Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (2024)

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (1)

Pasta: It's possibly the world's most perfect comfort food. What could be more soothing and satisfying than a gooey bowl of mac and cheese or a plate of creamy spaghetti carbonara laced with chewy, smoky bits of pancetta?

It's also possibly one of the world's greatest convenience foods. Pasta is quick to cook and can serve as the base of a million and one quick and easy dinners. Just add a bit of protein (leftover chicken, diced ham, a can of chickpeas, or olive oil-packed tuna), some vegetables (frozen ones work great here), and a little bit of sauce (red sauce, pesto, cream, or the quick fresh tomato sauce with basil, garlic, and a few glugs of good olive oil that's shown here) and dinner is done.

Of course, one of our other favorite things about pasta is that it's such an excellent vehicle for cheese—fluffy piles of finely grated Parmesan; luscious sauces loaded with cheddar and Gruyère; sweet, creamy dollops of fresh ricotta. But high-quality pasta is truly exquisite even without burying it mounds of cheese, so it's worth your while to spring for the good stuff. Choose pasta that's made with 100 percent semolina flour, and look for a rough texture, which will grab the sauce better and is usually an indicator that the pasta has been made in small batches.

There's also a huge selection of gluten-free and wheat-free pasta in most grocery stores now, made from rice, quinoa, chickpeas, corn, or almond flour. A common complaint about non-wheat pastas is that they can be mushy, so watch that cooking time carefully and begin tasting it a few minutes early so you can drain it as soon as it's perfectly al dente.

Now, let's get a pot of water boiling and whip up something delicious for dinner! The recipes ahead are guaranteed to inspire many incredible meals.

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Spaghetti with Spinach, Peas, and Herbed Ricotta

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (2)

Here's a 30-minute vegetarian pasta dinner you'll want to make on the regular. It's packed with vegetables but tastes like comfort.

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Penne with Garlicky Tomatoes and Salmon

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (3)

While the penne cooks in its own pot, sauté juicy cherry tomatoes with garlic and then steam the salmon right in the same pan. The result is a fresh and flavorful seafood pasta dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes.

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Brothy Orzo and Pork Meatballs

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (4)

A one-pot meatball and pasta dinner in just 35 minutes? Sign us up! These easy pork meatballs come together fast; once you've formed them, they'll cook in chicken broth along with the orzo.

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Baked Broccoli-and-Artichoke Shells

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (5)

Any night can be a pasta bake dinner night with this cozy recipe! There's cheese sauce, bacon, and vegetables in this crowd-pleasing recipe. Best of all, it takes just 45 minutes to prepare.

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Prosciutto Carbonara with Spinach

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (6)

What's not to like about a dairy-free take on carbonara that creates a luscious sauce from egg yolk, eggs, Parmesan, and that magical ingredient, pasta water? This lighter take on a pasta classic is on the table in just 30 minutes.

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Test Kitchen's Favorite Mac and Cheese

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (7)

You can stop searching: You've finally found the ultimate macaroni and cheese recipe. A simple cream sauce blends with three kinds of cheese—sharp cheddar, Parmesan, and American cheese for unparalleled creaminess.

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Ravioli with Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Capers

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (8)

Upgrade store-bought cheese ravioli with this tasty combination of roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes, capers, and shallots which make a luscious sauce for this easy vegetarian pasta dinner.

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Pasta with Salmon, Broccoli Rabe, and Garlic

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (9)

Penne is dressed to impress with canned salmon, broccoli rabe, a good dose of garlic, and plenty of Pecorino Romano in this boldly flavored weeknight dinner.

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Sausage-and-Peppers Pasta with Almond Frico

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (10)

Orechiette is one of our test kitchen's favorite pastas because the little "ears" hold sauce so well. In this 35-minute minute pasta dinner, the orecchiette holds crumbled Italian sausage and chopped jarred roasted peppers with a crunchy Parmesan-almond frico and a healthy side order of arugula.

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One-Pot Pasta with Broccoli and Lemon

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (11)

Super simple, this penne dish is also a real crowd-pleaser: tender steamed broccoli florets are brightened with lemon, garlic, and plenty of Parmesan. Mix things up by adding a little shredded roast chicken or crisped bacon if you like.

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Thai-Curry Shrimp Linguine

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (12)

For this easy and different shrimp linguine we use Thai green curry paste and light coconut milk to create a creamy but dairy-free sauce that's finished with lime juice and cilantro.

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Herbed Spaghetti with Tomatoes and White Beans

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (13)

Perfect for Meatless Monday—or any day at all—this quick and easy vegetarian spaghetti dish will become one of your go-to dinners.

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Bacon Pasta with Cheese Sauce and Thyme

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (14)

How can you possibly improve cheesy pasta? With bacon, of course.

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Creamy Lemon Pasta with Pistachios

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (15)

The rich crunch of pistachios and butter-crisped breadcrumbs stands in for bacon in this vegetarian twist on spaghetti carbonara.

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Bucatini with Cauliflower, Capers, and Lemon

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (16)

This boldly flavored one-pot pasta dinner starts on the stove top and finishes under the broiler to achieve a toasty topping.

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Greek-Chicken One-Pan Pasta

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (17)

A heartier, fusilli-based riff on the classic Greek soup avgolemono, this easy one-pan chicken pasta dish gets its bright, fresh flavors from lemon and dill.

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Pasta with Cilantro-Almond Pesto

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (18)

Perk up your pesto game by switching up the herbs and nuts you use! Cilantro and almonds are a perfect pair, especially when tossed with pasta, sweet roasted carrots, and salty feta.

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Pasta with No-Cook Puttanesca Sauce

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (19)

This quick, fresh take on traditional pasta puttanesca is based on fresh, juicy tomatoes that marinate in olive oil with capers, garlic, and green olives.

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Pasta with Preserved Lemon and Anchovies

Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (20)

Almost as good as a direct flight to the Mediterranean, this quick pasta dinner is painted in bold strokes of anchovy, preserved lemon, garlic, parsley, and Parmesan.

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Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to pasta for dinner? ›

Pasta dish ideas including Lemon, Basil and Mascarpone, Quick Chicken Alfredo, White Wine, Mushroom and Cream, White Bean Sauce, Bacon and Scallions, Tuna and Capers, Lemon Artichoke Pesto, Smoked Salmon And Capers, and Caprese.

Can pasta be a healthy dinner? ›

It's Part of a Good Diet

Pasta is made from grain, one of the basic food groups in a healthy diet that also can include vegetables, fruits, fish, and poultry. It's a good source of energy and can give you fiber, too, if it's made from whole grain.

How to jazz up boring pasta? ›

Fresh or dried herbs will also add flavor to pasta dishes.

"Oregano, garlic powder, onion flakes, black pepper all work well in a variety of sauces."

What is the most delicious pasta in the world? ›

Check out the top-ten pasta dishes in the world:
  • Pappardelle al cinghiale- Tuscany, Italy.
  • Pasta carbonara- Rome, Italy.
  • Tagliatelle al ragù alla Bolognese- Bologna, Italy.
  • Lasagne alla Bolognese- Bologna Italy.
  • Linguine allo scoglio- Campania, Italy.
  • Pasta all gricia- Grisciano, Italy.
  • Giouvetsi- Greece.
Aug 29, 2023

What are the 4 main pasta dishes? ›

There are four classic Roman pasta dishes: carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and alla Gricia. Each uses slightly different techniques and ingredients and has its own place in the canon of Italian food. Here is a brief breakdown of these iconic Italian pasta dishes. 1.

Can I eat pasta for dinner everyday? ›

It is possible to eat pasta daily and still be healthy. The key to eating pasta every day is to limit your portion size and supplement your pasta bowl with essential nutrients. The recommended portion size is two ounces of dry pasta or one cup of cooked pasta.

Can I have pasta for dinner every night? ›

There's absolutely nothing wrong with eating pasta every day. My concerns would be that it's a quality product, that you have no sensitivity to any of its ingredients and that you eat it in moderation. Don't forget portion control in keeping your BMI within a healthy range. Otherwise, enjoy!

What to put on pasta when you have no sauce? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

What is the healthiest pasta to eat? ›

6 Healthy Noodles You Should Be Eating, According to a Dietitian
  • Whole-Wheat Pasta.
  • Chickpea Pasta.
  • Veggie Noodles.
  • Red Lentil Pasta.
  • Soba Noodles.
  • White Pasta.
Jul 13, 2023

Is pasta healthier than rice? ›

For lower calorie and carbohydrate content, rice comes out top. But if protein and fibre is your aim, pasta wins over rice. That said, both can play a part in a healthy diet - and as the nutritional differences are quite small, it often comes down to which you would prefer.

Can you eat pasta when trying to lose weight? ›

Dietitians and other health care professionals should consider pasta as a low-glycemic carbohydrate option within the context of a healthy diet or a weight loss/weight maintenance diet.

How to dress up a simple pasta? ›

Warm a few garlic slices and cherry tomatoes in a bit of olive oil, and stir until the tomatoes burst. Add canned tuna (packed in oil) and stir to break up the tuna chunks. Add cooked penne pasta, chopped olives, and a handful of basil leaves. So flavorful!

How to make pasta for idiots? ›

Pasta Cooking for Dummies
  1. #1 Salted water. 10:100:1000. ...
  2. #2 Boiling water. Add the pasta to the water once it's boiling, not before. ...
  3. #3 No oil, never rinse. Please, just no. ...
  4. #4 Test for doneness. The sauce shall always wait for the pasta, never the other way round. ...
  5. #5 Reserve cooking water.
Sep 8, 2020

How do you pimp up pasta? ›

13 Ways to Make Any Jarred Pasta Sauce Better
  1. Start with the right pasta and sauce. ...
  2. Season with dried herbs. ...
  3. Or flavor with fresh herb sprigs. ...
  4. Double up on tomato goodness. ...
  5. Add more garlic and/or onions. ...
  6. Sweeten and thicken with squash purée. ...
  7. Punch things up with a pinch of chili flakes. ...
  8. Try this secret ingredient.
Dec 9, 2022

What is Italy's number 1 pasta? ›

Barilla Pasta is Italy's largest dry pasta brand and dominates the European and American markets. With a long-standing reputation as one of the best Italian pasta brands in the United States, Barilla's products are made with high-protein durum wheat flour, ensuring top quality.

What pasta do Italians use the most? ›

Penne. Italy's most popular pasta is penne. This quill-shaped pasta is unusual in that it has a very precise origin. It was born in 1865, with a new device patented by Giovanni Battista Capurro in the small town of San Martino d'Albero, near Genoa.

What is Italy most famous pasta dish? ›

Along with carbonara and cacio e pepe in Rome, Spaghetti alla puttanesca is one of the most famous pasta dishes of Italy, and certainly one of the most famous foods in Naples and Campania.

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