Pasta is a safe space for diners, a happy menu choice that promises comfort, familiarity and satiety. There’s a reason that classic pasta dishes endure—and thrive—on menus nationwide. This year’s trend sees an explosion of pasta’s popularity, a positioning as a late-night party pick with Gen Z (really!), a daytime snackable occasion for street-food lovers, and a nostalgic favorite for everyone. Pasta dishes, driven by consumer demand for value and their enduring love of pasta, are a clear menu win. Here, find inspiration for 2025 and beyond.

To see the trend in action and understand the importance of serving favorites with a signature twist, we tapped Margaret Occhipinti, Senior Culinary Director for LifeWorks Restaurant Group, the premiere division of Aramark. She oversees foodservice for a large financial institution. “In our world of corporate dining, we need to keep things interesting so people want to dine with us every day. Our guests love classic pasta dishes, but we want to introduce new flavor experiences to make things enticing and varied.”

Occhipinti pays close attention to the demographics LifeWorks serves, tracking flavor trends and translating them onto pasta dishes. “Our customers today are looking for bold flavors,” she says. For a Valentine’s Day promotion, Occhipinti features Barilla^® Love, a limited-edition heart-shaped pasta, in an arrabbiata sauce, using Calabrian chiles for heat instead of the traditional red chile flakes. “They have a smoky flavor, along with the heat. We’re also adding pickled Calabrian chiles for that acidic counterpoint,” she says. “These tweaks deliver on the expectation of a classic pasta dish but change it up for a signature experience.”

Now, take a look at three creative takes on classic pasta dishes, transformed into modern menu items with smart flavor touches.

For more signature takes on classic pasta dishes, visit Barilla for Professionals.