Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Tips on Organizing Your Home

      Tips on Organizing Your Home

      From the kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom and laundry room, here are 40 ways to simplify, streamline, and banish clutter throughout the house. Read More
    • These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      Upgrade your spaces with new—and old—classics. Read More
    • 39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      These classic recipes will help you get a head start on the festivities. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    Express your love with handmade Valentine's crafts like paper cards, gift ideas, and decorations.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Secure your role as the host with the absolute most.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    Amp up your home décor with perfectly placed frames.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Don't let your varieties fall victim to the perils of poor cold-weather maintenance.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    Our easy tips will make this cleaning task a lot less daunting.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Ready, set, go! Our no-nonsense guide will help you learn how to plan your wedding like a pro.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Take a multi-pronged approach if you're experiencing excess dryness.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Food & Cooking
  3. Recipes
  4. Ingredients
  5. Pasta and Grains
  6. Quick & Easy Pasta Recipes
  7. 14 Fall Pasta Recipes That Make Perfect Weeknight Dinners

14 Fall Pasta Recipes That Make Perfect Weeknight Dinners

Laura Rege, Freelance Writer
By Laura Rege Updated September 08, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
spaghetti-with-brussels-sprouts-and-bacon-102797750.jpg
Credit: Yunhee Kim

These hearty pasta dinners are packed with autumnal flavors, and they're just the types of cozy dishes you want when the weather starts to turn.

Start Slideshow

1 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
orecchiette with broccoli rabe pesto and crisp salami
Credit: Julia Gartland

Both versatile and crowd-pleasing, pasta is one of those pantry staples that is quick and luxurious—that's why it's such a perfect candidate for weeknight dinners, entertaining, or just about any meal. As the weather cools and fall kicks into high gear, you can keep the pasta dishes coming by giving them an autumnal spin and exploring the heartier side of this favorite. Let our recipes guide you into the season.

Start by pairing pasta with plentiful fall vegetables. First, try our cheesy butternut squash shells; this dish is basically adult mac and cheese, and it's sure to please everyone at the dinner table. If you're looking to go with something a little different, a pink-hued gemelli with red cabbage and beets should fit the bill. Swap leafier herbs like basil for heartier herbs like rosemary in an orecchiette with chickpeas and olives. Give pesto a fall makeover by whipping up a more robust version with broccoli rabe in place of basil and walnuts in place of pignoli, as pictured here.

Move from outside grilling to oven baking with our creamiest baked ziti recipe yet—there's just something about letting the flavors meld in the oven then scooping out cheesy bites that you can't get from mixing it on the stovetop. For comforting, roasted flavor, make the sauce on a sheet pan in the oven—our cheese ravioli with roasted eggplant, tomato, and capers is pretty irresistible.

Then explore one of the best things about cooking pasta: It doesn't have to be complicated or full of fresh ingredients to be mouthwatering delicious. Dishes like cacio e pepper or our popular One-Pan Pasta bring sophisticated flavors to the table with minimal, easy to find ingredients and simple cooking techniques. Plus, these recipes are great excuses to use up items in the pantry.

Want to make pasta every night? Why not! Keep it exciting by switching up the noodles and accompaniments. One night you can enjoy Brussels and bacon with a long noodle like spaghetti. The next, cook up a dish with short pasta like Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel. For an even different approach, bake orzo into a paella inspired dish topped with shrimp. Read on for more inspired fall pasta recipes.

1 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Butternut-and-Boursin Shells

butternut-and-boursin-shells-102797812.jpg
Credit: Yunhee Kim
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Fans of mac and cheese won't be disappointed by this decadent version. It's easier than making cheese sauce, and it's packed with vegetable so you can feel good about scooping up seconds. The sauce's bright orange color comes from sweet, nutty butternut squash purée and the luxuriously rich cheesiness is added with creamy garlicky Boursin cheese and pasta cooking water.

2 of 14

3 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pan Pasta

one-pan pasta
Credit: Marcus Nilsson
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Minimal prep with maximum flavor? Yes, please. This fan-favorite linguine dish is one of our most popular recipes and sure to become your weeknight dinner go-to. Cherry and grape tomatoes are available in clamshells year-round, lending the dish a hint of tomato acidity without a long simmer on the stove.

3 of 14

Advertisement

4 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon

spaghetti-with-brussels-sprouts-and-bacon-102797750.jpg
Credit: Yunhee Kim
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Add pasta to the winning pairing of Brussels and bacon and you have a full meal. This 30-minute entrée pairs crispy bacon and lightly caramelized Brussels sprouts with everyone's favorite long noodle in an easy, cheesy sauce.

4 of 14

5 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pasta with Salmon, Broccoli Rabe and Garlic

salmon-broccoli-rabe-217-d112659.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Try this bold, unexpected penne on a chilly fall night. Combine canned wild salmon with robust broccoli rabe, garlic, and Pecorino Romano cheese. For a milder taste, sub any fall hearty green such as kale or collard greens for the broccoli rabe and feel free to try canned tuna instead of salmon—it will be just as delicious.

5 of 14

6 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cacio e Pepe with Lemon

cacio-e-pepe-opener-mld109436.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Totally simple and absolutely irresistible, this classic pasta is made with elemental ingredients like cheese and freshly cracked pepper. It's dinner party-worthy and also one of the easiest pasta dishes to put together on a busy fall night. Simply put, this impressive dish never disappoints. Keep the ingredients on hand and dinner is just minutes away.

6 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

rigatoni-with-sausage-fennel-arugula-051-d111450.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This simple sausage and fennel pasta brings plenty of rich fall flavor to the table. Give the dish a restaurant-style finish by drizzling it with olive oil and garnishing with fennel fronds, lemon wedges, and arugula. And don't skip the extra Parmesan!

7 of 14

8 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Spaghetti with Shrimp and Olives

shrimp-puttanesca-114-exp-1-d111450.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Shrimp might seem light and summery—especially when paired with cherry tomatoes—but by adding rosemary, capers, and olives to the mix, the result is one hearty and totally delicious dish autumnal meal. Bonus points: This entrée will be on the table in just 20 minutes.

8 of 14

9 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Gemelli with Red Cabbage, Beet, and Prosciutto

pasta-gemelli-red-cabbage-0063-d111697.jpg
Credit: Johnny Miller
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Boiling pasta with beets lends a striking hue to gemelli, a short pasta, while also cooking the beets at the same time. Accentuate the pink pasta with sautéed red cabbage and onion and top it all off with rosy crisps of prosciutto—dinner will be very colorful and tasty.

9 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Skillet Shrimp and Orzo

shrimp orzo
Credit: Hector Sanchez
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This paella-inspired, one-pan recipe is fancy enough for company but also easy enough for a quick dinner. Al dente pieces of orzo take the place of the usual rice in this dish; they soak up the tomato-based sauce and plenty of shrimp flavor.

10 of 14

11 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Creamy Baked Ziti

creamy baked ziti
Credit: Bryan Gardner
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Feed a crowd with this creamy baked ziti, which is perfect for when the weather starts to cool and you want to get back to cooking in the oven. For a spin, instead of ricotta, this version uses a favorite ingredient: cream cheese. It's a total win.

11 of 14

12 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Test Kitchen's Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs

meatball makeover spaghetti
Credit: Alpha Smoot
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

What's the secret to really delicious meatballs? The answer isn't breadcrumbs! Our test kitchen's favorite recipe swaps out some of the ground beef for chopped mushrooms, which adds rich umami flavor that's just right for fall. In addition to being totally delicious, these meatballs also reduce meat consumption and increase vegetable intake.

12 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Ravioli with Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Capers

Ravioli with Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Capers
Credit: Kate Sears
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy weeknight riff on pasta alla Norma upgrades store-bought cheese ravioli by tossing it with a hearty mix of roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes, shallots, and capers. Making the sauce in the oven frees you from attending to it on the stovetop and the ravioli cooks up in minutes.

13 of 14

14 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pan Orecchiette with Chickpeas and Olives

one-pan-orrchiette-md110878.jpg
Credit: Alpha Smoot
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Another one-pan wonder, orecchiette's indented shape create the perfect cradle for a creamy pan sauce with bites of chickpeas and Kalamata olives. Woody rosemary lends hearty fall flavor and a fresh baby arugula adds a peppery green finish.

14 of 14

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Laura Rege

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 14
    2 of 14 Butternut-and-Boursin Shells
    3 of 14 One-Pan Pasta
    4 of 14 Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
    5 of 14 Pasta with Salmon, Broccoli Rabe and Garlic
    6 of 14 Cacio e Pepe with Lemon
    7 of 14 Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel
    8 of 14 Spaghetti with Shrimp and Olives
    9 of 14 Gemelli with Red Cabbage, Beet, and Prosciutto
    10 of 14 Skillet Shrimp and Orzo
    11 of 14 Creamy Baked Ziti
    12 of 14 Test Kitchen's Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs
    13 of 14 Ravioli with Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Capers
    14 of 14 One-Pan Orecchiette with Chickpeas and Olives

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    14 Fall Pasta Recipes That Make Perfect Weeknight Dinners
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.