23 Best Pasta Side Dish Recipes
Love pasta and looking for new ideas for your side dishes? Look no further. We’ve got you covered with these pasta side dish recipes.
Love pasta and looking for new ideas for your side dishes? Look no further. We’ve got you covered with these pasta side dish recipes.
If you’re hosting a party and don’t know what to have for a side, switch it up and try these pasta side dish recipes. While veggie side dishes and salads are classic and ever popular, pasta side dishes can offer a meal a real step up in flavor and calibur.
They can balance out or compliment the flavors of your entree. Plus, they’re easy to whip up, which allows you to focus time and energy on the main dish. Pasta side dishes don’t have to be simple spaghetti, pesto, or fettuccine alfredo.
There are a variety of pasta dishes out there (even easier to whip together than the classic recipes) that are waiting to be tried. These pasta side dish recipes are easy to make, delicious, and can go as a side with a variety of meals. Plus, if you want to add protein to your pasta, you can easily make your meatballs in a crockpot.
Pasta Side Dish Recipes
1 — Cacio e Pepe
This classic Italian pasta dish is made with just 4 ingredients: pasta, Pecorino Romano, butter, and black pepper. It’s a simple recipe that’s full of flavor, and it makes a great side dish to any meal!
2 — Baked Chicken Spaghetti
Looking for healthy pasta side dishes? Try our baked chicken spaghetti recipe. Made with vegetable pasta, lean chicken, and a homemade tomato sauce, it is a healthier version of the classic spaghetti bake. Because it’s baked in the oven, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. It also is perfect for when you have leftover spaghetti.
3 — Pasta Pomodoro
Pasta pomodoro makes spaghetti and meatballs look plain. It is a fantastic way to highlight fresh summer tomatoes from your garden. The dish is even known for it since pomodoro means ‘tomato’ in Italian. The tomatoes get cooked down to where they form a very light sauce, but the tomatoes remain mostly intact.
4 — Creamy White Sauce Pasta
If you’re looking for something quick and easy yet delicious and filling, this creamy white sauce pasta is a great recipe to have on hand. The white sauce takes 10 minutes and uses 2% milk instead of heavy cream.
5 — White Wine Sauce for Pasta
A variation of the regular white sauce above, this white wine sauce is savory from the dry wine and parmesan while being creamy beyond delicious. And while everyone will think you bought it from an authentic Italian restaurant, it comes together in only 15 minutes! This doesn’t have to be a sauce just for pasta. Try it on fish or chicken too!
6 — Olive Tortellini Pasta Salad
If you have less than 30 minutes to put together a side dish, this tortellini pasta salad is a great choice. Taking only 20 minutes to whip up, the olives offer a unique flavor that makes this salad recipe not only delicious but everyone’s new favorite dish.
7 — Gnocchi Foil Packets
If you’re going camping or have a barbecue going, the grill or campfire is a great way to cook up a this corn and tomato gnocchi recipe. By wrapping the ingredients in a foil packet, the steam from the wine, cherry tomatoes, and corn infuses with the other ingredients and simultaneously cooks the gnocchi.
8 — Garlic Butter Pasta Shells
Made with tender pasta shells, garlic, butter, and a hint of balsamic, this garlic butter pasta shells recipe is a quick and delicious side dish that elevates any meal. Simple ingredients come together in less than 30 minutes for a buttery, aromatic pasta that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
9 — Orzo with Mushrooms, Scallions and Parmesan
Good dishes don’t have to take a long time to make, and this orzo dish is no exception. The savory and rich flavors from this 30-minute recipe will quickly make it a family favorite. It’s full of mushrooms in a creamy sauce with flavors bursting out from the parmesan and scallions. Talk about pasta sides perfection!
10 — One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta
If you like classic fettuccine alfredo sauce, you’ll love this. Not only is it tastier, but it’s a one-pot recipe and is healthier than regular alfredo because it doesn’t use cream cheese or heavy cream for the sauce. You start off by creating your own fragrant garlic butter.
11 — Pasta Primavera
This one pot pasta primavera is the healthy pasta dish you’ve never had. It’s great for picky eaters and dieters alike. Plus, it’s ridiculously easy to customize. You can throw in whatever veggies you want, such as broccoli, beans, or carrots, to the creamy sauce. The olive oil, basil, and garlic mixture with it will have you wanting seconds in seconds! It pairs well with fish and meat entrees thanks to its light but healthy nature.
12 — Copycat Macaroni and Cheese
Bring Panera’s famous white cheddar mac and cheese home with this quick and easy stovetop recipe. Made with freshly shredded cheese, milk, and cream, it’s the ultimate creamy comfort food you can whip up in under 30 minutes. It goes well as a side to meats like steak and Sloppy Joes. But if you want to make it a whole entree, add ground beef, chicken, bacon bits, or breadcrumbs. The possibilities are endless! You can also switch up the cheese to give it a sharper flavor, such as gruyere or swiss.
13 — Chili Mac
Experience the perfect fusion of comfort and flavor with this chili mac recipe, a hearty, zesty delight that takes pasta side dishes to a whole new level. This one-pot wonder combines the richness of macaroni with a savory chili sauce, creating a mouthwatering side dish that’s sure to steal the spotlight at any meal.
14 — Lobster Mac and Cheese
Made with tender lobster, sautéed spinach, and crispy prosciutto, this lobster mac and cheese recipe is rich, creamy, and restaurant-worthy. Considering this is a cheesy dish and has seafood, pair this dish with a crisp, full white wine such as a Soave or Chardonnay or a dry rosé.
15 — Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is a classic that goes with almost every occasion, from outdoor parties to fancy Italian dinners. What’s more, this easy pasta recipe is easy to whip together in no time with ingredients you likely already have on hand. Green pepper, celery seed, onion powder, pepper, salt, sugar, vinegar, mayonnaise, and of course, pasta noodles of your choice. It’s colorful, creamy, and can be made ahead of time, too!
16 — Pesto Cream Pasta
Indulge in the exquisite simplicity of this pesto pasta recipe that marries the vibrant flavors of homemade pesto with the luxurious creaminess that dreams are made of. This delectable creation elevates any meal, turning a side dish into a culinary masterpiece. With fresh basil, Parmesan, and a touch of cream, every bite is a journey through a garden of flavors.
17 — Garlic Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta
Elevate your dinner routine with this garlic parmesan angel hair pasta. The delicate noodles are coated in a smooth, garlicky Parmesan sauce that’s simmered slowly to let every ingredient shine. Light, creamy, and effortlessly elegant, it’s the perfect side for any main. Because this pasta dish boasts such savory and rich flavor profile, when pairing desserts, it’s a good idea to choose options that offer a contrast in taste and texture. So stick to something light like our mango sorbet.
18 — Caprese Pasta Salad
This caprese pasta salad is a fresh, flavorful twist on the classic Italian favorite, perfect for picnics, barbecues, or weeknight dinners. Loaded with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, herbs, and a zesty red wine vinaigrette, it’s a vibrant side dish that tastes like summer in every bite. Simple to make and best served chilled, it’s the ultimate crowd-pleasing pasta salad.
19 — Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
Bright, fresh, and full of flavor, this lemon basil pasta salad is a perfect side dish for any warm-weather meal. Tender bowtie pasta is tossed with zucchini, peas, and basil, then dressed in a zesty homemade lemon vinaigrette for a refreshing burst of citrus.
21 — Stuffed Thanksgiving Pasta Shells
Turn your holiday leftovers into something extraordinary with these stuffed Thanksgiving pasta shells. Each jumbo shell is packed with savory Thanksgiving flavors and smothered in a rich, creamy cheese béchamel sauce. Whether made from scratch or with leftovers, it’s a hearty, indulgent dish that brings all the best parts of the holiday to your table in one bite.
22 — Soy Sauce Noodles With Cabbage and Fried Eggs
This soy sauce noodles recipe puts a hearty spin on a beloved Cantonese classic often enjoyed at dim sum. Featuring tender noodles tossed with crunchy cabbage and fragrant scallions, it’s seasoned with a rich blend of regular and dark soy sauce for that signature deep, savory flavor.
Cocktails that Pair Well with Pasta
Regardless of what your entree is, there are pasta side dish recipes for every occasion. From creamy and garlicky to fresh veggies and olive oil-y, your next entree will be hard to beat these delicious side dishes. Bon appetit! Check out a few of our favorite cocktails that you can pair with your dishes —
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