57 Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes
These easy pasta recipes are the secret to a comforting, restaurant-worthy dinner without any fuss. Sure, there are days when you want a project, when you want to follow an elaborate recipe, adding an array of spices and deglazing the pan over and over. It can be calming, even meditative, to cook that way. But sometimes you need something simple, something fast. Something really, really good. A dinner that requires five ingredients (or less!). These 57 pasta recipes will be your guide.
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh1/57Bucatini With Lemony Carbonara
Is there anything more impressive than a well-executed carbonara? Well, yes! This easy pasta recipe, which is balanced with lemon zest and lemon juice for a brightness you didn't know the classic pasta needed.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson2/57
Pasta Carbonara With Cabbage and Mushrooms
In this dish, you’ll sauté mushrooms and bacon until they become crispy. You’ll use bacon fat to sear the cabbage before tossing in an egg, Parmesan, and pasta.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi3/57
Cacio e Pepe
This classic pasta only has a few ingredients, but they merge into a surprisingly silky, flavor-packed sauce. Follow this easy pasta recipe and you'll get the kind of dish you'd expect at a white tablecloth restaurant.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Prop Styling by Emily Eisen, Food Styling by Molly Baz4/57
Orecchiette With Buttermilk, Peas, and Pistachios
Brightened with fragrant mint and fresh lemon juice, this easy weeknight pasta recipe is just the thing to pull out on a warm evening.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege5/57
Creamy One-Pot Pasta With Sausage and Squash
In this one-pot meal, pasta simmers in a luxurious sauce of Italian sausage, butternut squash, sage, and cream until glossy.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell6/57
One-Pot Spring Pasta With Smoked Salmon
Sour cream and lemon zest combine for a sprightly sauce that complements smoked salmon in this 30-minute one-pot meal.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Mindy Fox7/57
Pasta With 15-Minute Garlic, Oil, and Anchovy Sauce
Our version of classic Italian agile e olio (garlic and oil) pasta is given extra flavor and crunch with toasted breadcrumbs.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson8/57
One-Pot Pasta Primavera With Shrimp
This lightning-fast version of the classic spring pasta calls for just the right amount of water that magically cooks down to create a silky sauce, no draining necessary.
- Photo by Alex Lau9/57
Ramen Noodles With Miso Pesto
Springy ramen noodles and a cilantro-miso sauce bring a welcome twist to a classic pesto recipe.
- Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott10/57
Anchovy Pasta With Garlic Breadcrumbs
Cook breadcrumbs—mixed with bright lemon zest and garlic—until toasted and crunchy and then try not to inhale them before garnishing this spicy anchovy pasta.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson11/57
Simple One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta
The chicken, sauce, and pasta for this dish all cook in the same pan. You can add broccoli, mushrooms, herbs, or a little chipotle at the same time that you stir in the Parmesan.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li12/57
Herby Pasta With Garlic and Green Olives
The recipe calls for parsley and basil, but consider this dish a canvas for whatever tender herbs you have kicking around: cilantro, dill, tarragon, sage, chives, fennel fronds. Mix and match at will.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food styling by Kate Buckens13/57
Pasta al Limone (Lemon Pasta)
This creamy lemon pasta recipe is luscious and amply cheesy, but still bright and fresh. Best part: You can make it for dinner in just 15 minutes.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson14/57
"Antipasto" Pasta with Sausage, Artichoke Hearts, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
This quick and easy pasta is made entirely from ingredients kept in the pantry, so you can make it whenever a carb craving strikes. Inspired by elements often seen on Italian antipasto platters, the pasta is tossed with dry-cured sausage, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes along with a simple tomato paste and olive oil sauce, and topped with toasted pine nuts and crisp peperoncini.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson15/57
Lemony Pasta With Cauliflower, Chickpeas, and Arugula
A vegetarian pasta recipe that's full of so much fresh arugula, it almost feels like eating a salad. In a good way.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson16/57
Pantry Pasta Puttanesca
Keep these ingredients stocked in your pantry, and a briny, flavor-packed, super-easy pasta will always be a dinner option. Looking for other ways to turn pantry items into pasta dinners? Here's our complete guide.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou17/57
Kale Pesto With Whole Wheat Pasta
When your mind is stuck on pasta, but your soul is calling out for vegetables, turn to a rich, luxurious sauce that’s made of leafy greens. This recipe calls for pistachios, but you can use any nuts you have on hand.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig18/57
Rigatoni With Easy Vodka Sauce
Lucky for you, you probably have most of the ingredients for this luscious tomato-packed sauce in your kitchen right now.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell19/57
Pasta With Sausage and Arugula
Arugula adds a fresh, peppery bite to this simple sausage and roasted vegetable pasta.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich20/57
Perfect Pesto Pasta
Use an olive oil that’s good enough for sipping—there’s a lot of it in this easy pasta recipe. Make the pesto a day in advance if you want to make your weeknight cooking a breeze.
- Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich21/57
Pantry Pasta with Garlic, Anchovies, and Parmesan
Combine a few pantry staples to make this simple but luxurious anytime pasta.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li22/57
Corn Cacio e Pepe
Turn the iconic cacio e pepe pasta into something a little more kid-friendly by tossing in fresh corn to add a pop of sweetness to every cheesy, peppery bite.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Aneta Florczyk, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou23/57
Spaghetti with No-Cook Puttanesca
This recipe packs in all the punches puttanesca is known for—salty! briny! olive-y!—without the need to cook a sauce. Two types of tomatoes are involved: beefsteaks get blended until smooth, and then tossed with cherry tomato halves.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce24/57
Raw Tomato Sauce
Once tomatoes are good, you just mess them up if you cook them. Here's an easy pasta sauce that does the right thing.
- Photo by Dylan James Ho and Jeni Afuso25/57
Speedy Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
Thanks to a little help from a package of frozen ravioli, you can pull a skillet of toasty, bubbly lasagna from the oven in a little more than half an hour.
- Chelsie Craig26/57
Brothy Pasta With Chickpeas
We're guessing you have some chickpeas in your pantry right now. Here's how to use them well.
- Chelsie Craig27/57
White Pesto Pasta
This pesto variation is built on a combination of toasted nuts, creamy ricotta, salty Parm, and a little kick of raw garlic. You don’t need a food processor or a blender to make it; everything comes together in a single bowl.
- Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich28/57
Rice Noodles al Pomodoro with Chili Oil
Bursting with jammy cherry tomatoes that make their own sauce, this rice noodle–and–chili oil riff on the classic Italian pasta takes just 20 minutes to throw together.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell29/57
Salad Pasta
Not pasta salad—it’s salad pasta. A whole salad’s worth of greens, folded into pasta to make a complete dinner in one bowl.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley30/57
My Mother's Butter, Tomato, and Onion Sauce
The classic, beloved Marcella Hazan pasta sauce is made with just four ingredients and couldn't be easier.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova31/57
Pasta With 10-Minute Pesto
Blanching fresh basil leaves before blending is the key to this vibrant, ultra-herby pesto. You'll want to have it around for easy pasta dinners, but you can also use it on homemade pizza or stir it into soup.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich32/57
Pasta With Brown Butter, Whole Lemon, and Parmesan
Using a sliced whole lemon gives you unbeatable fresh aroma from the skin, bitter complexity from the pith, and tart, puckery juice from the flesh. Thin slices soften evenly and ensure that the lemon plays nicely with the pasta, butter, and Parmesan.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege33/57
Grilled Ratatouille Pasta Salad
If you grill the vegetables a day or two ahead, this satisfying pasta dinner comes together in a snap.
- Photo by Alex Lau34/57
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio With Lots of Kale
You will think this pasta recipe calls for an absurd amount of kale, but it will shrink a ton when cooked.
- Marcus Nilsson35/57
Pasta alla Gricia
If you can't find guanciale to make this classic simple pasta recipe, you can substitute pancetta. You may want to undersalt the water a bit since you'll be adding plenty of salty pork and Pecorino.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell36/57
15-Minute Cherry Tomato Pasta
Juicy cherry tomatoes burst open in warm olive oil, creating a luxuriously silky sauce that comes together in minutes. Top with Parmesan if you've got it.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone37/57
Homemade Instant Mac and Cheese
Cheesier macaroni and cheese in minutes—no box required.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi38/57
Bucatini All'Amatriciana
It's hard not to love this classic Italian pasta—it's just the right mix of spicy and sweet.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova39/57
Macaroni & Cheese for a Crowd
Using evaporated milk makes this baked mac and cheese exceptionally rich and creamy—it may be for a crowd, but it's bound to go quickly. A dusting of paprika on top takes the ingredients up to six, but you can easily leave it off.
- Photo by Alexandra Shytsman40/57
Spaghetti Pie
Bake well-sauced pasta, plus plenty of cheese and a few eggs to hold things together, in a cake pan and the edges turn crunchy, crusty, chewy, and downright irresistible.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart41/57
Kale, Tomato, and Lemon Magic One-Pot Spaghetti
The sauce for this killer dish is magically made from the pasta water and tomatoes as the spaghetti cooks—all in one pan.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi42/57
Pasta With Delicata Squash and Sage-Brown Butter
Brown butter and sage create a rich, complex sauce in just a few short steps for this simple pasta.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks43/57
3-Ingredient Cacio e Pepe (Pasta With Cheese and Pepper)
This easy pasta recipe starts with Pecorino Romano and freshly ground pepper, plus olive oil and spaghetti. But the results will blow you away.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Molly Baz44/57
3-Ingredient Orecchiette With Sausage and Fennel
Be sure to add the sausage just before the last toss to maintain all those delicious crispy bits.
- photo by Tara Donne45/57
Pasta with Grilled Tomato and Scallion Sauce
Grilling the tomatoes before tossing them with the pasta makes them extra sweet and juicy.
- Photo by Hirsheimer & Hamilton46/57
Pasta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella
With a simple no-cook sauce, this pasta is just as great at room temperature as it is hot.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi47/57
Pasta with Spicy Sausage, Radicchio, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Bitter radicchio, spicy Italian sausage, and sweet sun-dried tomatoes make for a sophisticated pasta with very little effort.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi48/57
Pasta with Smoky Pumpkin Cream Sauce
Don't be fooled by the simple ingredient list: the combo of pumpkin purée and heavy cream turns into a luxurious pasta sauce with a rich smokiness thanks to Spanish smoked paprika.
- Photo by Danny Kim, food and prop styling by Ali Nardi49/57
Spaghetti with Crab and Tomatoes
If you can get good-quality lump crabmeat, this simple pasta is a great way to celebrate.
- Nicole Franzen50/57
Pasta with Anchovy Butter and Broccoli Rabe
Use the leftover anchovy butter in this recipe to sauté root vegetables or mash into potatoes.
- Peden + Munk51/57
Delicata Squash Carbonara
We like carbonara every which way. Here, fresh lemon zest keeps things bright, and squash adds sweetness and creamy texture.
- Photo by Alex Lau52/57
The Silkiest Carbonara
Why is this the creamiest carbonara you'll ever taste? We'd say it's the seven egg yolks in the sauce.
- Danny Kim53/57
Spaghetti with Parsley Pesto
Make a double batch of this easy pesto: it's equally great spread on sandwiches or dolloped over grilled vegetables.
- Christopher Testani54/57
Linguine with Burst Tomatoes and Chiles
A sprinkling of toasted breadcrumbs adds just a bit of crunch to this easy pasta recipe.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Molly Baz55/57
3-Ingredient Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
The key to balancing the richness of the cream and the sweetness of the pumpkin in this simple sauce is salty, starchy pasta water. Taste it to make sure you've seasoned it amply!
- Sharon Radisch56/57
Broccoli Rabe Pasta with Golden Garlic
The bitterness of broccoli rabe is tamed when cooked in salted boiling water along with the pasta.
- Photo by Danny Kim, food and prop styling by Ali Nardi57/57
Orecchiette with Corn, Basil, and Pine Nuts
For the best results, make this with sweet, fresh corn cut off the cob. It's one of our favorite easy pasta recipes for the summer months. Can you wait that long?
Joe Sevier
Katherine Sacks
Joe Sevier
The Editors of Epicurious