Easy and Kid-Friendly Pasta Recipes to Make on a Budget (2024)

Looking for affordable pasta recipes that you can make without blowing your budget? Here are some of our favorites that are kid-approved!

Pasta is a go to dish for many of us.

Delicious, easy and filling, it is also affordable and there are so many different meal combinations to suit everyone’s tastes.

One of the nice things about making pasta, is that it is so easy to customize!

Pasta is the perfect dish to use up leftovers like leftover rotisserie chicken or leftover veggies and you can also easily make different versions for different members of your family.

My guys eat meat, my daughter only eats chicken and I am a vegetarian.

I often make different versions of the same pasta dish and bake them in a split baking dish so that everyone can have what they love.

Pasta Recipes to Make on a Budget

If you are looking for some new easy meal recipes to add to your family’s menu, in this post I’m going to share some must make combinations that kids and adults both love.

Whether you are making a side dish or a main entree, in this post I have lots of delicious recipes to make, even if your grocery budget is tight.

From vegetarian dishes, to dishes with beef, with chicken and pasta salad, this post includes our favorite recipes for all things pasta.

Pasta Recipes With Ground Beef

Ground beef is an easy go to ingredient when making any dish.

Whether you brown a pound of beef just for your pasta recipe or use leftovers from a previous meal, it’s simple to combine with sauce and your favorite pasta to make a filling dish.

Don’t be afraid to add veggies, seasonings or cheeses to add even more flavor.

Some of our favorite beef pasta dishes include our cheeseburger pasta recipe, taco pasta, and baked ziti.

Our homemade lasagna hamburger helper is always a hit.

Chicken Pasta Recipes

Pasta with chicken is an excellent way to put leftover chicken to good use.

Shred your leftover chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken and mix in with sauce and your favorite recipes. Canned chicken can even be used as well!

Chicken dishes can be made with a variety of sauces as well.

Don’t hesitate to use red sauce, white sauce, cheese sauce, pesto or whatever you desire. There are endless delicious combinations!

Not sure what to serve with chicken recipes? Don’t miss these ideas!

Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

There is no rule that says pasta has to include meat!

As a vegetarian, I eat meat-free versions of my family’s favorite pasta dishes. For vegetarian recipes don’t miss this tasty pasta primavera and this slow cooker tortellini soup.

This kid-friendly homemade macaroni and cheese is great as a main entree or a side dish.

I regularly make 2 versions of similar dishes, and make one with meat and one without and just cook them in separate dishes.

It’s a great way to enjoy the same meal, but to customize everyone’s preferences.

Pasta Salad Recipes

Pasta salads are an easy and affordable dish to enjoy at home or to take to gatherings.

They are also easy to improvise with the ingredients you have on hand.

Whether you add veggies, meat, sauces or spices, there are lots of excellent pasta salad recipes.

Not sure what to serve with pasta? Don’t miss these pasta side dish recommendations!

Looking for more family-friendly recipes? Check out our food tab here!

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