23 Classic Farfalle Recipes

These farfalle recipes will transform regular pasta dinners into extra appetizing meals.

Out of the many varieties of pasta shapes and sizes, farfalle is, without a doubt, the most adorable one.

I mean, it’s shaped like a bowtie, so how can it not be?

It’s not just a looker, either. Its unique shape also creates nooks and crannies that give it an added textural dimension.

So for this week’s lunch or dinner, how about you switch things up by using farfalle instead of the usual spaghetti and fettuccine?

In this collection of recipes, I’ll give you 23 delicious ways to serve this delightful noodle. You’ll never run out of options!

1. Farfalle with Spinach, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions

Does meatless mean boring? Definitely not, and this dish is proof!

Farfalle noodles are tossed with spinach, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and a rich parmesan cream sauce. 

With all those mouthwatering colors, tastes, and textures, I’ll bet no one will even notice the absence of meat.

2. Farfalle with Creamy Bacon Sauce

This dish had me at cream and bacon. You absolutely cannot go wrong with that combination! It’s the embodiment of indulgence.

Comprising the indulgent sauce are cream cheese and ricotta. It’s a very rich combo, indeed, which is why mushrooms and spinach are thrown into the mix.

Together with al dente farfalle and crunchy-smoky bacon, they’ll create a wonderful balance of flavors.

3. Farfalle with Fresh Salmon

I can’t get enough of how hearty yet light and refreshing this dish is. It has such lovely flavors, you can tell it’s good for you.

It’ll surely satisfy your hunger, but won’t make you feel all bloated and heavy, either. That’s the magic that salmon and fresh tomatoes bring. 

4. Farfalle with Tuna Sauce

Upgrade canned tuna and a bag of frozen peas and turn them into a delectable pasta sauce.

This recipe might call for mainly economical ingredients, but you’ll level them up with a splash of white wine. Nothing makes a dish more elegant than wine.

What’s more, this recipe comes together in just 15 minutes. It’s a quick and easy dinner fix.

5. Farfalle with Tomatoes, Onion, and Spinach

How about a refreshing Mediterranean meal, for a change? 

This recipe creates a gorgeous platter of bright colors and epic flavors and textures.

Don’t be intimidated, as all you’ll need to pull this off are farfalle, fresh vegetables, and lots of cheese.

6. Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic

Move over Cheesecake Factory! This copycat recipe of their chicken and roasted garlic is way better.

Farfalle pasta is tossed with a creamy sauce, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, bacon, and cheese. It has everything you love in a pasta dish, but more.

It’s like Alfredo on steroids!

7. Farfalle with Zucchini

Here’s another refreshing, veggie-filled pasta dish you’ll surely enjoy. 

Farfalle, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and onions are coated with a white wine olive oil sauce. 

It’s finished off with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs to create an equal balance of rich and earthy flavors.

It’s a light yet hearty dish that’s perfect for summer.

8. Creamy Cheese Farfalle

This cheesy farfalle is the stuff of umami dreams!

It’s loaded with butter, milk, and cheddar cheese, so to say it’s rich and creamy is an understatement. 

Furthermore, this recipe takes pasta to a whole new level by serving it in a bowl lined with breadcrumbs. 

Once baked, the breadcrumbs turn into a crispy, toasted crust that gives the dish more character.

9. Grilled Chicken and Pesto Farfalle

Pesto and chicken together in one! This is one healthy yet tasty dish you’ll crave again and again.

To make things easier, you don’t have to make pesto from scratch. Just use your favorite jar of pesto and upgrade it with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, basil, and parmesan cheese.

10. Instant Pot Beef and Bowtie Pasta

This pasta is the only reason you need to get an Instant Pot. Try it once, and you’ll want it in your life forever. 

Farfalle, meaty sauce, and cheese: these three components create the ultimate comfort food. 

And thanks to the Instant Pot, this dish will be at your dinner table in as fast as 17 minutes.

11. Farfalle Pasta with Shrimp

Pasta and shrimp are the dream team! Nothing beats the goodness of plump shrimp and al dente farfalle together in one bite.

Add to the picture roasted broccoli, parmesan, and a creamy lemon dressing, and you’ll get an even more irresistible dish.

12. Farfalle with Ricotta and Peas

Ricotta and peas don’t exactly sound like a match made in heaven, but they’re surprisingly great together.

Don’t take my word for it, though! Let this dish prove my point.

And I’m not cheating, here. There are no secret ingredients like bacon or ham in this pasta. It’s really just ricotta and peas, and it’s to die for.

13. Creamy Bow Tie Pasta

This next pasta dish combines farfalle, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy parmesan sauce.

The colors alone already tell you this dish is bursting with flavors. You’ll love the textural contrasts between the pasta, mushrooms, and tomatoes, as well.

Here’s the best part: this dish is ready in just 20 minutes, proving that delicious food doesn’t have to take forever to make.

14. Bow Tie Lasagna

Now, this is intriguing.

Instead of the usual lasagna sheets, this recipe uses bowtie pasta. Because why not? It definitely adds a new texture dimension to the already flawless classic.

It’s not just that, though. The use of bowtie noodles also makes this lasagna variation a lot easier to make. 

Instead of stacking the components into layers, you’ll simply throw them all together in a bowl.

15. Farfalle Carbonara

It’s just like traditional carbonara, but with a ribbony twist!

You can’t go wrong with pasta, cream, pancetta, and cheese. Add bowtie noodles to the picture the already-phenomenal dish becomes even more exciting.

You can even throw some peas into the mix for a nice pop of color.

16. Farfalle in Creamy Parmesan Vodka Sauce

Trust only liquor to make pasta dishes taste even better. In this dish, you’ll jazz up the classic carbonara with a splash of vodka! 

Besides vodka, the cream sauce also relies on tomatoes, butter, cloves, and garlic for its bright and lively flavors.

17. Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta

Combine two delectable Italian classics to make one sensational pasta dish!

Farfalle and chicken marsala join forces to give you an experience you’ll never forget.

In this mash-up, both the chicken and the pasta are coated with creamy, mushroom-filled marsala sauce. Every bite is pure delight.

18. Creamy Farfalle with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

While the sauce is wonderfully creamy and undeniably amazing, the spinach and sun-dried tomatoes make this pasta dish simply sublime.

19. Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are such a light yet satisfying dish. They’re versatile and easily customizable, too.

With this recipe, you’ll give the iconic appetizer a Mediterranean flair with a combination of grape tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, red onions, and feta cheese.

From the colors to the flavors to the textures, this dish gets an easy 12/10.

20. Vegan Bow Tie Pasta in a Light Bolognese Sauce

Vegan is synonymous with bland meals, right? No way!

Don’t believe me? Let this pasta bolognese prove you wrong.

This dish is a combination of farfalle and a vegan bolognese sauce made of vegan crumbles, green beans, sage, and mint. Don’t knock it until you try it.

21. Farfalle with Meat Sauce

Make spaghetti but use farfalle. It’s an easy way to level up an already delicious dish.

Bathed in a meaty tomato sauce and sprinkled with lots of parmesan and mozzarella cheese, it’s a feast for both the eyes and the palate.

22. Italian Sausage Pasta With Broccoli

If you’re looking for a way for your kids to appreciate broccoli, the search is over.

Combine the cruciferous veggie with Italian sausage and charming bowtie noodles, and they won’t be able to get enough.

It’s packed with flavor, for sure, but it’s also nutritious. It’s a win-win!

23. Chicken, Veggie, and Farfalle Soup

Capping off this round-up is a delectable soup bursting with farfalle, chicken, and veggies.

It might have a clear broth, but don’t be fooled by its unassuming look. Flavored with thyme, rosemary, garlic, and lemon, this broth is incredible, to say the least.

It’s scrumptious and filling, and surprisingly low-calorie! If this is what low-cal diets are made of, I think I might just hop on board.