Recipe Roundup

57 Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes

On an all-pasta diet lately? Sounds good.
Easy pasta recipes like this garlic and anchovy spaghetti shown on a black plate are the secret to dinner without stress.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Mindy Fox

These easy pasta recipes are the secret to a comforting, restaurant-worthy dinner without any fuss. Sure, there are days when you want a project, when you want to follow an elaborate recipe, adding an array of spices and deglazing the pan over and over. It can be calming, even meditative, to cook that way. But sometimes you need something simple, something fast. Something really, really good. A dinner that requires five ingredients (or less!). These 57 pasta recipes will be your guide.

  • Image may contain Spaghetti Food Pasta Cutlery and Fork
    Photo by Ted Cavanaugh
    1/58

    Bucatini With Lemony Carbonara

    Is there anything more impressive than a well-executed carbonara? Well, yes! This easy pasta recipe, which is balanced with lemon zest and lemon juice for a brightness you didn't know the classic pasta needed.

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  • Two plates of cabbage carbonara.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    2/58

    Pasta Carbonara With Cabbage and Mushrooms

    In this dish, you’ll sauté mushrooms and bacon until they become crispy. You’ll use bacon fat to sear the cabbage before tossing in an egg, Parmesan, and pasta.

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  • Two wide shallow bowls of cacio e pepe with a small pinch bowl of freshly cracked black pepper on the side.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi
    3/58

    Cacio e Pepe

    This classic pasta only has a few ingredients, but they merge into a surprisingly silky, flavor-packed sauce. Follow this easy pasta recipe and you'll get the kind of dish you'd expect at a white tablecloth restaurant.

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  • Plate of pasta next to a Dutch oven with more of the same and a small dish of chopped pistachios.
    Photo by Chelsie Craig, Prop Styling by Emily Eisen, Food Styling by Molly Baz
    4/58

    Orecchiette With Buttermilk, Peas, and Pistachios

    Brightened with fragrant mint and fresh lemon juice, this easy weeknight pasta recipe is just the thing to pull out on a warm evening.

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  • A speckled white plate with caramelized onion pasta topped with shredded Parmesan cheese.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens
    7/58

    Caramelized Onion Pasta

    Channeling the flavors of French onion soup, this caramelized onion pasta doesn't require many ingredients—instead, it uses time to build flavor.

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  • Easy pasta recipes like this garlic and anchovy spaghetti shown on a black plate are the secret to dinner without stress.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Mindy Fox
    8/58

    Pasta With 15-Minute Garlic, Oil, and Anchovy Sauce

    Our version of classic Italian agile e olio (garlic and oil) pasta is given extra flavor and crunch with toasted breadcrumbs.

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  • Onepot pasta primavera with shrimp in a bowl.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    9/58

    One-Pot Pasta Primavera With Shrimp

    This lightning-fast version of the classic spring pasta calls for just the right amount of water that magically cooks down to create a silky sauce, no draining necessary.

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  • Ramen noodles with miso pesto on a white plate.
    Photo by Alex Lau
    10/58

    Ramen Noodles With Miso Pesto

    Springy ramen noodles and a cilantro-miso sauce bring a welcome twist to a classic pesto recipe.

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  • Anchovy pasta with garlic breadcrumbs on a plate.
    Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    11/58

    Anchovy Pasta With Garlic Breadcrumbs

    Cook breadcrumbs—mixed with bright lemon zest and garlic—until toasted and crunchy and then try not to inhale them before garnishing this spicy anchovy pasta.

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  • A serving dish of penne pasta with broccoli florets and large chunks of chicken in a creamy sauce.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    12/58

    Simple One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta

    The chicken, sauce, and pasta for this dish all cook in the same pan. You can add broccoli, mushrooms, herbs, or a little chipotle at the same time that you stir in the Parmesan.

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  • Dinner plate of pappardelle noodles with basil and parsley sauce pasta twirled onto fork.
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li
    13/58

    Herby Pasta With Garlic and Green Olives

    The recipe calls for parsley and basil, but consider this dish a canvas for whatever tender herbs you have kicking around: cilantro, dill, tarragon, sage, chives, fennel fronds. Mix and match at will.

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  • A lemon pasta dish with spaghetti and a lemoncream sauce topped with strips of lemon zest and black pepper.
    Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food styling by Kate Buckens
    14/58

    Pasta al Limone (Lemon Pasta)

    This creamy lemon pasta recipe is luscious and amply cheesy, but still bright and fresh. Best part: You can make it for dinner in just 15 minutes.

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