20 unique pasta dishes you need to try right now

Butternut squash can be used to create the pasta itself or as a delicious topping. Its texture and taste make it a hearty, filling, decadent pasta that is lovely in the fall and winter. It’s especially good with spinach and pine nuts. 

Chicken bacon ranch is put on just about every other type of dish. Why not put it on pasta? This tasty flavor combination is good with elbow macaroni, rotini, and other short noodles. 

Bone marrow has a rich, savory flavor that pairs wonderfully with pasta. It can also be used to make a sauce and take on a variety of other flavor profiles, making it delectable and versatile. 

Tortellini is always tasty, but a particularly good twist makes it sweet. This can be done with apples and brie, pumpkin and figs, or pomegranate and walnuts, just to name a few combinations. It’s unexpected but in the best way possible. 

Pesto is traditionally made with basil, but greens of all sorts can be molded into the sauce. Try making a pesto with broccoli and mint for a fresh and vibrant pasta. 

Mushrooms aren't unusual to see on pasta, nor is burrata. But the combination certainly isn't typical. When you taste it, though, you’ll be happy for that unusual bite because it’s earthy, creamy, savory, and totally delicious.  

Why discriminate against pesto pasta? If you’re bored with regular pesto on your pasta, try some red pesto. It’s made with sun-dried tomatoes, which give it its vibrant red color. Red pesto pasta will taste similar to pasta with a traditional red sauce, it’ll just have a nuttier bite. 

French onion pasta is loaded with caramelized onions and cheese. Using pasta water to create a sauce makes for one tasty dish, and it’s a much quicker process than homemade French onion soup. 

There’s a lot to love about barbecue chicken, and everything good about it is amplified when combined with pasta. Barbecue chicken pasta is tasty, but it’s especially comforting when made into a casserole. 

Anyone who loves buffalo chicken will love buffalo chicken pasta. It can be tossed with spaghetti, penne, egg noodles — you name it. It might be the richest and the tastiest with macaroni and cheese.

If you love something, put it on pasta. Philly cheesesteak is tasty as a sandwich, but the fact that it comes on bread should signal to everyone that it will translate well to other carbohydrates. The next time you’re craving it, have it on pasta.

Another good thing to do with things you love is to make them creamy. A mustard cream sauce might not sound great, but the cream cuts the mustard, making for a savory sauce that melds so well with pasta. All sorts of proteins and vegetables can be added to make it even better. 

If you love bolognese but want it vegan, substitute walnuts. If you want to try a unique bolognese sauce, substitute walnuts. If you love bolognese, substitute walnuts. Just try this pasta. 

Why are we limiting ourselves to only eating edamame as an appetizer at sushi restaurants? Edamame needs to be broken free from its shell more often. A fabulous way to do so is by making edamame pasta. Just trust us; you’ll love it. 

We already put peanuts in our pasta dishes. Why not go all the way and use peanut butter as an ingredient? Peanut butter might not be the best pasta topping, but when used to make a sauce, particularly a spicy peanut butter sauce, it’s great with noodles. 

It’s time we expanded the idea of pasta as a meal. It doesn’t have to be just an entree. When chocolate is involved, pasta can be a dessert. Serve chocolate pasta with fruit and nuts for a surprisingly toothsome dish. 

Is there anything that isn’t enhanced by bacon? Even situations where food isn’t typically involved get better with bacon. Unsurprisingly, pasta is made better with bacon, and it’s also made better with the combination of cauliflower and bacon. 

Remember the conversation we had moments ago about putting your favorite things on pasta? Apply that same principle to tacos. Rather than eating tacos with a shell, eat the filling with pasta. Penne, spaghetti, and macaroni are among the best options for this dish. 

Pumpkin is similar to butternut squash in that it can be used to make the pasta itself or as a topping. Either way, you’ll be very happy. Add chorizo or chicken for protein and top with pumpkin seeds for a crunchy garnish. 

Anything that traditionally includes a carb can be made into pasta. If you love paella, there’s no reason you won’t love it as a pasta dish. Serve it with shorter pastas, like orzo or macaroni, to more closely mimic traditional paella.