24 Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes

Are you looking for a healthy and easy pasta recipe? Look no further; you have found it! Here is a list that has been put together from all of the best pasta recipes on the web. From mac and cheese to orzo and beyond, these recipes are sure to satisfy.

We have included vegan and vegetarian options in these simple pasta recipes to satisfy all taste buds.

Pasta recipes are perfect for making for a quick weeknight dinner and are an easy way to add fun flavors and more healthy vegetables into your diet.

With different sauces, add-ins, and protein options, the possibilities are seemingly endless! You can also add in more protein and fiber by using a bean or lentil-based pasta.

This substitution also makes your pasta gluten-free. These quick and easy pasta recipes have few ingredients and are sure to satisfy.

1. Garlic Spaghetti

This garlic spaghetti is deceptively simple for packing such an amazing flavor punch. It’s no secret that the delicious weapon in this recipe is the cooked garlic!

To enjoy this easy meal, you make fragrant garlic oil, toss it with your cooked pasta, then top with parmesan and parsley. It doesn’t get much easier.

You can add grilled chicken to get more protein or roasted broccoli to add in some vegetables. This is truly a perfect quick and easy weeknight meal.

2. Easy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Are you searching for a flavorful meal that is customizable and ready in under 30 minutes? If so, this recipe is for you!

This Cajun chicken alfredo pasta is full of flavor and is so easy to customize to your own tastes.

If you want more veggies, add in bell peppers. If you want it to be lower fat, use skim milk and low-fat cream cheese.

Going gluten-free? Substitute gluten-free pasta. Whatever you choose to do, this recipe will be a weeknight repeat for sure.

3. Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

Fresh pesto, seared Italian chicken, chewy pasta, and a creamy cheese sauce come together to create this delicious quick, and easy meal.

The pesto cheese sauce starts with an easy roux to add depth and flavor to the dish. You add in the pesto and cheese, and voila, you’ve made one of the best sauces you’ll ever try.

This, combined with the flavorful chicken and satisfying pasta, makes one of our favorite pasta dishes to date.

Serve with a simple salad or roasted vegetables to complete this show-stopper of a meal.

4. 20 Minute Tortellini Pasta Carbonara

Do you have 20 minutes to make one of the best and easiest pasta recipes on the web?

The answer should definitely be yes! This craveable pasta dish starts with 1 important secret ingredient: store-bought cheese tortellini!

The carbonara sauce is made by tossing the cooked pasta with tempered eggs and cheese, then topping it with bacon.

If you’re not already drooling, you’re not reading this correctly.

This recipe is a must-try for a stunning weeknight meal that is quick and easy.

5. Easy Creamy Spinach Orzo

This one-pot meal is fast, easy, and is basically a grown-up version of mac and cheese!

Macaroni noodles are replaced with orzo, salty and savory parmesan is the cheese of choice, and spinach is added to pack in the nutrition and add some beautiful color.

You could add fresh herbs to play with flavors or even add more vegetables like broccoli or peas to make this meal even healthier.

Going gluten-free? Corn-based orzo can be found at most grocery retailers and is a wonderful substitution.

6. Instant Pot Pasta E Fagioli

Nothing says comfort in a bowl like a steamy and satisfying pot of Pasta e Fagioli.

This hearty soup is packed full of vegetables, beans, and flavor.

It is a quick-fix meal in the instant pot for those busy weeknight dinners.

This dish can easily be made vegetarian by using plant-based beef.

Just substitute it in and follow the directions as they are. We doubt you will have leftovers, but this soup also freezes well for a rainy day if you do.

7. Super Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta

This creamy tomato pasta is one silky smooth and crazy delicious recipe! It is simple, straightforward, and oh so easy to throw together.

It is fabulous as a standalone meal or is the perfect base to throw in extra nutrition with spinach or chicken.

Looking for modifications?

You could substitute gluten-free pasta. Or, you could make it vegan using oat milk for the whipping cream, vegan butter, and nutritional yeast for the Parmesan cheese.

Regardless of how you serve it, this recipe is one to save for a quick and delicious meal.

8. Copycat Panera Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Are you looking for that one Mac and cheese recipe that is quick, easy, and beyond delicious? Look no further. You found it!

This copycat recipe is inspired by Panera’s Mac and cheese, and dare we say it might outshine the original recipe?

Creamy and sharp white cheddar blends with milk, cream, and butter to create this luscious, fast cheese sauce.

This can be served as a side dish or with veggies, beans, or meat for an out-of-this-world meal.

9. Pink Sauce Pasta

Pink sauce is one of the most classic and delicious Italian sauces for pasta. It is not as heavy as a white sauce but feels more decadent than a red sauce.

This simple and easy recipe has you make a quick red sauce, then add milk, cream, and cheese to create a silky, smooth, and delicious sauce for your pasta of choice.

This pairs nicely with an Italian chopped salad, and adding shrimp to the dish creates a rounded meal that anyone would enjoy.

10. Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta

This budget-friendly pasta dish is light on the wallet but full of flavor. Sautéed garlic blends with milk and cheese to create a creamy and decadent sauce to top penne pasta.

The secret ingredient in this recipe is parmesan cheese. It gives the creaminess of a typical cheese but adds a sharp saltiness that makes you crave even more.

This recipe can be a stand-alone dish, a side dish, or you could add protein such as shrimp or pasta to create a meal no one at your table could refuse.

11. Easy Goulash Recipe

You can’t find a better classic comfort dish than goulash. We’ve got the best weeknight pasta dinner recipe for you right here.

Hearty beef in a rich tomato sauce with vegetables and macaroni noodles topped with cheddar cheese… this is a must-try recipe.

This affordable dish is just as easy as it is delicious. All you need is one pot, a few simple ingredients, and about 30 minutes. This easy pasta recipe is a must-make.

12. One Pot Rigatoni Bolognese

This rigatoni bolognese only sounds like a labor of love.

Don’t be fooled. This one-pot pasta dish comes together quickly with simple ingredients that create a bowl full of delicious and healthy comfort.

Try making it vegetarian with a plant-based ground beef and vegetable broth.

Are you looking for a make-ahead meal? Prep it all, put it in a casserole dish, then freeze and reheat as needed.

Serve it with salad or roasted vegetables for a healthy meal.

13. Garlic Lemon Tuna Pasta

Are you searching for a healthy and oh-so-delicious pasta recipe? Your search is over. Stop here! You’ve found your dinner recipe for tonight!

This 10-minute recipe is super easy, crazy delicious, and well-rounded! What’s the secret ingredient?

Packaged tuna! This protein-rich fish is combined with tart lemon and salty capers to create a crave-worthy pasta meal.

Top with parsley and parmesan, and you have your new favorite quick and easy pasta recipe with few ingredients.

14. Easy Pasta Salad

Are you searching for a vegan pasta recipe? You found it here!

This easy and healthy recipe is so delicious you’ll be going back for seconds. And thirds.

The good news is this quick pasta recipe is packed full of nutritious vegetables.

You chop your veggies, cook the pasta, and make a quick dressing to pull it all together.

Are you looking for more protein? Use a bean or lentil-based pasta to up your protein and keep you even fuller for longer.

15. Garlic Sesame Noodles

Are you looking for a pasta dish that is satisfying, rich, and packed full of vegetables! You found it!

This Asian-inspired pasta dish combines savory garlic and sesame oil with salty soy sauce and a touch of coconut sugar for an amazing and fast meal.

This saucy, rich, and delicious dish comes together in just 10 minutes! Bell pepper, carrot, and broccoli are combined with pasta and the addictive garlic sesame sauce to create a healthy and delicious pasta meal.

16. Creamy Avocado Pasta (Vegan)

This easy pasta dish is vegan, creamy, and ready in less than 15 minutes!

The secret ingredient for this luscious sauce is avocado.

You blend it with a few simple ingredients, including basil and lemon, to make an amazing sauce to toss with your pasta of choice.

You can enjoy this as is or add any toppings you desire. We love adding tomatoes, corn, or chickpeas.

However you choose to eat it, this quick pasta recipe is a keeper.

17. Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

With a name like Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta, you know this dish will not disappoint! Browned sausage is mixed with chewy pasta and fresh spinach, then enrobed in a creamy, cheesy sauce that is sure to satisfy.

This dish is just as food should be: simple, straightforward, and full of flavor.

In only 20 minutes, you will have a family favorite recipe special enough to serve as a weeknight meal and for a special occasion.

18. Lemon Asparagus Pasta

We found a one-pot, vegan, quick, and easy pasta dinner that you can have on the table in under 20 minutes. To top it off, it is crazy delicious and satisfying!

The secret to getting this creamy sauce is full-fat coconut milk. This sauce adds an addictive richness paired perfectly with tart lemon, savory onion, and garlic.

The pan-fried asparagus and pasta mix with the sauce to create an out-of-this-world vegan pasta dinner.

19. Creamy Lemon and Fresh Tomato Salmon Pasta

Seafood and pasta are some of our all-time favorite combinations. This recipe takes our love to a whole new level.

The rich and satisfying salmon is lightened up with fresh tomato and lemon to create a comforting and crave-worthy pasta dish in 20 minutes.

The not-so-secret ingredient, dijon mustard, adds enough tart flavor to balance this quick and easy pasta recipe.

Serve this with sauteed spinach, roasted broccolini, or a simple kale salad to create a rounded and delicious meal.

20. Lasagna Recipe

Nothing says comfort like a big pan of bubbly, cheesy, gooey, satisfying lasagna.

This quick and easy version of an all-time favorite meal comes together in about an hour and uses just 7 ingredients.

It is the all-time easiest and fastest lasagna recipe we have found, and the flavor does not disappoint!

While the lasagna noodles soak, you can prepare the rest of the ingredients, and voila, dinner is ready! Better yet, this easy pasta recipe is freezer friendly, so why not make 2 at a time?

21. Taco Stuffed Shells

If you’re searching for a pasta recipe that is OMG delicious, you found it!

This Mexican-inspired dish takes stuffed shells to a whole new level.

Flavorful browned beef is mixed with luscious cream cheese and salsa of your choice to create a drool-worthy filling.

This filling is stuffed into shells, topped with enchilada sauce and cheese, and then baked for an easy peasy dinner that is sure to please.

We recommend serving this with pinto beans and guacamole to the top to create a rounded and simple pasta dinner recipe.

22. Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Bacon in a pasta dish? Yes, please! This one-pot meal comes together in 30 minutes and can’t get much more simple to make.

What’s the secret? Store-bought rotisserie chicken. This mixes with crispy bacon, flavorful ranch seasoning, rich cream cheese, and sharp cheese to make a new family favorite!

No spaghetti? No problem! Use whatever pasta you have on hand.

We recommend serving this with a crunchy store-bought salad to keep it simple while cutting through some of the decadence of this easy pasta dish.

23. One Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta Skillet

Gooey, savory, and creamy, this easy pasta dinner has it all!

This Cheesy Smoked Turkey Sausage Skillet recipe is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

Turkey sausage is the secret in this recipe. It adds all the flavor of typical sausage while cutting back the saturated fat, making this a healthy, quick, and easy one-pot pasta dinner.

We recommend using a bean-based pasta or serving with white beans or roasted broccolini to increase the fiber and keep you fuller longer.

24. One-pot Orzo Vegetable Soup

Do you need a healthy, easy, fast, one-pot dinner idea? Look no further. You found it!

This orzo vegetable soup is the best vegetable soup we’ve tried! Flavorful and rich tomato broth mixes with freshly chopped vegetables and satisfying orzo pasta to make a quick and easy vegan pasta dish.

We recommend topping the soup with roasted chickpeas to add crunch and extra protein to make this recipe even more satisfying.

This family favorite recipe is healthy, satisfying, and a must-make for an easy pasta dinner.