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These easy Italian pasta recipes are some of our most favorite staples. They’re economical, wonderfully delicious and make great weeknight meals perfect for the whole family.
Whatever you’re looking for quick pasta dishes ready in no time, or nourishing one-pot pasta recipes, I’ve got you covered with our traditional family favorites.
Generally speaking, Italians eat pasta almost everyday. Pasta is part of our traditions, a black canvas that can be dressed with nearly everything, from vegetables, to meat, from legumes to what you’ve got in the fridge at that moment.
Being Italian myself, I’ve grown up eating pasta. It’s so convenient, filling, and makes great family meals with a handful of ingredients.
My preference usually goes to meatless pasta recipes, from these popular quick pasta dishes perfect during busy weeknights to these comforting one-pot pasta recipes with legumes and vegetables.
The variety is amazing when it comes to Italian pasta recipes, but if you prefer classic recipes featuring beef, this popular Italian website offers hundreds of amazing recipes to inspire you.
Here I’ve gathered simple, hearty pasta dishes my mum used to cook everyday, and I still cook them for my family. I hope you love them as much as we do, hopefully they will make fabulous additions to your pasta repertoire!
1. Penne arrabbiata
All you need is a handful of inexpensive cupboard essentials for this easy, quick pasta arrabbiata. It’s so simple, but juicy and full of flavor.
We love delicious, budget-friendly meals ready in no time!
TIME: ready in 20 minutes.
2. Spaghetti “Aglio e Olio”
This fragrant spaghetti with garlic and olive oil brings me back to my childhood. It’s a classic Italian pasta dish that requires basic ingredients, little effort, and it’s perfect for sharing with friends or after a long day. And if you’ve got black olives, you might also try this easy, lovely variation: pasta with olives!
TIME: ready in 10 minutes.
3. Pasta Napoletana
This easy pasta Napoletana uses a handful of everyday ingredients. It’s juicy, tasty and totally delicious. It’s also inexpensive, and you can get a weeknight family meal on the table with a few pantry staples and a little effort!
TIME: ready in 25 minutes.
4. Penne with pesto
This simple one-pot penne with pesto tastes delicious and makes a terrific kid-friendly meal… my son loves it! This family’s recipe is inspired by the popular Ligurian version of pasta with pesto and potatoes.
TIME: ready in 20 minutes.
5. Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce
Although this Southern Italian sauce is originally used for pizza, we love it because it’s made with only 5 inexpensive pantry ingredients, it’s quick and goes so well with pasta too. Plus, it tastes one million better than the best store-bought pasta sauce you can buy.
Time: ready in 20 minutes.
6. Pasta with Walnut sauce
Traditionally made in a mortar and pestle, this simple Italian pasta recipe comes from the Liguria region of Italy. It’s basically a rustic walnut pesto, as delicious as its most-known basil pesto. All you have to do is blending a generous handful of walnuts with a splash of olive oil, parmesan, garlic, and a slice of bread soaked in milk. You’ll be amazed how this tasty sauce will deliciously coat your pasta!
Time: ready in 10 minutes.
7. Pasta with lentils
This Italian pasta with lentils is one of the best nourishing meals you can cook using a few cupboard essentials. It’s the supreme example of how to turn basic inexpensive ingredients into a perfect weeknight meal for every family: economical, full of nutrients and amazingly good. Kids love it too!
Time: ready in 40 minutes.
8. Spaghetti Carbonara (meatless)
This scrumptious carbonara with mushrooms is rich, indulgent, and has beautiful depth of flavour. We love it because it’s easy, meatless, ready in 25 minutes, but it tastes like restaurant comfort food.
9. Pasta with sun dried tomato pesto
I make this simple recipe the same way my mum did. She simply used to whizz up jarred sun-dried tomatoes with fresh ricotta, basil, and garlic. So simple, so delicious, It’s truly a marriage made in heaven. And if you’ve got ricotta leftovers, my popular lemon ricotta pasta should be on your to-do list!
TIME: ready in 15 minutes.
10. Pasta with peas
Although less popular than the most classic Italian pasta dishes, this simple, no-frills pasta with peas is another must in my family. it’s so easy, delicious and uses only 5 ingredients. Plus, you can cook everything in one pot using either fresh or convenient frozen peas, whatever makes your life easier.
TIME: ready in 15 minutes.
11. Pasta e Fagioli (pasta with beans)
This Italian pasta e fagioli recipe, also known as pasta fazool or pasta with beans turns basic ingredients such as pasta and canned beans into a perfect cozy family meal: flavorsome, full of nutrients, and affordable. If you love pasta with beans as much as we do, have a look these white bean pasta and black bean pasta.
TIME: ready in 40 minutes.
12. Spaghetti Puttanesca
When it comes to the classic Italian pasta recipes, this simple flavor-packed ingredients spaghetti alla puttanesca is a must and so easy to put together. This is a non vegetarian recipe that requires anchovies.
TIME: ready in 15 minutes.
13. Pasta with potatoes
What to make when you’ve got nothing in the fridge? This delicious comforting one-pot potato pasta is your go-to recipe. This traditional dish, originating from Southern Italy, is a supreme example of how to turn humble ingredients or leftovers into something SO good.
TIME: ready in 15 minutes.
Is pasta good for your health?
As long as it’s eaten in moderation, pasta makes a nutritionally balanced meal, especially if cooked with vegetables and plant-based protein.
It’s also a good idea to choose whole grain pasta most often, which provides more benefits, fiber and micronutrients than refined “white” pasta.
Essentially, when we are short on time, pasta is a no brainer and makes a quick, satisfying meal. However, when pasta is a staple and part of our daily diet, the best option would be packing your bowl of pasta with plenty of fiber and veggies like the ones listed below.
More easy pasta recipes with veggies:
- Pasta with zucchini and tomatoes
- Pasta with spinach and tomatoes
- Peas and asparagus pasta
- Pasta with peppers
- Pasta with broccoli
I hope you love these Italian pasta recipes as much as we do and if you have any questions, let me know! Leave a comment or rate it. I would love to hear from you!
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13 Italian pasta recipes {easy & inexpensive}
Ingredients
- 16 oz (450 grams) spaghetti
- ½ cup (120 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves, minced or sliced
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper, or to taste
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- salt, to taste
- grated parmesan cheese, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti in a large pot of salty boiling water until al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, the crushed pepper, and cook gently for a few minutes, or until the garlic is pale gold, take care not to burn it! Stir in chopped parsley.
- Drain the spaghetti "al dente" and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water.
- Add spaghetti to the pan, stir well to coat with the oil, add some starchy cooking water to ensure the pasta is moist and juicy*.
- Cook on medium heat for 30 seconds, stirring a couple of times. Sprinkle the spaghetti with extra chopped parsley, and grated parmesan cheese if you don't keep it vegan. Serve immediately.
Kathleen
I love these, cook them all the time!
Katia
Thank you, Kathleen, I’m so happy to hear that!
Have a lovely Sunday x