20+ Easy Pasta Recipes

If you love pasta, you will love this recipe round-up! Take a browse through 20+ easy pasta recipes and find some new favorites to try.

photo collage with easy pasta recipes.

There’s a little bit of everything in this pasta recipe round-up. Plenty of cheesy options, ones with chicken and some with shrimp, and all kinds of recipes that use different pasta shapes.

Get Delicious Emails Every Week!

overhead photo of a pan of pasta

Creamy Garlic Pasta

This creamy garlic pasta is a quick 20ish-minute dinner that’s rich and decadent. Add a salad or veg on the side to dress it up or enjoy it straight from the pan. Either way works!

cajun shrimp pasta

Cajun Shrimp Pasta

This Cajun shrimp pasta is a quick 20-minute dinner and perfect for busy weeknights. 

overhead photo of orzo zucchini dish

Zucchini Orzo with Chickpeas

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

photo of the pasta in a black skillet

Dinner for One: Easy Pasta with Olive Oil & Garlic

This olive oil and garlic pasta (or aglio e olio as it’s known in Italy) is my go-to dinner when I’m on my own. All it takes is a few simple ingredients and about 15 minutes to pull it together! This recipe serves one, but you can easily scale it up if you want a few more servings.

a bowl of creamy mushroom pasta.

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

This rich and creamy mushroom pasta takes about 30 minutes to make – it’s easy enough for weeknight dinners but totally “guest-worthy,” too! 

close-up photo of a pan of beef penne

30 Minute One Pan Beef Penne

This is a hearty beef and pasta dinner that is ready in about 30 minutes and uses just one pan for easy clean-up!

Creamy Gruyere Spaghetti with breadcrumbs and spinach

Creamy Gruyere Spaghetti for Two

This easy spaghetti recipe with a creamy gruyere sauce is the perfect comfort food dinner for two.

fresh tomato sauce with spaghetti.

Fresh Tomato Sauce

When tomatoes are in season this simple tomato sauce will put them to good use. It’s cooked just long enough to develop a richness without losing that summer-fresh flavor of the tomatoes.

photo of a skillet of shrimp penne with vodka sauce

Shrimp Penne with Vodka Sauce

This shrimp penne with vodka sauce is an easy-to-make dinner for two. 

baked penne.

Baked Penne with Meatballs

This baked penne is so easy! Everything, including the pasta, cooks in one pan for the easiest baked pasta. Combine everything in the pan, pop it in the oven, and not long after, you have the best comfort food dinner that’s cozy, hearty, and satisfying.

close-up shot of the final dish.

15-Minute Mediterranean Pasta

It doesn’t get any easier than this Mediterranean-inspired pasta. With just a few simple pantry ingredients, a couple of fresh ingredients, and 15 minutes this easy dinner is ready to serve.

close-up shot of the final dish in a skillet.

Bucatini all’Amatriciana

This is a quick and easy pasta dish for two with simple ingredients and a little kick of heat from some crushed red pepper flakes. Bring the pasta water to a boil while you prep the ingredients for the sauce and, once you add the pasta to cook, the sauce comes together by the time the pasta is tender.

overhead shot of the pasta dish.

Baked Feta Pasta

Baked feta pasta is a quick pasta recipe with a few simple ingredients. Feta cheese and tomatoes bake in the oven and then are mixed to create a pasta sauce. Add cooked pasta and herbs, and you get an easy dinner that is full of fresh flavors.

pesto pasta

Creamy Pesto Sauce

You only need a handful of simple ingredients for this creamy pesto sauce, and it’s ready in about 20 minutes. It’s perfect for a quick dinner when you’re craving pasta.

photo of a bowl of pasta

Truffle Mushroom Pasta

This truffle mushroom pasta looks and sounds fancy but it’s an easy pasta dish that takes about 30 minutes to make. The pasta is coated in a creamy truffle cheese sauce and tossed with meaty mushrooms. It feels fancy but is so low maintence to make.

garlic butter shrimp pasta.

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta – Quick & Easy!

This garlic butter shrimp pasta feels fancy-ish but is so easy to make. It’s a great special occasion meal but easy enough for a weeknight dinner, too.

a bowl of parsley pesto spaghetti.

Spinach Parsley Pesto

This Parsley Pesto is a quick and easy sauce that is full of fresh flavors. Spinach adds a healthy kick, and pine nuts and Asiago cheese add delicious flavor and texture. Toss it with hot pasta for an easy meal, or use it as a spread for sandwiches, toast, or bagels. It’s also delicious with grilled meat or as a sauce for vegetables.

baked tortellini

One-Pan Baked Tortellini

This baked tortellini makes good use of simple pantry ingredients and serves four with bread or a salad on the side.

15-Minute Tomato Pasta

This no-cook tomato sauce takes just minutes to make. Almonds give it a creamy texture (with no cream added!) and the tomatoes, herbs, and cheese is a delicious combination. In the time it takes to cook the pasta the sauce is ready to go.

a plate of steak pasta.

Pasta with Steak and Spinach

This steak pasta with spinach is an easy dinner recipe that can be served warm, at room temperature or cold. Tender steak tossed with a mustard and balsamic dressing is a delicious dinner full of flavor.

the finished pasta on a plate with a fork.

Spaghetti Carbonara

You only need a few simple ingredients to make the best spaghetti carbonara. Plus, it’s ready in less than 30 minutes! When you’re craving pasta, this is a wonderfully comforting recipe to make.

Balsamic Mushroom Pasta | girlgonegourmet.com

Balsamic Mushroom Pasta

Mushrooms in a creamy balsamic sauce tossed with fettuccine pasta. It’s easy to make and so delicious!

a pan of stuffed shells.

Easy Stuffed Shells

Jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with three different kinds of cheese, baked in marinara sauce, and topped with even more melty mozzarella. It’s a classic comfort food dinner that’s easy to make.

Fettuccine Alfred | girlgonegourmet.com

Fettuccine Alfredo

Ribbons of tender pasta coated in a simple cheese sauce. This fettuccine Alfredo takes just 15 minutes from start to finish.

Ravioli with Asparagus and Mushrooms | girlgonegourmet.com

Ravioli with Asparagus and Mushrooms

Cheese ravioli, asparagus, and mushrooms tossed together in a lightly buttery lemon sauce. Thanks to store-bought ravioli, It takes only 20 minutes to make, which is perfect for those busy weeknights.

close-up shot of a bowl of lemon ricotta pasta.

Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Lemon Ricotta Pasta is a quick 20-minute pasta recipe! Creamy ricotta combined with Parmesan, herbs, and lemon makes a really delicious sauce.

I hope you’ve found some new delicious recipes to try!

Happy Cooking,

April

Post updated from the archives. First published in September 2017.

9 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.