22 Creamy and Comforting Pasta Dinners High in Protein

Reviewed by registered dietitian Jessica Ball, MS, RD

There’s something comforting about enjoying a bowl of creamy, cheesy pasta for dinner, and these recipes bring out that cozy feeling. With at least 15 grams of protein per serving, these dishes can help support immune function, muscle growth and healthy digestion. Plus, protein-rich ingredients like chicken, shrimp, and legumes are paired with fiber-rich grains and vegetables to help give these meals extra lift. Recipes like our Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta or our Feta and Mushroom Baked Pasta are cozy choices for a delicious and hearty evening meal.

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

This rich and creamy butternut squash mac and cheese has notes of roasted squash in a cheese sauce flavored with fresh sage for a delicious plant-based meal any day of the week. We call for pre-chopped butternut squash to minimize prep, but feel free to chop your own or experiment with another winter squash like honey squash or acorn squash in place of the butternut squash.

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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

This creamy garlic, parmesan, and spinach pasta bake is a crowd-pleaser and sure to satisfy everyone at the table. This dish features tender pieces of chicken, fresh spinach and pasta, all wrapped in a rich and creamy garlic-parmesan sauce. While we love baby spinach for its ease of use, any green can be used in its place.

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Baked Mushroom and Feta Pasta

This feta mushroom pasta recipe combines the creamy flavor of melted feta with the earthy, savory notes of cremini mushrooms. The convenience of pre-sliced ​​cremini mushrooms makes this dish a time-saver, but you can easily switch things up by incorporating other varieties like oyster mushrooms, shiitake, or maitake mushrooms for added depth and complexity.

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Creamy Chicken Florentine Casserole

This Creamy Chicken Florentine Casserole combines tender pieces of chicken, fresh spinach and a rich, creamy sauce, all cooked to perfection with a golden, cheesy crust. Whether you’re looking to relax on a chilly evening or share a hearty homemade dinner with family, this casserole dish provides an experience that feels like a warm hug on a plate.

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Fajita-Inspired Pasta Cooking

This easy chicken fajita pasta bake perfectly blends the vibrant flavors of classic fajitas with a rich, creamy pasta dish. The result is a tantalizing fusion of flavors, offering the best of both worlds in one satisfying meal. Chopped jalapeño peppers and canned chipotle peppers add heat to this delicious meal.

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Chicken Alfredo in a Pan

This simple and creamy Chicken Alfredo recipe is incredibly comforting and cheesy thanks to the combination of Parmesan and cream cheese. You’ll also taste a nice hint of pepper and nutty notes from the whole wheat pasta. Plus, it’s an all-in-one meal, which means less cleanup for you.

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Creamy Feta and Tomato Pasta

This creamy feta and tomato pasta makes a satisfying vegetarian dinner using just 5 simple ingredients. Cherry tomatoes are a must-have when tomato season isn’t at its peak. Grape tomatoes offer a sweet and juicy alternative, ensuring a satisfying and flavorful meal.

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Creamy Pesto Shrimp with Gnocchi and Peas

This quick dinner recipe combines shrimp with moist gnocchi, pesto and peas in a creamy sauce. Feel free to replace the peas with other vegetables like broccoli or asparagus. For a little heat, sprinkle with crushed red pepper or garnish with grated Parmesan to enhance the savory flavor.

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Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Casserole

This delicious one-skillet cheesy chicken alfredo casserole combines penne pasta, tender broccoli, and shredded roasted chicken topped with a creamy sauce. To simplify the sauce, we opt for a mixture of pre-grated Italian cheeses. Although cheese blends vary, they usually contain parmesan, imparting the traditional Alfredo flavor. Look for blends with aged cheeses or blends that include strong cheeses like provolone or Asiago for a richer flavor profile.

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Dump & Bake Pizza Dough Casserole

This easy-to-make casserole delivers all the flavors of a pepperoni pizza, with fusilli pasta soaking up the rich tomato sauce while mingling with gooey melted cheese and meaty pepperoni slices. For a meatless option, simply replace the pepperoni with sliced ​​mushrooms and frozen peppers. Pair it with a Caesar salad for a complete meal.

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Slow Cooker Three Bean Chili Macaroni

Chili meets mac and cheese in this set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker dinner. Hot tomato sauce, a canned Mexican tomato sauce that also includes spices and chili peppers for heat, enhances the flavor.

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Creamy Spinach Pasta

This might be one of the creamiest light pasta dishes you’ve ever had! Mascarpone adds unexpected richness to spinach pasta.

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All-in-one pasta with creamy chicken, Brussels sprouts and mushrooms

You’ll only need to dirty one pan in this easy pasta recipe that cooks the chicken and vegetables at the same time as the noodles. Plus, by using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually runs out with your pasta water stays in the pan, giving you deliciously creamy results.

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Lemon Alfredo Shrimp Linguine

This brightly colored and lemony shrimp pasta dish was inspired by traditional Alfredo, but has only a fraction of the fat and calories. Low-fat cream cheese adds body to the sauce, while Parmesan adds its signature robust flavor.

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Creamy Penne alla Vodka with Chicken and Spinach

This creamy chicken and spinach penne alla vodka is warm and comforting with bright flavors of crushed tomatoes and fresh spinach. The chicken cutlets cook quickly and provide the perfect complement to the quick and creamy sauce. Serve with a piece of crusty bread and a green salad on the side.

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One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

This Chicken Parmesan Pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken, and sauce in one pan for a quick and easy dinner with minimal cleanup.

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One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Zucchini Pasta

This One-Pot Creamy Zucchini Chicken is comfort food at its finest. Here, we take advantage of the zucchini, which lightens the dish. This easy dinner is made in just one pot on the stovetop, so you can give your oven a rest on a hot day and enjoy easy cleanup.

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Creamy Spinach and White Bean Pasta

Here, we toss fresh spinach and kale with cream cheese and Gruyère for the luscious sauce that highlights this rich pasta dish. Paired with beans, it makes a hearty vegetarian meal.

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Linguine with creamy mushroom sauce

Creamy Mushroom Linguine is ready in 40 minutes, so it’s quick enough for an easy weeknight recipe, but sophisticated enough for entertaining.

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Mac and Cheese with Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts

Taking a minute to sizzle some garlic in olive oil is an easy way to spice up the cheese sauce for this easy homemade mac and cheese, and the flavor pairs well with the cauliflower and sprouts. Brussels in this family-friendly pasta dish.

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Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

This easy-flip ravioli lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food—no layering or mixing bowl required. Feel free to swap ground turkey for beef. Look for fresh mozzarella balls (also called “pearls”) in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store.

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Ground Beef and Pasta Skillet

Add extra veggies to your day with this easy one-skillet pasta recipe. Finely chop mushrooms to resemble the texture of ground beef and toss them into a classic meat sauce for a healthy twist on a dinner favorite.

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