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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    22 No-Fuss Pasta Dinners That Almost Cook Themselves

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 15, 2025, updated April 23, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Pasta is a go-to for quick and easy dinners, and there are plenty of recipes that require minimal effort. With just a few ingredients and simple steps, you can whip up satisfying meals that practically cook themselves. Here are 22 pasta dishes that will have you enjoying a delicious dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Meatball Casserole

    Meatball casserole served on a dish.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    This Meatball Casserole is a filling and tasty dish that combines tender meatballs and pasta in a creamy marinara sauce with melted cheese. It's perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight meal.

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    Garlic Lemon Gemelli

    Gemelli Garlic Lemon Pasta.
    Photo credit: The Fresh Cooky.

    This dish comes together in under 30 minutes and is packed with flavor. A garlic lemon pasta that will have everyone asking for more.

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    Slow Cooker American Goulash

    Slow Cooker Goulash.
    Photo Credit: Cincy Shopper.

    Slow Cooker American Goulash is a hearty dish packed with beef and vegetables. This simple recipe is perfect for dinner when you want something filling without much effort.

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    Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta

    Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta.
    Photo Credit: FoodnService.

    This pasta dish is simple and comforting, needing just 10 minutes of prep while the slow cooker handles the rest. With its rich flavors and tender penne pasta, it's a great choice for a filling family dinner during the week.

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    Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole

    Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This tortellini casserole is perfect for cheese and pasta fans. With a blend of two cheeses, a zesty kick from Gorgonzola, and a satisfying crunch from walnuts, it comes together in under 40 minutes.

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    Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta

    Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    This creamy Italian white bean soup is perfect for a cozy night in. Made in the crockpot with coconut milk, sun-dried tomatoes, pasta, cannellini beans, and fresh spinach, it’s a healthy and filling meal that’s easy to prepare on busy weeknights.

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    Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

    Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Winding Creek Ranch.

    This simple meatball casserole combines uncooked pasta, frozen meatballs, and marinara sauce into a tasty one-pan meal. Just layer everything in a dish and let the oven handle the cooking.

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    Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake

    Pizza pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This pizza pasta bake is perfect for busy nights when you need something quick and easy. With no need to precook the pasta, you can mix everything right in the pan and have a cheesy, flavorful dish that the whole family will enjoy.

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    Crockpot Mac and Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.

    This creamy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese combines cheddar and American cheeses for a delicious meal. Simply toss everything into the slow cooker and let it cook on low, no need to cook the pasta beforehand.

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    Baked Tortellini

    20 Minute Baked Tortellini.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    The Cheesy Tortellini Bake is quick and easy, taking just about 20 minutes to prepare with fewer than 10 ingredients. Everything cooks in one pan, making cleanup a breeze.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

    Buffalo chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is quick to prepare, taking less than 10 minutes, and is ready in under an hour. Packed with spicy buffalo sauce, hidden spinach, and plenty of cheese, this dish is a tasty option for a weeknight dinner.

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    Cajun Chicken Pasta Casserole

    Cajun chicken pasta casserole.
    Photo credit: Practically Homemade.

    Cajun flavors are always a hit, and this casserole is super easy to prepare. You can skip boiling the pasta, and as it bakes, a creamy sauce comes together that everyone will enjoy.

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    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is simple, cheesy, and really tasty, perfect for a cozy meal. It's the kind of comfort food that hits the spot when you just want something satisfying.

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    No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake

    No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Cooking With Carlee.

    Make getting dinner on the table super easy with this no boil chicken pasta bake. It takes almost no prep work and results in a tasty and filling meal.

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    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

    Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This mac and cheese is incredibly easy to make, requiring just one dish and no pre-cooking. With mozzarella and gorgonzola, it’s a cheesy and comforting meal that you can enjoy with minimal effort.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Pizza and Pasta Soup

    Slow Cooker Pizza and Pasta Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This hearty pasta dish is packed with pizza flavors and is sure to please everyone at the table. Plus, it can be made ahead and stored in the freezer for those nights when you just want an easy meal.

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    Instant Pot Bolognese

    A bowl of instant pot bolognese served over pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot bolognese is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic pasta sauce. With just a few simple ingredients from your pantry, you can whip up a rich and satisfying meal in no time.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is packed with chicken and broccoli, making it a hearty meal that will fill you up. It's perfect for when you're too tired to think and want something easy, plus you'll likely have leftovers.

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    Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Bake

    sun-dried tomato pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features cheesy chicken and pasta packed with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, creating a hearty meal that's simple to prepare. It's perfect for when you want something comforting without putting in much effort.

    Get the recipe

    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Baked Mac and Cheese is super simple to prepare. In just 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes in the oven, you can enjoy a delicious one-pan dish loaded with Cheddar and Gruyere cheese.

    Get the recipe

    Crock Pot Chili Mac And Cheese

    A bowl of Crock Pot Chili Mac And Cheese.
    Photo Credit: Eat Your Beets.

    This dish combines chili and macaroni for a comforting meal that's easy to prepare. It's perfect for nights when you just want something simple and satisfying.

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    No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    This cheesy ravioli casserole is one of the simplest dishes you can make. With just four simple ingredients and store-bought shortcuts, you can prep this dish in 5 minutes, and eat in under 40!
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This dish is incredibly easy to prepare. With just four ingredients and some ready-made items, you can have it ready in 5 minutes and on the table in under 40.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Gnocchi soup.
      24 Simple Crockpot Dinners That Get the Job Done
    • Hot honey garlic chicken.
      22 Dump-And-Cook Chicken Dinners That Will Change Your Weeknight Routine
    • Cheeseburger tater tot casserole.
      23 Hearty Ground Beef Dishes to Make When You’d Rather Not Cook
    • Spinach chicken artichoke casserole.
      25 Dump and Bake Dinners That Are Perfect for Weeknights

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN  and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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