The 21 Most Popular Noodle and Pasta Recipes of 2023

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Carbs are a universal language, and our most popular noodles and pasta recipes of 2023 prove just that. Be it a big bowl of comforting soba, an herby noodle salad, or a saucy chili-crisp-laden buccatini, our readers were busy slurping on these carby concoctions all year. But not all of these dishes require puckering your lips—you’ll find hefty lasagnas that will have you digging through a cheesy abyss, mac and cheese recipes that are peak comfort, and even a riff on stroganoff that taps into dried shiitakes for maximum umami. Scroll below and carb-e diem!
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne1/21
Our Favorite Mac and Cheese
For us, this is the ultimate mac and cheese. It’s creamy but bold in flavor thanks to sharp cheddar and a bit of mustard powder, and the buttery, garlicky topping is well seasoned and plenty crunchy.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne2/21
Pasta al Pomodoro
Every cooking repertoire needs the kind of easy pasta that feels special but comes together quickly on a weeknight.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich3/21
Creamy Mushroom Lasagna
Earthy mushrooms star in this meatless lasagna which is layered with a luxurious thyme-scented cream sauce.
- 4/21
Quick Fried Cabbage With Noodles and Bacon
Short-cut angel hair or fideos make this 12-minute meal possible.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Sean Dooley5/21
Pasta With No-Cook Zucchini Sauce
A little spicy, a little creamy, and absolutely packed with zucchini, this was one of our favorite new vegetarian pasta recipes of the year.
- Photo by Heami Lee6/21
Chili Crisp Bucatini
Your weeknight carbonara just became a whole lot more fun.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food styling by Mira Evnine7/21
Noodle Kugel
Start with egg noodles baked in a sweet, eggy custard, then choose raisins or crushed pineapple for this cornflake-topped side dish.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Toni Brogan8/21
Penne With Spinach and Ricotta
This recipe made the cut for cookbook author Giuliano Hazan’s list of all-time favorite pastas. It’s quick to prepare, especially if you start with baby spinach.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/21
Easy, Cheesy Sausage Lasagna
Need a dinner party main course? This streamlined lasagna is a guaranteed hit. Just add garlic bread and a salad on the side.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop styling by Suzie Meyers, Food Styling by Taneka Morris10/21
Saffron Butter Pasta
This 25-minute pasta was one of the most-saved in the Epicurious app this year. You’ll bloom the saffron in a bit of hot water to bring out its flavor and sunny golden color.
- Photo by Yuki Sugiura11/21
Piri Kara Soba
This vegetarian soup gets its heat and savory punch from a mix of gochujang and red miso.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine12/21
One-Pot Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Leftover pumpkin purée wants to be transformed into this creamy, silky pasta dish.
- Photograph by Cody Guilfoyle, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie, Food Styling by Thu Buser13/21
Mushroom Stroganoff(ish)
You’ll harness the power of the pantry to build savory flavor in this riff on the classic. Mirin, soy sauce, soaked dried shiitake mushrooms, and fish sauce amp up the meaty quality of fresh oyster, shiitake, or king trumpet mushrooms.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kaitlin Wayne, prop styling by Stephanie De Luca14/21
Chicken Noodle Salad With Peanut Sauce
Dress ramen and shredded poached chicken with a spicy peanut sauce that’s balanced with apple cider vinegar, balsamic, and toasted sesame oil.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Toni Brogan15/21
Linguine With a Pink Shrimp Sauce
This sauce from Giuliano Hazan’s Thirty Minute Pasta is often reserved for seafood-filled ravioli, but it’s just as special paired with strands of linguine instead.
- Photo by Louise Hagger16/21
Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Salad of Dreams
Keeping a tube of pre-prepped lemongrass paste in your fridge means you can skip the fresh-stalk struggle and make this bright and tangy dressing in a flash.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Simon Andrews17/21
Al Cantunzein’s Pappardelle With Sausage and Peppers
This combo of fresh sausage, yellow bell peppers, and onions is especially lovely on fresh pasta, but store-bought pappardelle, rigatoni, or shells are also fine.
- Photograph by Cody Guilfoyle, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie, Food Styling Thu Buser18/21
Three-Cup Chicken With Scissor-Cut Noodles
Turn classic three-cup chicken into a sweet-and-savory sauce for homemade noodles.
- Photo by Ronnie Woo19/21
Mussel and Clam Soba With Browned Anchovy Butter
Brown-butter-sauced soba soaks up the briny, savory flavor of the shellfish and its garlicky broth.
- Photo by Evan Sung20/21
Blender Mac and Cheese
Andrew Rea found the secret to no-roux extra-smooth cheese sauce: your blender.
- Photo by Yuki Sugiura21/21
Tonkotsu Ramen
Many of the parts of this weekend project can be prepped in advance, so you’ll just heat everything through and quickly cook the noodles when you’re ready to eat.


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