15 Cozy & Delicious Pasta Recipes for the Perfect Friday Night Dinner

After a long week, there’s nothing better than a comforting bowl of pasta to kick off the weekend. Whether you’re craving something creamy and indulgent, light and fresh, or packed with bold flavors, these pasta recipes are perfect for a Friday night dinner at home.

Easy Udon Noodles

A bowl of udon noodles with vegetables and chopsticks. — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

Save your time and money on a busy weeknight. These easy udon noodles taste even better than takeout! Made with snow peas, broccoli, and peppers, this pan-fried noodle dish is loaded with veggies and flavor. Naturally vegetarian, you could add some protein like chicken, shrimp, or tofu if desired.

Get the Recipe: Easy Udon Noodles.

Chicken & Gnocchi Dumplings

chicken and gnocchi — Photo Credit: Pass Me Some Tasty.

This is the perfect dinner when you’re craving chicken and dumplings, but not up to the task of making the traditional dish. Shredded chicken, store-bought gnocchi, and a mirepoix of vegetables in a creamy sauce are the heart and soul of this cozy recipe. It’s major comfort food!

Get the Recipe: Chicken & Gnocchi Dumplings.

Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Love the flavors of chicken Parmesan but not all the work to make it happen? This cheater version skips the breading steps and chunks of chicken are cooked in a tomato sauce and topped with toasted breadcrumbs for the classic breading flavor and crunch. Serve over pasta for a family favorite weeknight dinner.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Pasta.

Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

A plate of cheesy peppered noodles. — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

This Italian dish seems a little complicated, but it’s really quite simple. Use high-quality butter, cheese, and pasta for this dish, as it’s about all that’s in it! It’s easy enough for a quick dinner but nice enough to turn it into a date night meal, too.

Get the Recipe: Bucatini Cacio e Pepe.

Chicken Broccoli Ziti

A plate of ziti with chunks of chicken and broccoli florets. — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

Skip the red sauce and make a really delicious ziti dish. With chunks of tender chicken, broccoli, and perfectly cooked pasta, top this dish with crunchy breadcrumbs and grated parmesan cheese for a quick and easy weeknight meal that tastes great and needs only one dish to cook.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Ziti.

Vegetable Pesto Pasta

A plate of pesto pasta with zucchini and tomatoes. — Photo Credit: Through The Fibro.

This meatless pasta meal is so easy you’ll want to make it every week! Pesto-coated noodles are tossed with zucchini and tomatoes for a delicious and nutritious meal. Add a protein or make it ahead and serve chilled as a pasta salad!

Get the Recipe: Vegetable Pesto Pasta.

Creamy Tomato Pasta

A plate of saucy red pasta with herbs and cheese over the top. — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

One-pot meals are always a good idea on busy nights. This recipe makes the most creamy tomato pasta without requiring copious amounts of cream. And no need to drain the pasta, the pasta water helps give it a creamy flavor and texture.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Tomato Pasta.

Chicken Lo Mein

Save your time and money and make some homemade chicken lo mein. With tender noodles, chunks of flavorful chicken and plenty of veggies like mushrooms, snap peas, and peppers, this one dish dinner satisfies while faking out your family who will swear this tastes just as good as your local Chinese restaurant.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Lo Mein .

Shrimp Linguine

A plate of linguine with succulent shrimp. — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

This shrimp pasta may look intimidating, but any home cook can easily make it! Chewy pasta is topped with garlic butter shrimp and finished with toasted breadcrumbs for some crunch. It’s delicious with a glass of wine and a green salad.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp Linguine.

Penne Pomodoro

A bowl of saucy noodles with herbs and parmesan over top. — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

If you have 25 minutes, you can make this incredibly easy and tasty homemade pomodoro sauce. This quick and easy dinner is perfect for busy weeknights and it has so much flavor that it’s hard to believe that it’s ready in just 30 minutes. This sauce uses high-quality ingredients and lets the classic Italian flavors shine in the best way possible.

Get the Recipe: Penne Pomodoro.

Louisiana Cajun Chicken Pasta

A skillet of pasta with Cajun chicken over the top. — Photo Credit: xoxo Bella.

This copycat chicken dish tastes just like the popular meal from the Cheesecake Factory. The chicken is coated with a delicious mix of panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan, creating a crispy exterior you’re going to love. The pasta and chicken are served in a creamy, spicy New Orleans sauce with classic Cajun flavors.

Get the Recipe: Louisiana Cajun Chicken Pasta.

Cheesy Boursin Pasta

A plate of pasta made with boursin cheese. — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

This is the best cheesy pasta and it’s made with just a few ingredients. Creamy Boursin cheese is the base of this simple sauce and has the smoothest creamy texture. Simply cook the pasta, and whip up the sauce with some sliced garlic, Boursin, and pasta water. Serve with a simple green salad and breadsticks for an utterly delicious meal.

Get the Recipe: Boursin Cheese Pasta.

Chicken Fajita Pasta

Pasta with chicken chunks, peppers and onions. — Photo Credit: Everyday Eileen.

Bring two dinner-time favorites together into one amazing and easy dish. Chicken fajita pasta is made with tender chicken, colorful peppers, onions, and a creamy sauce. It’s bursting with flavor and will satisfy any craving for Tex-Mex.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Fajita Pasta.

Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli

This 30-minute meal is perfect for a busy weeknight. With savory sausage, tender broccoli, and yummy orecchiette pasta rounds, this five-ingredient dish delivers a complete meal from one pan and always gets rave reviews.

Get the Recipe: Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli.

Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta

This mashup meal brings zesty chicken fajitas with comforting pasta for the best dinner. With strips of peppers and onions, chunks of chicken, and penne pasta smothered in a creamy cheesy sauce, this meal makes a winner for a busy night’s dinner!

Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta.