One of the few dishes that everyone can agree on for dinner? Pasta. If you’re a parent, you probably already know this. From simple classics like spaghetti with tomato sauce to fancier staples like brown butter bucatini, adults and kids alike are scooping up seconds of these hearty meals—even if there are a few hidden veggies. To keep your rotation feeling fresh, we’ve pulled together 14 kid-friendly pasta recipes that everyone in your family will love.
14 Kid-Friendly Pasta Recipes the Whole Family Will Devour
•
Published Jan 16, 2020
1. One Pot, 15-minute Pasta Limone
Not only will everyone gobble up this lemon pasta, but you can make it in minutes. Just toss the spaghetti and toppings into a single pot, then sprinkle with fresh basil. (Or skip the herbs if your kids hate green stuff.)
2. Pasta Pomodoro
Whip up a quick Italian classic that looks fancy, but it’s really just spaghetti with tomato sauce.
3. Creamy Sweet Corn Pappardelle
Getting your spouse and kids into plant-based eating? They’ll love this “creamy” corn pasta that doesn’t involve any dairy.
4. Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta With Peas
Yes, your kids can see the peas, but the sweet butternut squash sauce with cream cheese more than makes up for it.
5. Pasta Shells With Pumpkin In A Creamy, Cheesy Sauce
Wanna get extra fancy? Serve it in hollowed-out mini pumpkins and watch your kids’ eyes bug out of their heads.
6. Carrot Pasta
This healthy twist on gnocchi is a kid-approved favorite for two reasons: it’s colorful and it’s delicious.
7. Goat Cheese Pasta With Spinach And Artichokes
Maria Lichty specializes in quick, gorgeous weeknight meals. Case in point: her goat cheese pasta tossed with spinach and artichokes. (Just leave out the greens for picky kiddos.)
Better Happier
8. Sage And Basil Turkey Meatballs With Angel Hair And Tomato Sauce
Make spaghetti and meatballs a bit healthier with ground turkey and a homemade tomato sauce with fresh herbs.
Get the Recipe
9. Cacio E Pepe
Just call this fancy mac and cheese, and your little munchkins will be all over it.
10. Easy Vegan Pizza Pasta Bake
Tastes like pizza, but with added frozen veggies and tofu feta, it’s actually pretty nutritious.
11. Pasta Alla Norma
This budget-friendly pasta with tomato sauce and eggplant will feed the whole family—and yep, your kids might get two servings of veggies tonight.
12. One-pot Creamy Chicken Alfredo
Meet your new go-to pasta dinner for busy weeknights. Why? You only need to wash one pot, and everything is ready to eat in 35 minutes.
13. Salami, Artichoke And Ricotta Pasta Salad
Not all pasta needs to be served warm. That’s why we’re taking second scoops of this salami, artichoke and ricotta pasta salad.
14. 20-minute Garlic Basil Brown Butter Pasta
Dress up simple buttered pasta by dousing bucatini in browned butter and pecorino and putting a few cherry tomatoes on top. (But if the kids ask what it is, just say “buttered pasta.”)
More Stories You'll Love
30 Spring Dinners to Make Every Night in April
The Best Fast Food Desserts You Can Order Right Now, Ranked by a Food Editor
Here’s What to Cook Every Night This Week (March 31 – April 6)
Millennials, Admit It: We're Responsible for the Nation's Most Egregious Food Trend
Taco Bell Just Added the Dirty Baja Blast to the *Official* Menu, & It's a Liquid Key Lime Pie
Philadelphians Have *Thoughts* About Joanna Gaines’s Take on the Philly Cheesesteak
PSA: You Can Win Free Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake for Year on April 1 (I’m Not Joking)
Every Panera Bread Sandwich, Ranked by a Carb-Loving Food Editor
12 Wendy’s Secret Menu Items Worth Trying, from the T. Rex Burger to Cinnabacon Bites
The 8 Best Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods, According to Our Editors
I Tasted Every Appetizer on Cheesecake Factory’s Happy Hour Menu—Here’s How They Rank
The Best Things Our Food Editors Ate This Month, from Pizza-cuterie to Black Sesame Babka
10 Disney World Secret Menu Items, Ranging from Loaded Galaxy Fries to Christmas Pudding
Ranch Cookies Exist—And They Are a Shock to Your Tastebuds
You’ll Never Guess Meghan Markle’s Nostalgic, Go-To Taco Bell Order
33 Easter Salad Recipes to Complete Your Holiday Menu
