10 Family-Friendly Penne Pasta Recipes

July 2024 · 3 minute read

Make one of these penne pasta recipes and enjoy a satisfying meal any night of the week.

If you love how penne pasta traps the sauce and flavors in each bite, you’ll love the variety in the recipes below.

Penne Pasta Recipes for the Whole Family

If penne pasta is your go-to pasta, both by the way it traps the flavors inside and its friendly bite-sized shape, try one of these recipes the whole family will enjoy:

Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta

5 from 46 votes

Make this Creamy Garlic Chicken Penne Pasta in just 20 minutes, for an easy family meal!

Make This Recipe Quick Salmon Pesto Pasta

5 from 38 votes

This full-flavor pesto penne pasta is paired with salmon and tomatoes and will be a dinnertime winner.

Make This Recipe Pesto Chicken Pasta

5 from 42 votes

Fast & healthy Pesto Chicken Penne Pasta is a restaurant-worthy meal, made at home!

Make This Recipe Thai Pasta Salad with Peanut Dressing

5 from 55 votes

 This fresh Thai chicken salad with Penne pasta is made with fresh veggies, and crushed peanuts and tossed in homemade Peanut Dressing.

Make This Recipe Easy Chicken Pot Pie Pasta

5 from 82 votes

A simple comfort food recipe that comes together in one skillet.

Make This Recipe hand pulling a spoonful of chicken cordon bleu casserole from pan Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta

5 from 43 votes

This baked penne pasta recipe is always a major crowd pleaser!

Make This Recipe lemon chicken asparagus pasta Lemon Chicken Asparagus Pasta

5 from 43 votes

This creamy chicken asparagus penne pasta recipe makes a terrific meal you can whip up in half an hour.

Make This Recipe large bowl of pumpkin pasta Easy Pumpkin Pasta

4.97 from 27 votes

A luxurious and savory pumpkin pasta made with grated Parmesan, pumpkin puree, a touch of cream and poured over penne. 

Make This Recipe Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

5 from 37 votes

Creamy, sun-dried tomato chicken pasta made in one skillet for a delicious, quick and EASY weeknight dinner.

Make This Recipe closeup of white bowl filled with red chicken and pasta soup Slow Cooker Parmesan Chicken Soup

5 from 36 votes

Grab your penne pasta and make this delicious slow cooker soup, with classic Parmesan chicken flavor!

Make This Recipe

How to Cook the Perfect Penne

To cook penne pasta, you’ll first want to bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add a teaspoon of salt to season the water. Then, add the pasta to the water and stir gently. Bring the water back to a boil, reduce the heat so the water doesn’t roll over the pot, and cook for 11 to 12 minutes. Once the pasta is ready, drain the water out with a colander. Remember to reserve pasta water first if the recipe calls for it.

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