Easy Cheesy Pasta Dinner Recipes: Fast & Delicious Weeknight Meals

When time is short but cravings are strong, nothing satisfies quite like a comforting bowl of cheesy pasta. These easy recipes transform simple ingredients into restaurant-quality dinners in 30 minutes or less. Perfect for busy weeknights, these cheesy pasta dishes are guaranteed to become family favorites that you’ll return to again and again.

1. Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Linguine

Ingredients:

• 12 oz linguine pasta
• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh basil for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook linguine according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add cherry tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes, cooking for 2 minutes until softened.
5. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
6. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
7. Return shrimp to the skillet and add cooked linguine. Toss everything together until well coated.
8. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.

2. Quick Three-Cheese Beef Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Brown ground beef with onion and garlic in a large skillet. Drain excess fat.
3. Stir in marinara sauce, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Combine cooked pasta with meat sauce. Transfer to baking dish.
5. Top with mixed cheeses and bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
6. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

3. Healthy Vegetable Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 8 oz whole wheat elbow pasta
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional)
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccoli and carrots during last 5 minutes of cooking.
2. In a saucepan, whisk milk and flour until smooth. Cook over medium heat until thickened.
3. Reduce heat and stir in cheese until melted. Add mustard, garlic powder, and peas.
4. Combine cheese sauce with drained pasta and vegetables. Serve immediately.

Expert Tips for Perfect Cheesy Pasta

• Reserve Pasta Water: Always save 1 cup of starchy pasta water to help sauces cling better to noodles.
• Grate Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can prevent smooth melting.
• Undercook Pasta Slightly: Pasta will continue cooking in the sauce, so aim for al dente.
• Season in Layers: Add salt at different stages for more balanced flavor.
• Rest Before Serving: Let pasta dishes sit for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these recipes ahead of time?

Yes! Most cheesy pasta dishes can be prepared 1-2 days in advance and reheated. Add a splash of milk when reheating to restore creaminess.

How can I make these recipes healthier?

Use whole grain pasta, reduce cheese amounts, incorporate more vegetables, and use low-fat dairy options. Nutritional yeast can provide cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

Can I freeze cheesy pasta dishes?

Cream-based sauces may separate when frozen and reheated. For freezing, choose tomato-based sauces or bechamel-based dishes.

What’s the best cheese for melting?

Mozzarella, cheddar, fontina, and gruyere melt beautifully. Combine melting cheeses with flavorful ones like Parmesan for best results.

Easy Cheesy Pasta Dinner Recipes: Fast & Delicious Weeknight Meals

This blog post features three easy recipes for delicious pasta dinners that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. These cheesy pasta dishes are perfect for busy weeknights and use simple ingredients to create restaurant-quality meals.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 450

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Ingredients

• 12 oz linguine pasta
• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh basil for garnish
• 1 lb ground beef
• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 8 oz whole wheat elbow pasta
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional)
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Method

 

Instructions

1. Cook linguine according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add cherry tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes, cooking for 2 minutes until softened.
5. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
6. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
7. Return shrimp to the skillet and add cooked linguine. Toss everything together until well coated.
8. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.
9. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta according to package directions.
10. Brown ground beef with onion and garlic in a large skillet. Drain excess fat.
11. Stir in marinara sauce, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 5 minutes.
12. Combine cooked pasta with meat sauce. Transfer to baking dish.
13. Top with mixed cheeses and bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
14. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
15. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccoli and carrots during last 5 minutes of cooking.
16. In a saucepan, whisk milk and flour until smooth. Cook over medium heat until thickened.
17. Reduce heat and stir in cheese until melted. Add mustard, garlic powder, and peas.
18. Combine cheese sauce with drained pasta and vegetables. Serve immediately.

Notes

Always save 1 cup of starchy pasta water to help sauces cling better to noodles. Grate your own cheese for smoother melting. Undercook pasta slightly as it will continue cooking in the sauce. Let pasta dishes rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.