23 Delicious Pappardelle Pasta Recipes

Pappardelle pasta is made from long, wide ribbons and is perfect for dishes with thick sauces as the pasta can catch the contents in its folds.

Here we’ve found 23 of the most delicious pappardelle pasta recipes for you to try. 

1. Beef Bolognese With Pappardelle Pasta 

Why not spice up pasta night by getting rid of the usual spaghetti for some pappardelle pasta.

Bolognese is probably one of the most iconic Italian pasta dishes and a firm family favorite, packed with flavor and easy to make. 

Using vine-ripened tomatoes adds extra sweetness and provides the sauce with the perfect consistency. Vegetables and herbs such as oregano are added to the sauce to provide it with heartiness.

Pappardelle pasta is thick and flat which allows this rich bolognese sauce to gain maximum coverage and wrap the beef in its folds. 

2. Pappardelle With Rosemary And Sausage Ragu 

If you fancy a lighter version of a meaty bolognese sauce, this sausage ragu is a great alternative.

Using herb-infused sausages, rosemary, fennel seeds, and garlic you can create a truly aromatic dish that will delight your dinner table. Tomato purée,  chopped tomatoes, and the ever-important pasta water create a light and tasty sauce. 

This is an excellent dish as any leftover sauce can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days or can be frozen to prevent food waste.

A sausage ragu sauce can be used in several different dishes and make for a fantastic lunch the following day if you manage to salvage any leftovers! 

 3. Crispy Pancetta, Thyme, And Chestnut Pappardelle  

Roasted or cooked chestnuts are a fabulous indication that winter is coming and they aren’t just for roasting around an open fire.

Combining crispy pancetta or bacon with crushed garlic and chestnuts creates a delicious and warming winter meal. Creme fraiche and pasta water come together to form a beautifully rich and creamy sauce that nourishes the soul. 

This dish is ready in twenty minutes which is ideal after a long day. The pancetta can easily be replaced with mushrooms for a vegetarian take on the dish. 

4. Vegetable Ragu With Pappardelle Pasta 

Packed full of nutrients and hearty vegetables is this vegetable ragu dish, a great meat alternative.

A vegetable ragu is just as rich in flavor, this is developed over a gentle simmer allowing for all the fresh herbs to infuse with the vegetables. Using fresh herbs isn’t essential but it does make for the best results. 

Butter is a key element in vegetable ragu as it makes it rich and creamy. Red or white wine is added to the ragu which reduces and releases its flavors into the sauce.

The key to perfecting the dish is to reduce and simmer the sauce enough that it thickens and the vegetables are tender. 

5. Pappardelle With Creamy Ricotta Pesto

Everyone loves a creamy pesto pasta dish, although you might not associate it with pappardelle. This creamy pesto sauce is infused with ricotta and contains plenty of garlic.

You can choose to make your pesto for this dish by either using a humble mortar and pestle or a more modern food processor. If you don’t have time for this, use pesto from a jar. 

Adding a little lemon juice to your ricotta not only helps to keep the pesto bright green but also adds a little acidity to the cheese.

Other than ricotta, you’ll need to add some Parmesan and some freshly grated pecorino cheese for that full, authentic Italian taste. 

6. Lemon Pappardelle Pasta And Asparagus

Lemon and asparagus go hand-in-hand with pasta and Italian cuisine. Light, refreshing, and quick to make this pasta dish is perfect for a speedy weekday meal. 

Adding dill to this dish brings out the fresh springtime flavors. Fresh, locally grown asparagus will complement this dish perfectly and is abundant during the spring.

To create a perfectly creamy dish that is healthier for you, fat-free Greek yogurt is a great substitute for cream. 

7. Pappardelle Pasta With Arrabbiata Sauce 

Arrabbiata sauce is a spicy tomato marinara sauce that originates from Rome. Making this sauce from scratch is quick and easy to do but still brings all the flavor. 

Adding a twist to the original arrabbiata sauce, this recipe also includes yellow onion, fresh basil and parsley, and some minced anchovy filets.

The saltiness of the anchovies adds an extra layer to this dish but doesn’t produce a fishy taste in the sauce. Serve with burrata (see also ‘23 Delicious Yet Simple Burrata Recipes‘) to counteract some of the spice and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. 

8. Mushroom And Spinach Pappardelle

Pappardelle pasta is coated in a creamy white wine sauce for a gourmet dish that is light and delicious. Perfect for date night or just for a dinner party (see also ‘33 Dinner Party Recipes That Are Easier Than You Think‘), this dish is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

It is recommended to use cremini mushrooms (see also ‘7 Cremini Mushroom Substitutes‘), but any will work. A white wine reduction is combined with mascarpone cheese to form the cheesy sauce.  

As with many pasta dishes, reserving some of the pasta water is essential as you’ll almost always need to add some to your sauce. Here it is used to thin out the sauce as much as you need. 

9. Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pappardelle 

Making a homemade alfredo sauce is simple to do and adds an authentic Italian taste. For the alfredo sauce to be considered perfect, it must resemble melted ice cream.

The sauce is creamy and cheesy, only made from a few simple ingredients such as butter, cream, and Parmesan. 

The chicken (see also our favorite diced chicken recipes) is seasoned with herbs and cooked in a large skillet pan until crispy, to be added to the dish at the end. Omitting the chicken can easily make the dish vegetarian. 

10. Date Night Lemon Pappardelle With Shrimp

For the fresh taste of Italy by the sea, why not try adding shrimp to pappardelle pasta. With a quick cooking time, you can spend more time with your partner and less time over the stove and still produce an impressive dish.  

The smooth and creamy sauce used for this dish contains butter, cream, and white wine for rich and delicious flavors. Lemon and freshly cracked black pepper add a little zestiness and depth. 

Use jumbo shrimp in this recipe, these are cooked simply with butter and seasoned with salt to produce a tender and juicy end result. 

11. Pork And Red Wine Ragu With Pappardelle

Pork neck is the cut meat used in this dish, as it is moist and tender.

Tying herbs such as rosemary, oregano, and lemon peel into a bouquet to be added when the meat is slow cooking accompanied by chicken stock and red wine for a full and rich flavor.

Once the combination has been cooking gently for an hour, the pork should fall apart when gently pulled with forks. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

The pasta should be cooked until al dente before adding freshly grated Parmesan and serving with a lovely glass of red wine. 

12. Creamy Pappardelle With Leeks And Bacon

Putting a twist on a classic carbonara recipe is the creamy pappardelle pasta with leeks and bacon combination (see also our favorite bacon recipes). The sweetness of the leeks (check out our favorite leek recipes) and richness of the cream coat the thick pasta ribbons for a taste sensation.

Bacon should be cooked until crispy and fat is rendered, this adds a salty flavor to the dish. 

Reserving the pasta water is once again essential for this dish, as it is added to the pasta and Parmesan to coat the ribbons evenly.

Once properly coated, stir everything together and serve with plenty of freshly ground black pepper.

13. Pappardelle Shrimp, Asparagus, And Grape Tomatoes 

Not all Italian cooking is based around heavy cream dishes, some are light and refreshing. Using shrimp and asparagus is what keeps this dish light and creates a taste of spring.

White wine or chicken broth can be added depending on your preferences to infuse the flavors with the shrimp and create a light and tasty coating. 

The pasta water can be used to thin the coating to your desired consistency, pasta can continue cooking whilst you do this. Fresh basil and mint are chopped and served on top of the pasta for an authentic Italian taste. 

14. Pappardelle Pasta With Seafood Sauce

If you’re wanting the taste of a small Italian fishing village, try this pappardelle pasta cooked in a seafood sauce. Shrimp, scallops (see also ‘30 Best Scallop Recipes For Lovers Of Seafood’), and littleneck clams are used in this recipe for the seafood element but you may add any seafood you like.

The seafood sauce is a light tomato sauce with wine, cream, and delicate seafood flavors. 

Fresh and simple, this dish is easy to prepare, the seafood is sautéd in butter and simmered with tomato sauce and wine to give it thickness.

Once the pasta is cooked and coated in the sauce, heavy cream can be stirred in and seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. Other seafood you might like to try with this dish are mussels, lobster, or white fish. 

15. Farmers’ Market Pappardelle

Many delicious summer vegetables are packed with nutrients and go perfectly with pasta. Here, sugar snap peas, zucchini, corn, and cherry tomatoes are the perfect choice for the summer harvest.

This simple meal doesn’t have a sauce, more of a tomato mixture made with tomatoes, garlic, oil, vinegar, and salt to coat the cooked pasta. 

Tossing the cooked pasta and vegetables with this tomato mixture allows it to warm for a simple taste of summer. Chives and mint are used to season the finished dish for an extra punch, perfect to eat for a hot evening. 

16. Pappardelle Pasta With Portobello Mushroom Ragu

For a quick and easy vegetarian dinner, this portobello mushroom and rosemary combination provides you with a slightly meaty textured dish.

Traditionally ragu is a meat sauce, however here using earthy mushrooms, garlic, rosemary, and red pepper you can create a thick tomato sauce that tastes just as good. Serve with Parmesan cheese on top. 

17. Lemon Parmesan Pappardelle Arugula And Chilli 

The lemon Parmesan sauce uses fresh slices of lemon which are cooked until brown on both sides, garlic, cream, and the zest and juice of a lemon for extra zest.

Parmesan is added to make a creamy, cheesy mixture before being seasoned with salt and pepper. Fresh arugula or rocket and chilli are added for spice and a hint of pepperiness. 

The sauce is rich and full of flavor without being too heavy and overpowering. Serving alongside lemon can add to the refreshing citrus flavors.

More Parmesan can be added if you find the chilli creates too much heat. 

18. Salmon Pappardelle In Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce 

Roasted sweet red pepper creates the perfect base for this creamy sauce, simply puree and cook with light cream, shallots, and some pasta water.

Using a skillet pan will produce the perfect pan-seared dish. Place the salmon skin side down and cook until almost completely pale, discard the skin when cooked. Fold the pasta and sauce together before serving. 

19. Pappardelle With Meatballs, Spicy Sausage, And Herbed Ricotta

Making your meatballs may be daunting, but this recipe shows you how to make them with simple ingredients. You’ll need Italian bread crumbs and Romano cheese for an authentic taste.

You can easily buy pre-made Italian sausages from the grocery store. 

The sauce is made from tomatoes, herbs, onion, and garlic which is then mixed with herb-infused ricotta and the pasta to finish off the dish. Shaved Parmesan can be added for extra flavor. 

20. Porky Pappardelle With Spinach 

Pappardelle is perfect for thicker sauces like this pork dish due to its long, flat ribbons. Pork mince is seasoned with Italian herbs, Worcester sauce, finely chopped tomatoes, and stock.

You can also add a pinch of sugar here. Once the sauce has thickened, add a handful of spinach at a time to allow it to wilt nicely. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve. 

21. Pappardelle With Pesto, Zucchini, And Goats Cheese

Although homemade pasta is used in this recipe, you can easily follow on with ready-made pasta if you are wanting a fuss-free meal.

Summer vegetables such as zucchini and cherry tomatoes are brightened up with lemon and capers (see also ‘5 Substitutes For Capers‘) for a refreshing meal. The herby pesto is made from blitzed herbs and oil, combined with the tangy goat’s cheese for a gourmet touch. 

22. Slowly Braised Lamb Ragu

Lamb is rich and meat, creating the ultimate comfort food with this recipe. Lamb is slowly braised with vegetables, a glass of bold red wine, and herbs to create an extremely flavorful lamb ragu sauce.

A little heavy cream and Parmesan help to bring the rich sauce together. Cooking time is around two to two and a half hours to get a perfectly tender lamb. 

23. Pappardelle With Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Dolcelatte, And Walnuts

Purple sprouting broccoli is steamed until tender, perfect for a spring pasta dish. Thyme, Dolcelatte, cream (or creme fraiche), and lemon are added to melted butter to form a thick, creamy sauce.

Toast the walnuts for best results and sprinkle on the finished dish with a little Parmesan. Season well with black pepper, salt is optional. 

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to create a fantastic pappardelle pasta dish, here we have included 23 of the best dishes suitable for all diets. We hope you enjoy cooking up a storm using one of these recipes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do You Boil Pappardelle for?

Cooking times for pappardelle vary depending on the manufacturer. As a general rule, the pasta takes around 7 to 9 minutes to cook in boiling water until it’s al dente. 

How Long Does Fresh Pappardelle Last?

Fresh pappardelle pasta can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or can be frozen for up to a month before going off.