5 Easy Pasta Recipes

I recommend any of the following when you're short of time and looking for easy weeknight meals. These 30-minute dinners shouldn't take you long to prepare whether you're an experienced cook or just a beginner.

I would recommend learning these one-pan dinners before moving to more complex dishes.

•  Garlic Butter Spaghetti

Ingredients: Spaghetti, garlic, butter, olive oil, parsley

Steps: Cook spaghetti until al dente - sauté minced garlic in butter + olive oil until golden - toss drained pasta - garnish with parsley

Tip: Use low heat when cooking garlic to avoid burning

• Creamy Mushroom Penne

Ingredients: Penne, mushrooms, garlic, cream, Parmesan

Steps: Sauté sliced mushrooms + garlic in butter oil - add cream, simmer until slightly thick - stir in cooked penne - sprinkle Parmesan

Tip: For maximum flavor, let mushrooms brown without stirring too often - they need contact with the pan 

• Tomato Basil Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, fresh basil

Steps: cook pasta - burst cherry tomatoes in olive oil with garlic - toss with pasta - top with torn basil leaves

Tip: Smash some tomatoes in the pan with a spoon to create a quick, rustic sauce

• One-Pot Mac & Cheese

Ingredients: Elbow pasta, milk, shredded cheddar, butter, salt

Steps: Simmer pasta in milk until tender - stir in butter + cheese until creamy and smooth

Tip: Use freshly grated cheese. It melts better than pre-shredded cheese, which often contains anti-caking agents.

• Spicy Aglio e Olio

Ingredients: Spaghetti, garlic, chili flakes, olive oil, parsley

Steps: Sauté garlic and chili flakes in olive oil - toss in cooked spaghetti - finish with fresh parsley

Tip: Add a splash of pasta cooking water when tossing. It helps coat the noodles and emulsifies the oil. 

Related recipes: Top 5 One-Pot Meals