5 Perfect Family Pasta Recipes

This recipe comes together in less time than it would take to order pizza takeout—and tastes far better, too. Citrus-infused chicken thighs become golden brown and crispy when baked upside down on a cookie sheet, and the marinade nicely complements the dilled orzo—a quick-cooking rice-shaped pasta that'll be popular with everyone in the family.

Move over mac and cheese, farfalle gets the bread crumbs this time. We toss the little bows gently with broccoli florets, olive oil and lemon zest, then garnish them with golden seasoned bread crumbs to make a meal perfectly designed for the little people in your life.

This quick-cooking shrimp scampi is a protein-dense meal that combines spaghetti with seafood tossed in garlic, lemon and butter. Tuck this recipe into your back pocket for a day when dinner needs to be on the table in less than 20 minutes.

Make-ahead meals are ideal for in-home entertaining and this pork ragu is no exception. Spend your day on the slopes—or at the hockey rink—and come home to a fragrant simmering sauce that finishes up in the time it takes to cook your pasta. Serve alongside a simple green salad and crusty bread for a meal that will impress any guest.

Baked and ready in just 20 minutes, this easy-to-make family meal will please everyone from your kids to your weekend dinner guests. Basic penne pasta is perfected with the addition of chicken soup, cheeses and roasted chicken—all topped off nicely with some bread crumbs and mozzarella.