10 Rich & Creamy Pasta Recipes

There are times when nothing other than a decadent, extra-creamy bowl of pasta will do. Maybe it’s a special occasion, or maybe it’s just a Monday. Whatever the case, these 10 recipes deliver — they’re rich, comforting, and oh-so-satisfying.

Bolster a tub of good ricotta with lots of lemon zest and Parm and the result is a quick cream sauce that’s sure to be a new favorite.

A slew of chopped fresh tarragon adds just the right amount of freshness to balance the rich bacon and cream in this pasta.

This twist on classic Alfredo gets a bolt of citrusy flavor from searing cut lemons in butter, where they caramelize and scent the butter with their oils before the juice is then squeezed in.

This is the kind of mac and cheese you can serve at a dinner party: It’s extra decadent, thanks to cream cheese, Gouda, Gruyére, and Parm, and feels just fancy enough due to the combination of artichoke hearts and baby spinach.

This one-pot wonder is perfectly creamy since the orzo cooks right in simmering milk, so the pasta releases some of it’s starch into the milk and the liquid evaporates into a rich sauce.

Goat cheese becomes an instant cream sauce when it’s tossed with hot pasta and loosened with some of the pasta water — it also adds a nice tang to the situation.

A generous splash of half-and-half and lots of nutty Pecorino cheese form a quick cream sauce for al dente linguine, sweet shrimp, and tender asparagus.

It’s definitely worth seeking out Meyer lemons when making this pasta — they add a sweet, delicate floral note to the situation that really turns the recipe into a standout.

Diced zucchini adds some texture to fettuccine Alfredo and adds just the right amount of green that makes it feels a touch more wholesome, yet no less luxe.

A jar of roasted red peppers is an easy way to add new life to your usual Alfredo sauce. It brightens things up a bit and makes for a pretty pale red-hued sauce.