47 Pasta Recipes With Tons of Glowing, 5-Star Ratings

When you’re craving carbs, nothing is quite as satisfying as a plate (or bowl!) of pasta. Whether you break out your best pasta pot for a stovetop recipe like spaghetti or tortellini or fill up your favorite casserole dish to make a baked pasta like lasagna, noodles paired with the perfect sauce and topped with a mountain of freshly grated cheese are the ultimate comfort food. And, while we would gladly gobble up any dish of pasta you put in front of us, there are a few that are undeniable masterpieces—recipes that have amassed hundreds of 5-star ratings and positive reviews from fans. These are those recipes. So, prepare to want to make them all—starting with the super popular baked feta pasta you’ve seen all over TikTok. It’s easy to see why the recipe has achieved such fame: Cherry tomatoes and a whole block of feta are baked until soft and melty, then tossed with garlic, basil and cooked noodles for a beautifully cheesy dish. Better make a double batch!

Cacio e uova – translating to “cheese and eggs” in Italian – is a Neapolitan dish traditionally made with short, tubular pasta and a rich, creamy sauce. Like in carbonara, the sauce combines finely grated cheese, eggs and starchy pasta water, but eliminates the meaty guanciale or pancetta. While lard may commonly be used in cacio e uova, we opted instead for butter, resulting in a pantry-friendly vegetarian dish that comes together in minutes. Perfectly toasted breadcrumbs, Parmesan and finely chopped parsley add extra texture and flavor to the topping. In this amped-up version, we also add lemon zest for a hit of brightness then top it all off with finely grated hard-boiled eggs to emphasize the beautiful egg flavor and give the dish an unexpected fluffy texture.

The best baked mostaccioli has everything you love about lasagna — a savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta and melty mozzarella bubbling at the edges. But instead of flat lasagna noodles, the pasta is mostaccioli, a type of penne with a smooth exterior. The short, tubular shape encourages plenty of sauce and cheese to get trapped inside so every bite is satisfying. We upped the ante with a combination of ground beef and sweet Italian sausage, providing the classic meatiness in the tomato sauce. While mostaccioli originates from the Campania region in southern Italy, this specific dish has ties to Chicago and St. Louis as a hearty casserole to serve at large family gatherings.

Bobby created this recipe when he was training for a marathon. He says, “Crab is high in protein but low in fat, so it's a great balance to the carbs." We couldn’t agree more!

Fettuccine alfredo is typically a heavy dish but this version uses low-fat milk and cream cheese to lighten up a classic.

Ina’s classic spaghetti with garlic and olive oil is simply delicious and completely customizable; add some extra crushed red pepper for a kick or roasted veggies to round out your meal.

Meaty grilled steak, salty blue cheese and spicy horseradish: this pasta dish has all the flavors of your favorite steakhouse dinner!

Don't be surprised when this becomes your new favorite weeknight meal. Made with only four ingredients and ready in about 20 minutes, this dish is everything we want midweek.

Great for vegetarians, Ellie's delicious pasta is loaded with walnuts, parsley and arugula to boost your intake of antioxidants.

Guy elevates the classic chicken Alfredo with spicy blackened chicken and sweet, tart sun-dried tomatoes.

Anne's lasagna is packed with all of the good stuff — ricotta, sausage, mushrooms and zucchini — and topped with a generous layer of mozzarella, for the hearty dish with classic Italian flavor that you're craving.

Using light and dark meat chicken, mushroom sauce, and melty cheddar cheese, Ree offers something for everyone with the ultimate comfort food casserole.

Tyler uses the heat from just-boiled spaghetti to cook a mixture of eggs and Parmesan cheese, which coats the pasta in a rich, thick sauce.

This creamy, kid-friendly mac and cheese is ready to go in no time. Bonus: There’s only one pot to clean after.

Anne’s bolognese is all about the seasoning. She purees veggies and sautes the mix until browned to develop a sauce that's packed with flavor.

Mushrooms take the place of beef in this easy, Bolognese-inspired pasta sauce, making it the perfect pick for a meatless meal.

Heading to a barbecue? This creamy, tangy macaroni salad is the perfect side dish for burgers and hot dogs.

Mac and cheese lovers won't be able to resist this spicy, tuna-filled version. You'll use pimiento cheese spread to form the creamy sauce and crushed cracker crumbs to make the golden brown top.

Perfect for the beginner cook, Food Network Kitchen’s one-pot pasta meal requires little time and almost no cleanup. The pasta will continue to soak up the flavor after cooking, so get excited for leftovers.

Twenty-five minutes is all you need to make this savory pasta dish. To make the creamy sauce, you'll combine grated parmesan with eggs and lemon zest.

A simple take on the traditional carbonara, this ridiculously easy pasta dish makes the perfect dinner for busy nights.

Giada draws out the nutty flavor of butternut squash with sweet, spicy amaretti cookies. Serve this seasonally-inspired lasagna as a holiday side dish or a stand-alone dinner.

Fried onions and chopped cauliflower come together for a crisp, crunchy pasta dish that’s low in calories and doesn't skimp on flavor.