Welcome to our collection of easy pasta recipes perfect for busy schedules.
These 45 dishes transform simple ingredients into satisfying meals, ready in minutes.
Whether you are craving a hearty one–pot meal or a fresh pasta salad, you’ll find flavorful options that make weeknight cooking effortless.
Browse through this list and take your pick: from one-pot meals to high protein vegetarian dinners with family-friendly flavors.
Best of all, they’re made with wholesome and easy–to–find ingredients, making them perfect for weeknight dinners when you are in a hurry.
Pasta in 20 minutes
With its wide array of shapes, sizes, and textures, these 20–minute pastas can be dressed up or down in countless ways to suit your time constraints.
1. Pasta all’ assassina
We start this list with an easy and spicy pasta recipe from the South of Italy; assassin’s pasta.
It’s a one-pot meal with a rich tomato sauce, slightly burnt spaghetti, and burrata cheese.
2. Pasta aglio e olio
One of the quickest pasta dishes with few ingredients is spaghetti Aglio e olio.
The aroma of the garlic-infused flavor of this 15-minute pasta dish will transport you straight to Italy.
3. Pasta Pomodoro
Ready in 20 minutes, this tomato-rich Pasta al Pomodoro is simple but super satisfying.
Serve your pasta mozzarella balls, and spinach leaves for a complete meal (not authentic, but still delicious).
4. Penne all’arrabbiata
Zesty, quick, and creamy, this pasta arrabbiata (angry pasta) is easy to make and delicious.
It’s a family–friendly and moderately spicy dinner idea ready in just 20 minutes.
5. Broccoli pasta
Do you want to add more greens to your pasta while achieving a creamy pasta sauce?
Try this 20-minute broccoli pasta with mashed broccoli sauce and orecchiette pasta; it’s creamy and fun and will please your entire family.
6. Lemon ricotta pasta with spinach
Try this no–cook sauce with ricotta and parmesan, which takes about 20 minutes to make.
This lemon ricotta pasta is super quick and creamy. It’s mixed with cooked rigatoni and spinach and can easily be adapted for vegetarians and vegans.
7. Mushroom Alfredo
Here’s a lighter Alfredo sauce with sauteed mushrooms, a no-fuss weekday dinner idea.
Serve with a quick tomato salad for a colorful and complete meal.
8. Vegan mushroom pasta
Here’s a mushroom pasta with authentic Italian flavor and plenty of bite and chewiness: vegan mushroom pasta.
You can eat it on its own or serve it with a fennel salad for a restaurant–like meal packed with flavor and greens.
9. Roasted red pepper pasta
Mix the red pepper sauce in 20 minutes with al dente paccheri or rigatoni pasta.
Upgrade this pasta with roasted cauliflower for added greens and crispiness; it’s a wholesome and satiating dinner idea.
10. Spaghetti Puttanesca
Pasta Puttanesca is a Neapolitan pasta dish with olives, capers, and canned tomatoes that you can make in 20 minutes.
Despite its simple ingredients, it’s rich, tangy, and incredibly satisfying.
11. Cherry tomato pasta
This cherry tomato pasta is quick to make and best when cherry tomatoes are in season.
With the addition of burrata cheese and good-quality pasta, this dish will quickly become one of your favorite pasta recipes.
12. Peanut noodles
Our peanut noodles are a quick dish with the creamiest, no-cook peanut sauce and a satisfying chewy texture from linguine pasta.
You can make this pasta recipe in less than 30 minutes and serve it hot or cold.
13. Sesame noodles
With this quick pasta recipe, you will enjoy al dente noodles (we use Italian linguine) with creamy, salty, and slightly sweet sesame-peanut sauce.
App a squeeze of fresh lime juice to make this meal fresh and tangy with an Asian spin.
Easy pasta recipes in 30 minutes
14. Rigatoni arrabbiata
Try this arrabbiata sauce with al dente rigatoni pasta.
This light dinner idea takes 25 minutes to make and adds a creamy and irresistible flavor to any pasta type.
15. Kabocha squash pasta
Easy kabocha squash pasta is a fall and winter–friendly pasta with a creamy–dreamy sauce.
Mix the roasted kabocha squash with ricotta and parmesan for a quick Italian–inspired pasta sauce that everyone will love.
16. Pasta alla Norma
Roasted eggplant, creamy tomato sauce, and fresh basil is a winning combination in this eggplant pasta (pasta alla Norma).
This is a must-try pasta if you love eggplant parmigiana or Sicilian caponata.
17. Pesto pasta
Mix this creamy, nutty, refreshing pesto pasta with al dente pasta, green beans, and optionally boiled potatoes.
This recipe is inspired by the pasta traditions of Liguria, Italy, and it is excellent when served with fresh basil.
18. Cauliflower Alfredo pasta
Creamy Alfredo sauce, but lighter and healthier: Here’s a cauliflower alfredo pasta with loads of creaminess and flavor.
It takes 25 minutes to make and pairs well with your favorite protein.
19. Cauliflower pasta
If you love cauliflower and pasta, you’ll love this garlic and lemon-infused cauliflower pasta.
Add parmesan cheese and roasted pine nuts for added flavor, and serve with your favorite vegetable side dish to complete your meal.
20. Mushroom bolognese
A quick and veggie–packed pasta idea with plenty of taste and an Italian feel: mushroom ragu.
We quick-blend mushrooms for texture; it’s an easy way to make a meat–free yet super tasty pasta dinner.
21. Butternut squash pasta
This endlessly creamy butternut squash pasta is a must-try.
Roasted and caramelized butternut squash is blended with ricotta, parmesan, and Italian herbs, creating a restaurant–worthy and quick pasta dish for the whole family.
22. Hummus pasta
Creamy hummus, tasty sauteed mushrooms, and al dente rigatoni make a quick, wholesome, nutritious hummus pasta for a fantastic weeknight dinner.
This delicious, easy meal is ready in less than 30 minutes. You can make it with homemade hummus or your favorite store-bought hummus.
Italian pasta recipes
23. Pasta e fagioli
Pasta a fagioli is a soup and main dish and an easy and comforting meal with few ingredients.
This dish’s rich and rustic flavors will please everyone around your table, kids and adults alike.
24. Lentil pasta
This lentil pasta recipe with cherry tomatoes will take you to the Italian countryside.
Simple ingredients and brown lentils paired with fresh Italian herbs result in a comforting and decadent pasta dish.
25. Pasta e ceci
You’ll love this wholesome pasta e ceci (pasta with chickpeas) because it’s easy to make in one pot and ready in 30 minutes.
It’s made with simple and affordable pantry staples, and you’ll feel amazing after eating this nourishing, legume-rich dish.
26. Lentil bolognese
This lentil bolognese recipe is inspired by bolognese sauce and perfectly matches pasta, gnocchi, or lasagna.
Make it for dinner, and freeze the leftovers for a meal-prep-friendly and easy pasta sauce for the weekdays.
27. Kale pesto pasta
Here is a perfect pasta for when you’re short on time; you can make the kale pesto sauce in 20 minutes.
The pesto keeps well for up to a week in the fridge and several months in the freezer, so it’s fantastic for last–minute meals.
28. Artichoke pasta
Here is an easy creamy artichoke sauce with ricotta and parmesan cheese that does not require cooking and is ready in 25 minutes.
This pasta recipe uses canned artichoke hearts, allowing us to assemble the dish in about 15 to 20 minutes.
29. Minestrone
Minestrone is a beloved Italian soup studded with ditalini pasta and seasonal vegetables and has been warming family tables for generations.
This endlessly adaptable one–pot meal transforms humble ingredients such as beans, pasta, and whatever vegetables are on hand into a rich, comforting bowl.
30. Vegetarian carbonara
This is a vegetarian carbonara recipe with tofu or tempeh bacon. It is simple and can be made in 20 minutes.
Our carbonara sauce has an eggy, tangy flavor similar to an Italian carbonara recipe.
31. Lemon pasta
This lemon pasta is quick and easy to make with straightforward ingredients.
Have a bite, and you’ll be transported to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, where lemons and pasta are staple ingredients.
32. Marinara sauce with spaghetti
This quick and no-fuss marinara sauce recipe is an easy way to give your meals a fresh kick.
You can use it as a pasta sauce, pizza topping, on top of veggies, or as a delicious and versatile dip.
33. Chestnut pasta with mushrooms
This chestnut pasta is cozy, creamy, cheesy, and earthy with sauteed mushrooms and blended chestnut pesto.
It’s made with simple ingredients and is a restaurant-worthy dish perfect for weekends and Sunday dinners.
34. Asparagus pasta
Try bowtie pasta in a velvety combination with asparagus.
This creamy, scrumptious, and easy asparagus pasta is an excellent dinner idea for the whole family. It is packed with taste and spring vibes.
35. Paccheri pasta
Here is how to cook paccheri in a quick, tasty, and fulfilling cherry tomato sauce enriched with chickpeas for extra protein.
Paccheri are shaped like oversized rigatoni and keep an irresistible al dente texture unrivaled by most other dry pasta shapes.
36. Fregola pasta
Fregola sarda or frègula is a small pearl-shaped pasta similar to pearl couscous.
It has a satisfying al-dente bite and chewy texture that pairs well with vegetables and feta.
37. Tortellini soup
The soup recipe is easy to make in one pot, and you can customize it with your favorite vegetables, herbs, and stuffed pasta.
38. Tomato pasta
You’ll love the comforting Italian flavors of this tomato pesto pasta.
The sauce is creamy, and the ricotta and tomatoes make a light but satiating Italian meal.
39. Casarecce pasta
You can make this casarecce recipe in less than 30 minutes, top it with feta, ricotta, and have it as a delicious lunch or dinner.
40. Cannelloni
Cannelloni (Manicotti) is a comforting, simple, and elegant Italian recipe everyone loves.
They are tender pasta tubes filled with a perfect blend of ricotta and spinach, covered with marinara sauce, and topped with melty mozzarella cheese.
41. Pastina
Pastina (penicillin soup) is a one–pot meal with tiny pasta in a creamy tomato broth.
My Italian Nonna used to make pastina at least once a week for an easy and healthful dinner.
42. Lasagna soup
This vegetarian lasagna soup is a satiating and protein–rich pasta recipe.
Make it in about 45 minutes, and enjoy brown lentils, lasagna noodles, and rich tomato sauce; all in one soup.
Easy pasta salad recipes
With these easy pasta salad ideas, making pasta for lunch is no problem. They’re ideal for lunchbox meals and bringing to the office.
43. Vegan pasta salad
Need ideas for a quick and healthy lunch? This vegan pasta salad is the ideal lunchtime meal because it’s fast to prepare and delicious.
A sweet and tangy mustard vinaigrette makes this salad a real crowd-pleaser.
44. Chickpea pasta salad
This chickpea pasta salad is ready in 20 minutes and is a happy and colorful lunch and dinner idea.
Make it with your favorite veggies, a short pasta type, and canned chickpeas – a wholesome and satiating meal.
45. Macaroni salad
Next on our list is a delicious summer salad with a cooling crunch and luscious creaminess.
You can make this creamy macaroni salad ahead and serve it as a main or side dish for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues.
46. Spaghetti salad
This spaghetti salad is a crowd-pleaser. It combines chewy spaghetti, crunchy veggies, fresh herbs, and a tasty Italian dressing.
It’s excellent for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues but also perfect for meal prep, bringing to work, and family dinners.
47. Orzo salad
Next on our list is a light and bright orzo pasta salad.
It’s a quick and easy solution for a tasty, satisfying, healthy meal. You can make it with fresh vegetables, chickpeas, and a zesty mustard dressing.
48. Creamy pasta salad
This creamy pasta salad recipe is excellent for potlucks, barbeques, summer cookouts, and picnics.
It’s versatile, and you can serve it as a starter, side dish, or light and refreshing main.
49. Pesto pasta salad
Pesto pasta salad is a quick and delicious meal with your favorite basil pesto.
It’s packed with fresh flavors and excellent for potlucks or a delightful dinner with your family.
Easy pasta sauce recipes
For a quick weeknight pasta, toss hot noodles with any of these sauces and toppings:
For many more pasta ideas, check out our pasta category page.
45 Easy Pasta Recipes: Lemon Spinach Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rigatoni or other pasta
- 10 ounces spinach
- 1½ cups ricotta or dairy-free ricotta
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup parmesan cheese grated, or dairy-free cheese
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest or more to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
COOK PASTA AND SPINACH
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add the salt. Wait for the water to boil again, and add the pasta.Stir, then halfway through, add the fresh spinach.Cook the pasta al dente, as per package instructions. While the pasta cooks, make the sauce.
MAKE THE LEMON RICOTTA SAUCE
- To a large mixing bowl, add ricotta, grated parmesan, olive oil, grated lemon zest, grated nutmeg, salt, and black pepper.Tip: Only zest the yellow peel of the lemon, the white pith can be bitter.
- Whisk well until the sauce is smooth and the ingredients well combined.
TOSS THE PASTA
- Once the pasta is al dente, reserve one cup of the starchy pasta water, drain the pasta, and add it to the bowl with the creamy ricotta mixture.Toss well until the pasta is thoroughly coated. If the sauce is too thick, add some pasta water to make it creamier.Serve immediately with a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and some more grated lemon zest.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Hi! We are Nico & Louise
Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with vegetarian and vegan recipes.