Pasta is possibly the world's most perfect comfort food. It's also possibly one of the world's greatest convenience foods. Pasta is quick to cook and can serve as the base of a million and one quick and easy dinners. Just add a bit of protein (leftover chicken, diced ham, a can of chickpeas, or olive oil-packed tuna), some vegetables (frozen ones work great here), and a little bit of sauce, and dinner is done.
Without further ado, let's get a pot of water boiling and whip up something delicious for dinner! These quick and easy pasta recipes are guaranteed to inspire many incredible meals.
Spaghetti With Spinach, Peas, and Herbed Ricotta
Here's a 30-minute vegetarian pasta dinner you'll want to make on the regular. It's packed with vegetables but tastes like comfort.
Penne With Garlicky Tomatoes and Salmon
While the penne cooks in its own pot, sauté juicy cherry tomatoes with garlic and then steam the salmon right in the same pan. The result is a fresh and flavorful seafood pasta dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes.
Brothy Orzo and Pork Meatballs
A one-pot meatball and pasta dinner in just 35 minutes? Sign us up! These easy pork meatballs come together fast; once you've formed them, they'll cook in chicken broth along with the orzo.
Baked Broccoli-and-Artichoke Shells
Any night can be a pasta bake dinner night with this cozy recipe! There's cheese sauce, bacon, and vegetables in this crowd-pleasing recipe. Best of all, it takes just 45 minutes to prepare.
Prosciutto Carbonara With Spinach
What's not to like about a dairy-free take on carbonara that creates a luscious sauce from egg yolk, eggs, Parmesan, and that magical ingredient, pasta water? This lighter take on a pasta classic is on the table in just 30 minutes.
Test Kitchen's Favorite Mac and Cheese
You can stop searching: You've finally found the ultimate macaroni and cheese recipe. A simple cream sauce blends with three kinds of cheese—sharp cheddar, Parmesan, and American cheese for unparalleled creaminess.
Ravioli With Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Capers
Upgrade store-bought cheese ravioli with this tasty combination of roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes, capers, and shallots, which make a luscious sauce for this easy vegetarian pasta dinner.
Pasta With Peppers, Squash, and Tomatoes
This dish capitalizes on the flavors of cherry tomatoes and sausage for a hearty dinner. The best part? It comes together in a snap, and grown-ups and children alike will love how tasty it is.
One-Pot Pasta With Broccoli and Lemon
Super simple, this penne dish is also a real crowd-pleaser: tender steamed broccoli florets are brightened with lemon, garlic, and plenty of Parmesan. Mix things up by adding a little shredded roast chicken or crisped bacon.
Thai-Curry Shrimp Linguine
For this easy and different shrimp linguine, we use Thai green curry paste and light coconut milk to create a creamy but dairy-free sauce that's finished with lime juice and cilantro.
Bacon Pasta With Cheese Sauce and Thyme
How can you possibly improve cheesy pasta? With bacon, of course. This is a lighter take on a classic Carbonara. Rather than a sauce made with eggs and cheese, our pasta has a basic béchamel sauce with cheese (also known as a Mornay sauce), which coats every strand of spaghetti deliciously.Â
Creamy Lemon Pasta With Pistachios
The rich crunch of pistachios and butter-crisped breadcrumbs stands in for bacon in this vegetarian twist on spaghetti Carbonara.
Bucatini With Cauliflower, Capers, and Lemon
This boldly flavored one-pot pasta dinner starts on the stovetop and finishes under the broiler to achieve a toasty topping.
Greek-Chicken One-Pan Pasta
A heartier, fusilli-based riff on the classic Greek soup avgolemono, this easy one-pan chicken pasta dish gets its bright, fresh flavors from lemon and dill.
Spaghetti With Sicilian Pesto
Perk up your pesto game by switching typical ingredients for the classic flavors of Sicily like raisins, anchovies, and capers; while almonds, Parmesan, and olive oil step in to create a delightfully sweet-and-sour flavor profile in this speedy weeknight dinner.
Pasta With No-Cook Puttanesca Sauce
This quick, fresh take on traditional pasta puttanesca is based on fresh, juicy tomatoes that marinate in olive oil with capers, garlic, and green olives.
Pasta With Preserved Lemon and Anchovies
Almost as good as a direct flight to the Mediterranean, this quick pasta dinner is painted in bold strokes of anchovy, preserved lemon, garlic, parsley, and Parmesan.
