17 Easy Pasta Recipes

If pasta is on your mind, this list is for you. These easy pasta recipes are the kind you’ll actually make – simple, cozy, and packed with flavor. From quick weeknight dinners to a few comfort-food favorites, there’s something here for every craving.

You’ll find a little bit of everything here: quick weeknight pastas, one-pan meals, baked dishes, and a few comfort food classics. I hope you find some to try!

1

Pasta with Steak and Spinach

This is a favorite summer pasta dish and an easy 30-minute recipe. Tender steak is tossed with spinach, penne pasta, and a tangy Dijon mustard and balsamic dressing. Serve it warm, at room temperature, or cold for an easy pasta dinner.

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2

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

This mushroom pasta has simple ingredients and is easy to make. Meaty mushrooms coated in a creamy Parmesan cheese sauce are a delicious flavor combo. If you love mushrooms, you have to try it.

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3

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

Garlic shrimp pasta is an easy recipe, but it feels fancy-ish – think shrimp scampi meets pasta. It’s great for a special occasion but quick enough for weeknight dinners.

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4

Creamy Artichoke Spinach Pasta

This super simple, 30 minute spinach artichoke pasta is like the classic spinach artichoke dip but served as a creamy pasta dinner instead. It’s made with marinated artichokes, spinach, cream cheese, and a few other pantry ingredients.

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5

Cheesy Baked Ziti

This ziti recipe is one of my all-time favorite baked pastas. It's everything a baked pasta should be – bubbly, cheesy, cozy, and packed with layers of flavor.

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6

4 Ingredient Smoked Gruyere Mac and Cheese

This one pot smoked gruyere macaroni and cheese turns four simple ingredients into something unforgettable. No roux, no fuss, and just creamy comfort in every bite.

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7

One Pan Baked Tortellini

This is an easy pot pan pasta recipe! Baked tortellini has a simple meat sauce, tender cheese tortellini, and fresh spinach. It all bakes in the oven for an easy dinner.

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8

Gruyere Spaghetti

Gruyere pasta has a creamy cheese sauce with spinach, and is a decadent (and easy!) pasta recipe for two. It’s perfect for those nights when you want to satisfy a pasta craving.

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9

Fresh Tomato Pasta

You only need 6 ingredients to make this tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes. Serve it with spaghetti or your favorite pasta for an easy dinner full of fresh flavors.

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10

Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine with Alfredo sauce is an easy pasta recipe made with simple ingredients. Those simple ingredients – butter, Parmesan, cream, and cheese – combine to make a rich, decadent, and creamy sauce that coats the pasta like velvet. You’ll want to savor every bite.

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11

Mediterranean Pasta

This pasta recipe is so easy – you just need to open some jars, boil some pasta, and stir it all together. It only takes 15 minutes!

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12

Baked Penne with Meatballs

This baked penne is a great one-pan baked pasta. Everything, including the pasta, cooks in one baking pan. No precooking is required, and there is minimal prep time.

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13

Balsamic Mushroom Pasta

This balsamic mushroom pasta is an easy recipe that looks more complicated than it really is. The mushrooms cook in tangy balsamic vinegar, and a little cream is added at the end to add richness.

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14

Pasta with Olive Oil and Garlic

This easy pasta recipe is one of my all-time favorites. A few simple ingredients like spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, and Parmesan are all you need!

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15

One Pan Ravioli with Sausage

This one pan pasta recipe builds on a few of my favorite short-cut ingredients, but the result is greater than the sum of it’s parts; it tastes like it simmered for hours. So If you’re craving some hearty pasta, it’s an all-around winner.

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16

Lemon Basil Mascarpone Fettuccine

This creamy lemon pasta only takes about 20 minutes to make. It's rich and decadent – the perfect cozy pasta for two.

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17

Orzo Pasta with Zucchini and Chickpeas

This is a quick 20-minute recipe! It’s made with orzo pasta, chickpeas, fresh zucchini, and a light sauce. It’s perfect for those nights when you want something fast and easy.

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More Recipe Collections

• Meatless Dinner Recipes
• Recipes with Boneless Chicken Breasts
• Sheet Pan Dinner Ideas
• Dinner Recipes with Steak

Happy cooking,

This pasta recipe round-up post was updated from the archives. It was first published in September 2017.