We know, spaghetti and meatballs is a classic for a reason, but sometimes you want to upgrade your usual weeknight dinner. Whether you're preparing for a fancy date night or a dinner party night amongst friends, we've got all the ways you can liven up your spaghetti game.
When there are so many classic Italian pasta dishes, it can be hard to choose. Especially when that means you could have pasta puttanesca, carbonara, and or spaghetti Bolognese. Whatever you choose, don't skimp on the Parmesan cheese.
Maybe you're craving the more cheesy side of the pasta spectrum, and we 100% support that. In that case, it doesn't get any better than our lemon ricotta pasta, creamy three-cheese spaghetti, brie spaghetti, and of course, cacio e pepe. Our best pro-tip no matter how you dress your spaghetti: Save that pasta water! The starchiness of the pasta water, when tossed with your spaghetti, allows for the sauce to slick every noodle.
And hey, we won't knock you if you want to just curl up with a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. We've got plenty of recipes for the best homemade spaghetti sauce, best jarred pasta sauces you can find at the store, and even how to properly cook pasta and make homemade pasta dough. And please don't forget the meatballs.
Looking for more pasta recipes? Try these baked pasta recipes, our favorite summer pasta dishes, and all the best pasta salad recipes.
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1
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Meet your new favorite comforting, no-frills bowl of spaghetti and meatballs that you can take in any direction. We love this simple Marcella Hazan-inspired spaghetti sauce, and we especially love changing up our classic Italian meatball recipe with all kinds of fun flavor combinations, like cheesy Tex-Mex meatballs and spicy harissa meatballs.
Get the Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe.
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2
Garlicky Spaghetti
Anchovies are totally optional in this recipe; The garlic, however, is not! If you're a major garlic fan, you gotta top this with our garlic butter meatballs, too!
Get the Garlicky Spaghetti recipe.
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3
Cacio e Pepe
Cacio e pepe literally translates to “cheese and pepper." These two ingredients are usually thought of as small components to a dish, but in this pasta recipe, they take center stage. The fruity bite of freshly ground pepper adds complexity, and is earthy, sweet and spicy all at once.
Get the Cacio e Pepe recipe.
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4
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
If Julia Child taught America how to roast chicken, Marcella Hazan taught us how to make good pasta sauce. Her version is a little unconventional; the onion isn't sautéed, the sauce simmers for less than an hour, and there's a lot of butter. It's the easiest and, most likely, best red sauce you'll ever make at home.
Get the Homemade Spaghetti Sauce recipe.
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5
Easy Carbonara
This pasta dish with Roman origins is a sure win, calling for just 5 ingredients and done in 20 minutes. It’s basically a pantry dive—spaghetti, bacon, garlic, eggs, and Parmesan are all ingredients that are easy to have on hand and make this the ultimate comfort food.
Get the Easy Carbonara recipe.
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6
One-Pan Tuna Pasta
Using canned or jarred tuna in pasta is a cheap and delicious way to add some protein to a meal. Italians do it with pasta al tonno, and Americans do it (in our own way) with tuna noodle casserole. This recipe is a bit of a riff on pasta puttanesca, using familiar ingredients such as capers, anchovies, and olives.
Get the One-Pan Tuna Pasta recipe.
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7
Creamy Lemon Pepper Shrimp Spaghetti
Spaghetti and meatballs is the classic you've probably turned to a little too often. Switch it up and make this creamy, fresh, lemon pepper shrimp spaghetti that's bursting with flavor.
Get the Creamy Lemon Pepper Shrimp Spaghetti recipe.
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8
Pasta Puttanesca
The super-fragrant sauce is made with a lot of garlic and anchovies that will have you begging for seconds. It's definitely a break from the classic spaghetti and meatballs, especially with the capers and olives adding a briny saltiness to this classic dish. Serve it with the best garlic bread ever and call it a day.
Get the Pasta Puttanesca recipe.
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9
Lemon Ricotta Pasta
This is the perfect summertime dish. It's fresh and light, and it instantly had us in love. If you can't find fat bucatini, use any long pasta like spaghetti or linguine instead!
Get the Lemon Ricotta Pasta recipe.
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10
Instant Pot Spaghetti
Yes, you really can throw all your spaghetti ingredients in the Instant Pot. It's a win-win: You get dinner on the table fast, but with a homemade marinara instead of the jarred stuff. We bet it will soon be the meal you turn to as often as Tuscan butter salmon or Instant Pot chicken noodle soup.
Get the Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe.
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11
Vegetable Spaghetti
Vegetable spaghetti is the perfect way to use up leftover summer veggies. These are a good starting point, but truly, this'll turn out great with whatever you have on hand.
Get the Vegetable Spaghetti recipe.
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12
Smoked Salmon Pasta
Smoked salmon pasta sounds really fancy, but the truth is it's the easiest and fastest pasta we've ever made. If you aren't necessarily a fan of smoked salmon our garlic butter salmon would be just as amazing in this pasta!
Get the Smoked Salmon Pasta recipe.
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13
Crock-Pot Spaghetti
Yes, it's true: This entire meal (including the pasta!) can be made in the Crock Pot. Love this recipe? Check out our slow-cooker chicken alfredo for your next pasta night.
Get the Crock-Pot Spaghetti recipe.
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14
Kung Pao Spaghetti
Our best copycat of California Pizza Kitchen's kung pao chicken spaghetti is saucy and extremely easy to make. We don't know why we haven't just been making it ourselves at home.
Get the Kung Pao Spaghetti recipe.
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15
Godfather Sunday Sauce
This recipe is truly an offer you cannot refuse. With both meatballs and Italian sausage, this is a stick-to-your-rib meals that tastes just like your Nonna would make.
Get the Godfather Sunday Sauce recipe.
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16
Chipotle Spaghetti
This Mexican-ized spin on spaghetti with red sauce is creamy and rich, plus a hint of smokiness from chipotle in adobo. It doesn't get any more comforting than a bowl of this upgraded spaghetti.
Get the Chipotle Spaghetti recipe.
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17
Creamy Three-Cheese Spaghetti
This ultra-creamy and cheesy spaghetti can be yours in just 15 minutes. While it’s absolute perfection plain, you can totally mix in things like lemon garlic shrimp, grilled flank steak, or cooked chorizo.
Get the Creamy Three-Cheese Spaghetti recipe.
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18
Baked Spaghetti
Why make baked spaghetti instead of regular ol' spaghetti with meat sauce? It's all about that melty layer of cheese on top! If you prefer, slice some fresh mozzarella to finish it off instead.
Get the Baked Spaghetti recipe.
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19
Best Bolognese Sauce
Bolognese is so much more than just a standard meat sauce. It's defined by a base of Italian sofrito (cooked down celery, carrot, and onion), a good pour of wine, and the addition of milk, resulting in an extra creamy and velvety sauce.
Get the Best Bolognese Sauce recipe.
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20
Taco Spaghetti Pie
This recipe combines all of your favorite taco flavors into one insanely killer pasta. We make a homemade taco seasoning, but feel free to swap in all your favorite taco-inspired spices for this dish.
Get the Taco Spaghetti Pie recipe.
