeRipe tomato and fresh basil give this quick recipe tons of flavor. Serve this healthy pasta dinner with crusty garlic bread and steamed green beans.
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Linguine with Creamy White Clam Sauce
Ripe tomato and fresh basil give this quick recipe tons of flavor. Serve this healthy pasta dinner with crusty garlic bread and steamed green beans.
15of 20Creamy Arugula Pesto Pasta with Peas & TomatoesView RecipeCharlotte & Johnny AutryHere, we jazz up store-bought pesto with peppery arugula and tangy goat cheese to make a creamy pasta sauce.
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Creamy Arugula Pesto Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes
Charlotte & Johnny Autry
Here, we jazz up store-bought pesto with peppery arugula and tangy goat cheese to make a creamy pasta sauce.
16of 20Cacio e Pepe Pasta with PeasView RecipeThe sauce for this pasta dish is just cheese and pepper (aka cacio e pepe in Italian). Try this with kids as a simple yet sophisticated alternative to standard mac and cheese. Lots of black pepper adds a touch of heat, priming picky palates for spicier food.
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Cacio e Pepe Pasta with Peas
The sauce for this pasta dish is just cheese and pepper (aka cacio e pepe in Italian). Try this with kids as a simple yet sophisticated alternative to standard mac and cheese. Lots of black pepper adds a touch of heat, priming picky palates for spicier food.
17of 20Mac & Cheese with CollardsView RecipeDark leafy collards add bold flavor and boost the calcium in this healthy skillet mac and cheese recipe with a crispy topping. If you don’t have collards, kale, Swiss chard and spinach are delicious substitutes.
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Mac & Cheese with Collards
Dark leafy collards add bold flavor and boost the calcium in this healthy skillet mac and cheese recipe with a crispy topping. If you don’t have collards, kale, Swiss chard and spinach are delicious substitutes.
18of 20Spaghetti Carbonara with PeasView RecipeOur healthy spaghetti carbonara recipe is lower in calories and fat than a traditional spaghetti carbonara recipe, plus it boasts 9 more grams of fiber per serving from whole-wheat pasta. For the best flavor, use Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The eggs in the sauce are not fully cooked; if you’re concerned about consuming undercooked eggs, use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs in this spaghetti carbonara recipe.
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Spaghetti Carbonara with Peas
Our healthy spaghetti carbonara recipe is lower in calories and fat than a traditional spaghetti carbonara recipe, plus it boasts 9 more grams of fiber per serving from whole-wheat pasta. For the best flavor, use Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The eggs in the sauce are not fully cooked; if you’re concerned about consuming undercooked eggs, use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs in this spaghetti carbonara recipe.
19of 20Butternut Squash Chickpea Mac & CheeseView RecipeThis gluten-free butternut squash mac and cheese packs plenty of cheesy goodness in every bite. Chickpea pasta gets coated in a sauce made with pureed butternut squash that gives this comforting meal a nutrient boost and adds a sweet note to complement the savory flavors.
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Butternut Squash Chickpea Mac & Cheese
This gluten-free butternut squash mac and cheese packs plenty of cheesy goodness in every bite. Chickpea pasta gets coated in a sauce made with pureed butternut squash that gives this comforting meal a nutrient boost and adds a sweet note to complement the savory flavors.
20of 20Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta with ChickenView RecipeJamie VespaIf you love warm spinach and artichoke dip, then you’ll love that we turned this classic dip into a creamy pasta dish with chicken. And here’s what’s almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.
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Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta with Chicken
Jamie Vespa
If you love warm spinach and artichoke dip, then you’ll love that we turned this classic dip into a creamy pasta dish with chicken. And here’s what’s almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.
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