13 Super Quick Pasta Recipes

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What to cook when you run out of time? The answer is pasta, and here you’ll find more than 10 yummy quick pasta recipes ready in only 15 minutes.

Three white plates with different quick pasta recipes over a white table.

They’re super easy yet delicious and packed with flavor. They’re mostly vegetarian and absolutely budget-friendly. Amazing recipes that require simple ingredients like olive oil, fresh or canned tomatoes, cheese, potatoes, frozen peas, mushrooms, herbs, and garlic. Always garlic!

Yes, these easy pasta recipes get it all: flavor, convenience, and simplicity.

I do love fuss-free cooking on a budget, and I love sharing recipes that save time and money. And if you look for quick and easy pasta recipes with few ingredients, here they are.

A delish bowl of flavorsome pasta, anyone?

1. SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (AGLIO E OLIO)

Aglio e olio is one of the best basic pasta recipes ever! A simple yet delicious Italian pasta dish that requires olive oil, garlic, and chili flakes. Simple is best.

Spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and parsley on a rustic gres plate.

2. CREAM CHEESE PASTA

Mix garlic-infused olive oil, cream cheese, parmesan, and freshly ground pepper and turn your plain spaghetti into something delicious. Good things don’t get much easier than this!

Quick creamy spaghetti on a blue bowl with a fork.

3. ITALIAN PASTA WITH PEAS

This Italian pasta with peas is a simple, creamy, and delicious one-pot dinner recipe that requires only 5 ingredients. You can use either fresh or convenient frozen peas, whatever makes your life easier. It’s a no brainer!

Quick pasta with peas in a white bowl.

4. EASY LEMON RICOTTA PASTA

This no-cook sauce is one of my favorite quick pasta recipes: mix creamy ricotta, parmesan cheese, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and refreshing lemon. Your pasta sauce is ready: quick, fresh, and utterly delicious!

Quick spaghetti with ricotta, spinach and a slice of lemon on a white plate.

5. CREAMY PASTA WITH SPINACH

This is another terrific quick pasta recipe, it’s packed with spinach, and it’s easy and ready in less than 15 minutes. A weeknight meal the whole family will love.

Top view of a bowl of quick pasta with spinach.

6. QUICK PASTA & ZUCCHINI

This delicious pasta with zucchini is ready in about 15 minutes and requires only 5 ingredients. A simple recipe that turns plenty of zucchini into a perfect family meal.

Close-up of a dish full of quick pasta with zucchini.

7. CHERRY TOMATO PASTA SALAD

If you look for quick and easy pasta salad recipes with few ingredients, this is the one! A juicy and bursting with flavor pasta salad made with tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil. Simple and so good.

Quick pasta recipe made with tomatoes and large basil leaves in a white bowl.

8. ITALIAN MARINARA SAUCE & SPAGHETTI

Make the most of canned tomatoes with this flavorsome vibrant Italian marinara sauce. It requires only 5 cheap pantry ingredients and it’s ready in 20 minutes. One of my favorite quick pasta recipes!

Quick spaghetti marinara in a white bowl with a fork.

9. QUICK GARLIC MUSHROOM PASTA

The smell of the garlic and the intensely flavored gravy released from the mushrooms take your basic spaghetti to the next level. If you love big bold flavors ready in 15 minutes, this one is for you.

Quick mushroom spaghetti on a blue rimmed white plate.

10. WALNUT SAUCE PASTA

All you have to do in this quick pasta recipe is blending some walnuts with a splash of olive oil, parmesan, garlic, and a slice of bread soaked in milk. It’s that easy and you’ll be amazed how this creamy and flavorsome sauce will coat your pasta!

Easy spaghetti with walnut sauce and chopped walnuts in a blue bowl with a fork.

11.LEMON & TUNA PASTA SALAD

Forget tasteless pasta with canned tuna, this quick recipe is a game-changer. The refreshing juice and zest, mixed with olive oil and garlic, make this tuna pasta salad so good and tasty you can’t get enough of it.

Tuna pasta salad with cherry tomatoes and olives on a white plate with a blue rim.

12. SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO PASTA

This is a super quick recipe made with pasta, creamy ricotta, and intensely-flavored sun-dried tomatoes. It’s a marriage made in heaven,  so easy and so delicious.

Sun dried tomato pesto spaghetti on a white plate with two basil leaves on top.

13. SPAGHETTI ALLA PUTTANESCA

This is a luscious bowl of pasta where anchovies, capers, and olives bring amazing fiery flavors. Another quick and budget pasta recipe ready in 15 minutes.

Quick pasta recipe with olives, tomatoes, parsley leaves on a white plate.I love pasta, and I’ve grown up eating pasta nearly every day. Yes, I come from Italy and I’ve got the most typical Italian mum you could imagine, hence pasta was the favorite staple.

IS PASTA HEALTHY?

YES. Not only is pasta a cheap cupboard staple, but it can be part of a healthy diet too, as long as it’s eaten in moderation.
Plus, If you switch to whole grain pasta you’ll get more natural fiber and micronutrients than white pasta.
Fiber is an important part of your diet, it helps control blood sugar and reduces appetite.

WHAT’S THE BEST PASTA?

When you chose pasta, have a proper look at the label and go for durum wheat semolina pasta, possibly made with brass or bronze dies. Needless to say, cook it until al dente!

The premium quality pasta is a bit more expensive than basic pasta, but it’s resilient, it has a more robust texture and holds sauces beautifully. Yes, brands matter, and even if you cook on a budget or you’re short on time, you deserve a delicious bowl of pasta packed with flavor!

LOOKING FOR MORE PASTA RECIPES?

Here are other delicious pasta recipes, super easy, and ready in less in 30 minutes:

These quick pasta recipes are lifesavers at the end of the day when you decide that pasta is for dinner!
If you make one of these recipes, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram.
I would love to hear from you!

Top view of a bowl with quick pasta with spinach.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

10+ QUICK PASTA RECIPES

Here you'll find more than 10 delicious quick pasta recipes ready in 15 minutes. They're super easy yet delicious and packed with flavor. They're mostly vegetarian, ready in no time, and absolutely budget-friendly. Ready?
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Quick pasta recipes
Author: Katia

Ingredients

PASTA (regular or whole grain pasta)

  • spaghetti, linguine, bucatini, penne, fusilli…

VEGETABLES

  • Tomatoes, peas, potatoes, mushrooms, spinach, lemon, basil…

FLAVOR BASE:

  • Olive oil, garlic, onion, chili flakes, black pepper & salt

PARMESAN, RICOTTA AND CREAM CHEESE

    Instructions

    • Pick your favorite recipe.
    • Cook your pasta until al dente.
    • Make your quick pasta sauce or pasta dressing.
    • Add your pasta to the sauce and toss well to combine.
    • Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and freshly ground pepper if you like.
    • Enjoy.

    13 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      loved the CREAM CHEESE PASTA

      1. That’s great, thanks for sharing, Star. : )

    2. All these pasta recipes are really mouth smacking. The cheese one is one of my favorite and would like to give it a try. Keep sharing such yummy recipes with the readers.

    3. 5 stars
      Woow!! Not even sure where to begin here. There is so much inspiration here.
      I will have to start with the sun dried tomato pesto pasta. Never made that before and looks amazing and easy too!! Thanks so much

      1. What a lovely feedback, James!
        Enjoy x

      1. You’re so welcome! : )

    4. 5 stars
      Gosh, I loved so much the lemon ricotta pasta! Thanks for these yummy recipes xxx

      1. Thanks so much for your lovely feedback, Sara! 💛

    5. 5 stars
      Easy and delicious ! 😍

      1. So glad you like these easy recipes! xx

    6. 5 stars
      this all looks so good!! the ricotta cheese one made my mouth water. will be writing these down to show my girlfriend thank you!

      1. You’re very welcome! 😉

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