We’ve all got our favorite pasta recipes, from rich, cheesy baked pasta to simple one-pot pasta recipes, but sometimes you need a reliable weeknight recipe that can be on the table in a flash. We’ve compiled a list of our 10 quick and easy pasta recipes that can be on the table in about 30 minutes. Take a peek and find some new ones to add to your list of favorites.
I made this for dinner last night, and I’m so glad that I did as it was absolutely delicious! It was rich and creamy, the perfect dish for a rainy night.
The sausage and blue cheese complemented each other so nicely. It seemed like a very elegant pasta dish, however, it was quick to put together with few ingredients needed. This is definitely going into my pasta dinner rotation.–Aryn
This cacio e pepe was really delish and super easy. Nice to have a meatless meal for a change.–Anne
Amazingly simple. Easy and delicious.–Piyush
This spinach-ricotta pasta is mild and luscious, reminiscent of creamed spinach but much lighter. We served it two ways: my husband had his with Parmesan, and I had mine with mizithra. Both were delicious.–Alena
Pasta FAQs
I never seem to have the right shape of pasta on hand. How do I know what to substitute?
Different pasta shapes are suited to different types of sauce. Some pasta recipes work best with long strands so that they are fully coated in sweet tomato sauce, while other pasta shapes have nooks and crannies to capture bits of ground beef or sausage.
However, within those categories, you can easily swap in different shapes of pasta. Check out this guide on How to Choose the Best Pasta Shape for Your Sauce.
What’s the best way to reheat leftover pasta?
Our preferred method is to reheat leftover pasta gently in a saucepan over low heat. When you’re making pasta, save some of the pasta water and stash it in the fridge with your leftovers. It works miracles in loosening up pasta sauces that have turned too thick and clumpy.
How do I avoid making mushy pasta?
There are three important things to remember when cooking pasta. First, undercook it slightly. You want it to be just al dente which is usually about 1 minute less than the box suggests.
Second, save some pasta water before you drain the noodles. That starchy liquid will help bring your sauce and pasta together.
Lastly, finish cooking your pasta in your sauce. The flavors will meld together and the pasta will absorb some of the sauce as it finishes cooking. For more details, read this article on How to Cook Perfect Pasta.
10 Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 pound farfalle
- Table salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 3 tablespoons capers rinsed
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest preferably organic
- 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- One (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives chopped
- 12 ounces good-quality olive oil-packed tuna drained
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Lemon wedges for serving
Directions
- In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook according to package directions, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to the pot.
- In a 12-inch (30-cm) nonstick skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon oil until shimmering. Add panko and capers and cook, stirring frequently, until panko is golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in lemon zest and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Dump the topping into a bowl.
- Wipe skillet clean with paper towels. Return the skillet to medium heat and warm the remaining tablespoon of oil until shimmering. Add garlic and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in tomatoes and simmer until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in olives and remove from heat.
- Add sauce to the pasta and stir until pasta is well coated. Fold in tuna gently until combined but chunks still remain. Season with salt and pepper to taste and adjust consistency with reserved cooking water as needed.
- Sprinkle with reserved panko mixture. Serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
Show Nutrition
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We’d love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
