11 BEST Orecchiette Pasta Recipes (2024)

Check out 11 of our favorite orecchiette pasta recipes, from quick and easy Classic Minestrone Soup to comforting One-Pot French Onion Pasta.

Do you love pasta?

I do too.

So much so that I’ve put together a list of 11 orecchiette pasta recipes to try out this week.

Orecchiette pasta is a beautiful thing.

It’s slightly rough around the edges, but it’s got all the right stuff.

Its shape is fun.

It’s got a real personality.

And when you cook it right, it’s absolutely delicious.

That makes it the ideal pasta for stopping sauce from running off the side of your fork, which means it’s perfect for any kind of sauce you want to put on it.

Orecchiette pasta is also one of those foods that can make you feel like you’re eating something special—like you’ve had an Italian vacation without ever leaving home.

It’s just that good!

But the question here is: what are you going to do with it?

Are you going to make one of those bland recipes?

Or are you going to try out something new?

Well, that’s why I’m here!

I’ve listed 11 recipes that will give you some exciting ideas for what to do with orecchiette pasta—and they’re not just boring old classics.

They’re bold, adventurous, like One-Pot French Onion Pasta, and fun like Orecchiette With Shrimp In A Vodka Sauce.

I even got an all-time favorite pasta dish like #10.

So, whatever you’re trying to pull off, whether it be something simple or something complex, you can count on these orecchiette pasta recipes.

Do you know those times when you’re just craving something fresh and light?

Like a Caprese salad—but better?

And you want it to be easy enough to make on a weeknight but fancy enough for guests?

I’ve got the answer.

It’s orecchiette with pesto and oven-roasted tomatoes.

With this dish, you get all the classic flavors of Caprese salad—fresh mozzarella, juicy grape tomatoes, and creamy piney pesto—but with a twist that makes it feel like you’re getting away with something.

The pesto is made from scratch, and the roasted grape tomatoes have their natural sweetness at their finest.

Toss everything together with orecchiette pasta, and voila!

You’ve got a simple meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

What’s better than French onion soup?

French onion soup, but in pasta form.

This one-pot pasta dish is as rich, flavorful, and satisfying as French onion soup, but it’s a little more versatile.

And it doesn’t take hours to make.

So, what does this delicious dish taste like?

Well, it’s got that sweet caramelized onion taste that you love in French onion soup.

But it also has a little balsamic vinegar, beef broth, and cream—all of which combine to make a tasty and savory sauce for your pasta.

And remember, you still have the cheese.

It will round off the whole thing and be stringy and melty in no time at all.

This hearty vegetable soup is a classic.

It’s the kind of soup that’ll make you feel like you are slurping onto something warm and hearty but have very little time to cook.

I also love this recipe because it’s so dynamic and rich in flavor.

The tomatoes are sweet, the beans are nutty and earthy, the potatoes are soft (but not mushy), and the spinach adds just enough freshness to balance out all that richness.

Throw everything together in one pot and let it simmer until it’s ready.

This is a recipe that I’m always happy to have on hand when unexpected guests pop over or when I need something quick for dinner after work before heading out for drinks with friends.

It’ll even keep in the fridge for days.

If you’ve ever wondered what the pasta version of a juicy cheeseburger would taste like, then orecchiette with sausage and broccoli is the recipe for you.

This dish is hard to describe, but I’ll try my best: it has pungent Pecorino Romano that melts on your tongue.

It has a juicy chicken broth that coats your mouth in warmth and comfort.

And it has broccoli florets that add a crunchy texture to an otherwise soft and smooth dish.

The red pepper flakes also lend spice to this dish, while the sausage adds an extra layer of savory and meaty flavor that makes this dish stand out from others.

So, if you’re searching for a new way to eat sausage or just want something different from the usual pasta, give this dish a shot.

Bruschetta Chicken Orecchiette Pasta is a fresh, vibrant dish that’ll have you saying, “Oh, yeah!”

First, you’ll want to start with tender chicken breasts.

They’ll get coated in a strong fruity, tart, and juicy balsamic vinegar sauce.

You’ll also get a mixture of the most refreshing ingredients you’ve ever tried: fresh Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and red onion for just the right amount of crunch.

Then you serve it all over some orecchiette pasta for an absolute delight.

Finally, you top it with cheese and herbs for garnish.

It’s so good that you’ll be saying “Oh yeah” over and over again while eating it—and trust me when we say that’s a good thing.

There are three words to describe orecchiette sausage pasta in creamy tomato sauce: rich, decadent, and creamy.

And this pasta dish is so packed with flavor that you’ll feel like you’re sitting in a restaurant in the middle of Florence.

The creamy tomato sauce is made with milk and cream, garlic for some added zing, Italian herbs for that distinct flavor profile, and Parmesan cheese for an extra flavor boost.

The pasta itself is also light and airy, which is the perfect complement to this rich sauce.

Plus, the dish has a subtle licorice-like flavor from the Italian sausages, giving it an earthy taste with just enough spice to make your taste buds pop.

I know that you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest here: the first thing I notice about a dish is how it looks.

That’s why I’m so excited for you to try this one. It’s like a beautiful painting that you can eat.
And I don’t just mean it looks pretty.

It’s like a culinary masterpiece that will blow your mind with its freshness, vibrancy, and crunchy bread crumbs.

Yes, orecchiette with crispy pancetta and peas is just that—a simple yet fancy pasta dish in a decadent sauce with salt-cured pork meat and veggies that’s been jazzed up with Parmesan cheese.

The recipe combines the rich, savory flavor of pancetta with fresh sweet peas tossed with buttered orecchiette pasta.

Then, it is finished off with a hearty sprinkling of crunchy breadcrumbs that add a satisfying contrast to the softness of the peas and butter sauce.

Overall, this dish is colorful and full of fun.

You can even serve it as a side or the main course for any occasion, making it the perfect dish for whatever you’re in the mood for.

Orecchiette Pasta Bake is an incredibly scrumptious dish that will convert even the most stubborn non-pasta eaters into pasta lovers.

The creamy, tomato-ey cheesy sauce is made with tomatoes, herbs, mozzarella, and jack cheese.

It’s so savory and decadent that it tastes like pure paradise on a fork.

And the seasonings give it that classic Italian flavor, too.

So basically, it has all the comforting flavors of lasagna with none of the heaviness (or time commitment)

But what you’ll love the most about this dish is that you can use whatever greens or veggies you want—it’s so versatile!

If you’re not into spinach, you can leave them out.

Or, if you don’t have any vegetables on hand at all (no worries!), just substitute something else (like more meat) instead.

Have you ever had a taste that just stuck with you?

Like, you could close your eyes and remember exactly what it felt like to eat it?

Well, orecchiette pasta with bacon, butternut squash, and broccoli is one of those kinds of tastes.

It’s packed full of flavor, but it’s not overwhelming.

And when I say packed full of flavor, I mean that literally: each bite has smoky hints of bacon, sweetened roasted butternut squash, slightly bitter roasted broccoli, mild nutty crunch from toasted pine nuts, and a great touch of saltiness from Parmesan cheese.

Remember to add in the white wine—it really brings out a nice layer of citrusy and floral flavors.

Oooh, you’ve got to try this one!

Orecchiette pasta with chicken in a creamy, herby lemon sauce is thick and saucy.

But you can always adjust the recipe to suit your tastes, so it’ll never be boring.

The highlight here is the creamy sauce.

It’s made from chicken broth, milk, and cheese, so you know it’s going to be rich and mouthwatering.

The lemon gives just enough acidity and tartness to balance out that richness, while rosemary completes the package with its earthy, herbal goodness.

And chicken breast cubes?

Those aren’t just there with the pasta for fun.

They soak up the sauce very well and make sure that each bite is as juicy as you’d expect.

Orecchiette With Shrimp In A Vodka Sauce is the kind of satisfying pasta dish you want to eat every day.

It’s simple, but it’s kind of adventurous.

The ingredients are all fresh, and the flavors come together to create something that just feels right.

Orecchiette pasta is also one of my favorite varieties because it has such a great texture.

It’s somewhere between flat pasta and spaghetti.

Plus, it holds up well with heavier sauces like this one.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that the sauce is the perfect blend of light, refreshing flavors and rich, creamy textures.

And the shrimp are tender and flavorful on their own.

But when you mix it with the bright, luscious tomato and smoky vodka sauce, they’re elevated to something truly special.

The bottom line

So, now that you’ve read through all of these orecchiette pasta recipes, you’re probably wondering what to make first.

Well, that’s up to you!

I just wanted to give you a bunch of options that are easy, delicious, and fun to make.

I also hope these recipes will encourage you to try something new or just make you feel like a pasta master in your own kitchen.

Whatever it is, I wish they bring you joy and inspire you to create something delicious for those who matter most to you—and maybe even for yourself.

Happy cooking!