25 Cozy Fall Pasta Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners

I don’t know what it is about fall, but the minute the weather starts getting colder I want all the carbs. Give me a big bowl of creamy pasta and a cozy night at home and I’m happy.

Pasta is always a good option in our house anyway because I know I can usually find something everyone will eat. I especially love the easy ones where I can throw everything in the slow cooker or make a big cheesy pasta bake and not have too much washing up afterwards.

I’ve put together 25 of my favorite fall pasta recipes here, including plenty of creamy, cheesy and properly comforting dinners. There are a few with those lovely fall flavors too, so I’ve got a feeling I’ll be working my way through quite a few of these over the next couple of months.

If you’re fully in fall food mode like me, I’ve also got loads of Fall Soup Recipes, Fall Snacks and Fall Desserts to try.

1. Pumpkin Alfredo

This is such a lovely one for fall, with a creamy sauce and plenty of Parmesan. The pumpkin adds that seasonal touch without making the whole thing overly sweet or too pumpkin-y.

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2. Cranberry White Cheddar Chicken Pasta

Cranberries and white cheddar are such a good combination for this time of year. Add chicken and pasta and you’ve got a creamy, comforting dinner that feels just a little bit different.

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3. Sausage and Kale Pasta

I love meals like this when I want something simple but still really filling. The sausage adds loads of flavor and the kale is an easy way to sneak some greens into dinner too.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or orecchiette work well)
• 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 4 cups chopped kale, tough stems removed
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Optional: 1 tablespoon butter or a squeeze of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Scoop out and reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain.

2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up as it browns, until fully cooked through.

3. Stir in the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.

4. Add the kale and chicken broth to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale wilts and becomes tender, about 3–5 minutes.

5. Add the drained pasta to the skillet, pouring in a little of the reserved pasta water as needed to loosen everything up and bring it together.

6. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Add the butter or a squeeze of lemon juice, if using.

7. Serve warm with extra Parmesan sprinkled on top.

4. Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Ravioli

This is one of those dinners that feels like you’ve made far more effort than you actually have. It’s creamy, cheesy and packed with flavor, with the slow cooker doing most of the work for you.

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5. Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese

Chicken, bacon and ranch is such a winning combination in our house, especially when you throw plenty of gooey cheese into the mix. It’s the kind of cozy, comforting meal everyone gets excited about, and it’s perfect for an easy fall dinner.

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6. Sausage Pasta Bake

You can’t really go wrong with a big cheesy pasta bake on a chilly fall evening. This one is packed with sausage and makes a really easy, filling dinner for the whole family.

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7. Slow Cooker Steak Bites and Tortellini

This is definitely one for those days when you want a really filling dinner waiting for you at the end of the day. Tender steak, cheesy tortellini and a rich sauce make it such a cozy meal for a chilly fall evening.

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8. White Chicken Chili Mac and Cheese

If you love a good bowl of chili once fall rolls around, this is a fun way to change things up a bit. It’s creamy, cheesy and packed with chicken, with all those cozy chili flavors mixed in too.

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9. Slow Cooker Creamy Garlic Chicken and Noodles

Some days you really can’t beat coming home to dinner already bubbling away in the slow cooker. This one has tender chicken and noodles in a creamy garlic sauce, so it’s lovely and comforting without needing loads of effort.

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10. Meatball Ravioli Casserole

I’m always a fan of dinners you can throw into a casserole dish and let the oven do the rest. With meatballs, ravioli, plenty of sauce and lots of cheese, this is such a good one for a cozy fall dinner.

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11. Slow Cooker Cheesy BBQ Bacon Chicken Tortellini

There’s a lot going on in this one, but in the very best way. You’ve got smoky BBQ flavor, bacon, chicken, cheesy tortellini and plenty of sauce all cooked together for an easy fall dinner.

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12. Slow Cooker Mississippi Beef and Noodles

If you’re craving something really rich and comforting, this is a good one to have bubbling away on a chilly day. The beef turns lovely and tender in the slow cooker, and those savory juices are so good mixed through the noodles.

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13. Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Ravioli

Anything with Alfredo sauce and ravioli is going to get my attention, especially once the colder evenings start. This is creamy, cheesy and really easy to throw together in the slow cooker for a fuss-free dinner.

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14. Sheet Pan Sausage and Tortellini

Sheet pan dinners are always handy when I really don’t fancy dealing with loads of pots and pans afterward. This one combines sausage and tortellini for a simple, filling dinner that’s perfect for a busy fall evening.

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15. Slow Cooker Ranch Beef and Noodles

Ranch seasoning adds so much flavor without you having to mess around with loads of different ingredients. The beef cooks until it’s lovely and tender, then everything gets mixed with noodles for a really comforting fall dinner.

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16. Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Pasta

Queso makes pretty much everything better, so mixing it through pasta is always going to be a winner. Add tender chicken and you’ve got a creamy, cheesy dinner that’s ideal for a cozy fall night.

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17. Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper

This takes me straight back to the kind of simple, cheesy dinners that always hit the spot. It’s packed with beef and plenty of cheesy goodness, and the slow cooker keeps things nice and easy on a busy fall day.

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18. Lazy Lasagna

I love lasagna, but I definitely don’t always have the patience for all the layering and messing around. This gives you all those lovely cheesy, saucy flavors in a much easier dinner that’s perfect when it’s cold outside.

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19. Chicken Enchilada Lasagna

Sometimes it’s nice to have something a bit different from the usual creamy pasta dishes. This one has layers of chicken, plenty of cheese and all those lovely enchilada flavors, making it a really cozy dinner for fall.

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20. Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe Pasta

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe Pasta

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21. Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta

Not every fall dinner needs to be really rich and cheesy, and this is a nice one for when you fancy something a little lighter. The lemon keeps everything fresh while the chicken and orzo still make it filling enough for an easy weeknight dinner.

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22. Sheet Pan Sausage and Pierogies

Okay, pierogies aren’t technically pasta, but I’m sneaking this one in because it fits so well with all these cozy fall dinners. They get lovely and crispy alongside the sausage, and everything cooks on one pan for an easy weeknight meal.

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23. Beef and Udon Noodles

When I want a break from all the creamy, cheesy pasta, something like this makes a really nice change. The thick noodles and tender beef make it filling and comforting, while the savory sauce brings everything together.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb beef (sirloin or flank steak), thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-inch piece of ginger, minced
• 12 oz udon noodles
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
• 2 green onions, sliced, for garnish
• Sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook the udon noodles according to the package instructions. Drain well and set aside.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and sugar until the sugar dissolves.

3. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

4. In the same skillet, add the garlic, ginger, onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.

5. Return the beef to the skillet along with the cooked udon noodles. Pour the sauce over everything and toss until evenly coated. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until heated through.

6. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, then serve hot.

24. Slow Cooker Minestrone

Once soup season arrives, I’m always looking for easy ones I can leave bubbling away in the slow cooker. This one is packed with veggies, beans and pasta, so it’s filling enough for dinner while still being a little lighter than some of the creamy recipes on this list.

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25. Chicken Noodle Soup

You really can’t have a collection of cozy fall dinners without a good bowl of soup somewhere in there. With tender chicken, veggies and plenty of noodles, this is simple comfort food for those chilly evenings when you want something warm and familiar.

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I don’t think you can go too far wrong with pasta once the colder weather arrives. There are so many cozy dinners here that I know we’ll be making over the next few months, especially all those easy slow cooker ones.

I’d love to know which one you try first!