Easy Pasta Recipes for Kids

Baked Ziti

This easy baked ziti is a simple pasta casserole kids can help assemble. Add cooked ground beef or sausage if you want a heartier main dish, or leave it meatless.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ziti or other tube-shaped pasta
• 1 jar (24 ounces) tomato or spaghetti sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pound cooked ground beef or Italian sausage, optional

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook the ziti according to the package directions until just tender. Drain.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, spaghetti sauce, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, black pepper and cooked ground meat, if using.
4. Spread the pasta mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
5. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese over the top.
6. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
7. Remove the foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot throughout.
8. Let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.

Chicken Tetrazzini

Chicken tetrazzini combines spaghetti, chicken and peas with a creamy homemade sauce. Using cooked rotisserie chicken makes this an easy way to turn leftover chicken into a family pasta dinner.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces spaghetti
• 2 cups cooked rotisserie chicken, cubed
• 2 cups frozen peas
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, as desired

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions, adding the frozen peas while the pasta cooks.
3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.
4. Stir in the flour and continue stirring until the mixture is smooth.
5. Gradually stir in the chicken broth, whipping cream and Parmesan cheese.
6. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
7. Drain the spaghetti and peas.
8. Combine the spaghetti, peas, cubed chicken and cream sauce.
9. Pour into a baking dish and sprinkle cheddar cheese over the top.
10. Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese is melted.

Easy Vegetable Alfredo

Add broccoli and carrots to creamy fettuccine Alfredo for an easy pasta dinner with vegetables. You can also substitute vegetables your family likes or add cooked chicken for a heartier meal.

Ingredients

• 8 oz. fettuccine noodles
• 1 small package frozen broccoli
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 (10 oz.) container prepared Alfredo sauce or homemade Alfredo sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• Parmesan cheese, for serving
• Cooked diced chicken, optional

Directions

1. Cook the fettuccine according to the package directions.
2. Add the broccoli and chopped carrots during the last few minutes of cooking so they cook along with the pasta.
3. Meanwhile, prepare or warm the Alfredo sauce.
4. Drain the pasta and vegetables.
5. Stir in the Alfredo sauce and pepper.
6. Add cooked diced chicken, if desired.
7. Warm everything together and serve with Parmesan cheese.

Pasta with Bacon, Zucchini & Spinach

Reader recipe submitted by Caprice, Las Vegas, Nevada.

This easy pasta combines bacon, zucchini and spinach with garlic, Parmesan and fresh basil. It has some of the savory flavors people associate with carbonara, but it is a lighter vegetable pasta without an egg-based sauce.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces mini farfalle or another small pasta shape
• 3/4 cup chopped bacon
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil, as needed
• 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup zucchini, diced
• 1 large handful baby spinach
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, torn

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
2. Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large sauté pan until crisp. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels, leaving a small amount of bacon drippings in the pan.
3. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan if needed. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
4. Add the zucchini and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until beginning to soften. Add the spinach and cook just until wilted. Season lightly with salt and black pepper.
5. Add the drained pasta and cooked bacon to the pan. Toss everything together.
6. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and basil. Add a little reserved pasta water, a tablespoon or two at a time, until the cheese lightly coats the pasta.
7. Taste and add additional salt, pepper or olive oil if needed. Serve warm.

Spaghetti & Hot Dogs Activity

This simple pasta activity has a fun surprise: uncooked spaghetti is threaded through pieces of hot dog before cooking. As the spaghetti softens in the boiling water, the noodles cook right through the hot dog pieces.

Ingredients

• 1 package hot dogs
• Uncooked thin spaghetti
• Grated Parmesan cheese, optional
• Chopped parsley, optional

Directions

1. Cut the hot dogs into approximately 1-inch pieces.
2. Carefully push 5-7 strands of uncooked spaghetti through the center of each hot dog piece.
3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
4. Carefully add the spaghetti and hot dog pieces, making sure the pasta is submerged in the water.
5. Cook until the spaghetti is tender, following the pasta package directions as a guide.
6. Drain carefully.
7. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley, if desired, and serve warm.