25 (Really Good) Pasta Recipes That All Start With A Box Of Spaghetti

Pasta night is always a good idea.

Charlotte Gomez / BuzzFeed

Pasta night is (always!) the best night. 🍝

And you can never go wrong by starting with a box of spaghetti. Below you'll find a ton of easy pasta recipes for your next one — including creamy one-pot classics, hands-off dishes made in the Crock Pot or Instant Pot, seasonal veggie-packed versions, and more.

1. Shortcut Instant Pot Spaghetti

Joe Lingeman / Via thekitchn.com

The shortcut here is using your favorite jarred or canned marinara sauce. The noodles cook directly in it — so they absorb a ton of flavor from the inside out. (Also: Bonus points for a hands-off, one-pot cook!)

Recipe: Shortcut Instant Pot Spaghetti

2. Spaghetti Four Ways

tasty.co

All four recipes — chicken bacon broccoli Alfredo, garlic shrimp scampi, spinach mushroom pesto, and tomato basil with sausage — start with a box of spaghetti.

Recipe: Spaghetti Four Ways

3. Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

chelseasmessyapron.com

The hearty sauce cooks low and slow in the Crock Pot and makes enough for two boxes worth of spaghetti. You can also save or freeze half and then use it as the base for other meals — like sloppy Joes or stuffed shells.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

4. Spaghetti with Spinach-Artichoke Chicken

Joe Lingeman / Via thekitchn.com

This one-pot pasta only has a 10-minute cook time, and can easily be made vegetarian if you leave out the chicken sausage.

Recipe: Spaghetti with Spinach-Artichoke Chicken

5. Spaghetti with Marcella Hazan's Famous 3-Ingredient Sauce

Ellie Sunakawa/BuzzFeed

This classic sauce proves you don't need a laundry list of ingredients to make something rich and delicious. (In this case: only tomatoes, butter, onion, and salt.)

Recipe: Spaghetti with Marcella Hazan's Famous 3-Ingredient Sauce

6. Creamy Pasta Primavera

life-in-the-lofthouse.com

This version — packed with summer vegetables — uses linguine noodles, but you could easily swap in spaghetti, bucatini, or whatever else you have on hand.

Recipe: Creamy Pasta Primavera

7. Instant Pot Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

skinnytaste.com

The meatballs cook directly in the sauce so they retain a ton of moisture and flavor. Using whole wheat noodles also boosts the fiber a bit!

Recipe: Instant Pot Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

8. Spaghetti with Veggie-Packed Meat Sauce

budgetbytes.com

Adding shredded carrots and zucchini to the sauce adds texture, nutrients, and a subtle depth of flavor. Wins all around!

Recipe: Spaghetti with Veggie-Packed Meat Sauce

9. One-Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo

therecipecritic.com

Super creamy — and the leftovers reheat well.

Recipe: One-Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo

10. Filipino Spaghetti

cupsofrice.com

Filipino spaghetti is sweeter than what you're used to. That's because the sauce often contains banana ketchup, a favorite condiment of the cuisine.

Recipe: Filipino Spaghetti

11. One-Pot Broccoli Parmesan Pasta

thewholesomefork.com

This makes enough for four people and only needs about 10 minutes of active cooking time.

Recipe: One-Pot Broccoli Parmesan Pasta

12. Ultimate Spaghetti with Slow-Simmered Red Sauce

tasty.co

The ultra-savory sauce — spiked with red wine and salty anchovies — is a bit of a project. (But if you want to impress, it's worth it!)

Recipe: Ultimate Spaghetti with Slow-Simmered Red Sauce

13. Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta

eatwell101.com

Fun fact: The singular word for spaghetti is spaghetto.

Recipe: Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta

14. Veggie-Packed Spaghetti with Zucchini and Spinach

inspiredtaste.net

This works with any seasonal vegetables you have on hand. To make it vegan, swap the Parmesan for nutritional yeast.

Recipe: Veggie-Packed Spaghetti with Zucchini and Spinach

15. Spaghetti with Slow Cooker Meatballs

budgetbytes.com

Sauces taste better when they basically make themselves.

Recipe: Spaghetti with Slow Cooker Meatballs

16. Cacio e Pepe with Lemony Arugula

halfbakedharvest.com

Fresh arugula and lemon brighten up the classic here.

Recipe: Cacio e Pepe with Lemony Arugula

17. One-Pot Pasta with Spicy Sausage and Tomato

Joe Lingeman / Via thekitchn.com

If you're short on time, sausage is an ideal protein for pasta dishes. It doesn't require browning or pre-cooking, and when left unopened, can last for a long time in the fridge.

Recipe: One-Pot Pasta with Spicy Sausage and Tomato

18. Vegan Pasta Primavera

acouplecooks.com

This would also be great with sliced cherry tomatoes or zucchini ribbons swirled in.

Recipe: Vegan Pasta Primavera

19. Spaghetti Carbonara with Chorizo

gimmesomeoven.com

Carbonara on its own is great. Carbonara with spicy, salty chunks of chorizo is even better. 😋

Recipe: Spaghetti Carbonara with Chorizo

20. Copycat Red Lobster Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Pasta

thatamycakes.com

No judgment if you serve these with a side of Cheddar Bay biscuits.

Recipe: Copycat Red Lobster Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Pasta

21. Low-Carb Zoodles with Marinara

gimmesomeoven.com

This version uses zucchini noodles made by hand with a spiralizer. To save time, swap in pre-packaged zoodles.

Recipe: Low-Carb Zoodles with Marinara

22. Aglio e Olio

damndelicious.net

Super garlicky without being overpowering — and pairs perfectly with a fresh green salad or antipasti.

Recipe: Aglio e Olio

23. Baked Spaghetti Casserole

dinneratthezoo.com

There's a ton of ways to customize this: Try ground turkey instead of beef, add sautéed mushrooms or zucchini to the sauce, or add bread crumbs on top for extra texture.

Recipe: Baked Spaghetti Casserole

24. Summer Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Burrata

damndelicious.net

Thanks to the fresh tomatoes and creamy burrata, this manages to feel both light and indulgent at the same time.

Recipe: Summer Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Burrata

25. Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs

bonappetit.com

If all else fails, go for the classic.

Recipe: Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs