Easy Tube Pasta Recipes

Make weeknight cooking quick & yummy with these Easy Tube Pasta Recipes. Most are ready in under 30 minutes but all are 100% sure to please your family at dinnertime. Below I share my top meal ideas for pasta shapes like rigatoni, penne, & more.

Hearty meat, chunky vegetable, & creamy cheesy sauces cling best to rigged (rigate) tube pasta - my personal favorite pairing. So yummy & all you need is an Italian Chopped Salad to complete the meal.

Pasta is an inexpensive way to feed your family or even a crowd. All these recipes use hollow pasta can be doubled, tripled, and beyond. Just figure out how much pasta to make per person & get cooking!

Penne Pasta Recipes

Penne alla Vodka with Chicken

Amazing penne alla vodka with chicken is an easy restaurant-quality recipe. The rich tomato cream sauce with al dente pasta and tender chicken is fantastic. The Italian American pasta dish is fast enough for a busy weeknights but fancy enough for Sunday supper.

Penne alla Vodka with Chicken

Gochujang Pasta 

This quick and easy 20-minute recipe for Gochujang Pasta is spicy, creamy, & addicting. The Korean & Italian fusion penne dish has a simple pan sauce with garlic, red chili gochujang paste, & parmesan. The simple recipe is a great weeknight meal or fast lunch.

Creamy Spicy Gochujang Pasta

Rigatoni Pasta Recipes

Rigatoni al Forno (Baked Pasta)

Rigatoni al Forno is a baked pasta casserole everyone will love. This easy recipe has hearty rigatoni, a rich tomato sauce, layers of gooey cheese, and more for a great Italian dinner. This is a comforting recipe great for holidays, potlucks, & make-ahead meals.

Rigatoni al Forno

Pasta alla Pizzaiola

This 30-minute recipe for pasta alla pizzaiola is a quick & delicious Italian classic. The rich tomato sauce is inspired by the best pizza makers. The recipe from Naples, Campania region of Italy, is so easy. The simple meatless pasta is a yummy vegan/vegetarian meal that is comforting & a family favorite.

Pasta all Pizzaiola

Pesto Tuna Pasta

Only 6 ingredients & 20 minutes. This quick and easy Italian meal of pesto tuna pasta is amazing. Great for dinner, lunch, or as a side dish. Serve it warm or cold - the perfect fancy but cheap seafood pasta dish.

Pesto Tuna Pasta

Cavatappi Pasta Recipes

Creamy Pesto Pasta with Fava Beans

For the best creamy pesto pasta recipe with fresh fava beans, try this easy recipe that is only 4 ingredients & takes just 30 minutes. This Italian macaroni dish is lovely in spring when favas are fresh. The nutty fresh basil pesto is herby and the sauce is made without cream. It tastes gourmet but is so easy & simple - a great meatless weeknight dinner with protein.

Creamy Pesto Pasta with Fava Beans

Macaroni Pasta Recipes

Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon

Creamy macaroni & cheese with caramelized onions & bacon is a classic old-fashioned recipe. The best homemade baked mac and cheese begins with a traditional roux, 3 kinds of cheese & al dente elbow pasta. This family-favorite casserole recipe is creamy, comforting, & simple to make.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon

FINAL NOTES - I assembled some of my favorite classic Italian, fusion, & American dishes here. Some have meat & others are vegan/vegetarian. I hope you found something new in my collection of the best Easy Tube Pasta Recipes. You will also find several of these on my list of the best Lazy Dinner Ideas.

I am always creating, testing, & publishing new recipes. Check back often to find out what additional recipes I add to this list as it continues to grow with the best recipes using tubular pasta.

Top Tips for Cooking Tube Pasta

Here are my tips for making pasta at home so you have delicious al dente pasta every time:

• Use plenty salted water boiling, too little water makes pasta sticky, gluey, & unevenly cooked.
• Do not overcook your pasta or it will be fall apart mushy. (follow package cooking times for dry & fresh pasta)
• Do NOT rinse pasta, the starch helps both thicken sauces and also helps it cling to each tube.
• Time your recipe so the pasta is done at the same time as the sauce, sides, etc. Nothing worse than cold pasta.
• Meal Planning 101, make some Slow Cooker Meatballs & Sauce on the weekend - reheat & serve with fresh cooked pasta on the busy weekdays!

What to Serve with Short Tube Pasta

Here are my favorite sides, salads, & breads that pair well with penne, rigatoni, or macaroni dishes:

• SIMPLE SPINACH SALAD
• HOMEMADE CIABATTA BREAD
• BROCCOLINI WITH LEMON & PARMESAN

More Pasta Recipes

Here are similar dinner idea where fresh or dried pasta is the star:

• ANGEL HAIR PASTA WITH PANCETTA
• PEPPERONI SPAGHETTI
• BOW TIE PASTA WITH GORGONZOLA & PEARS