Easy Weeknight Pasta Meals

Back to school season tends to kick up some conflicting emotions among parents. On one hand, they’re excited to get back into a routine and restore some semblance of order to their lives after the wonderful chaos of summer. On the other, it can be a struggle to keep up as schedules begin to fill up with things like practices and the limited after-school hours can get a little crazy, dinner time included!

In an effort to remind everyone that dinner doesn’t have to be an additional source of stress for you, we wanted to highlight one of our favorite weeknight meal components – pasta!

There are an endless number of ways you can turn this pantry staple into easy pasta recipes perfect for weeknight meals. Here are a few tips:

Stuff it! Everything is better when stuffed into a soft pasta shell. Whether you’re trying your hand at homemade like these Cheddar Dumplings or putting a fun twist in traditional with these lasagna rollups, have fun experimenting with different fillings that both kids and adults will enjoy.

Add veggies! Most kids enjoy pasta, which makes it the perfect vehicle for serving other foods they may enjoy a little less – like veggies! Try this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese or this Cheesy Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli. Get the kids involved with fun and creative ideas in the kitchen!

Consider all cooking methods! Pasta is quick-cooking in general. You can whip up a quick dinner on the stove, like this Stovetop Cheeseburger Macaroni and Cheese or try it out in your Instant Pot!