25 Quick Pasta Recipes

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These convenient, delicious, quick pasta recipes require essential ingredients and are ready in 15 minutes. They make the perfect family meals when you need dinner on the table in no time.

Published on Jun 2020 /Updated on Nov 2024

Top view of a quick pasta recipe made with spaghetti and spinach.

To all the pasta lovers out there, here are a few perfect quick pasta recipes for your midweek meals: terrific bowls of pasta that you can rustle up using your pantry staples, veggies, or cheese leftovers.

From the most popular cream cheese pasta and ricotta pasta to my family favorites like spaghetti with garlic and olive oil or full with juicy cherry tomatoes.

They’re super easy yet delicious and packed with flavor. They’re mostly vegetarian, budget-friendly, and perfect to please the whole family.

These fantastic pasta dishes require simple ingredients like olive oil, fresh or canned tomatoes, cheese, potatoes, olives, mushrooms, herbs, and garlic—always garlic!

These easy and quick pasta recipes are lifesavers when you decide that pasta is for dinner, and they get it all: flavor, convenience, and simplicity.

A delicious bowl of flavorsome pasta, anyone?

Super Quick Pasta Recipes

WHAT’S THE BEST PASTA?

When you choose pasta, look at the label. Choose durum wheat semolina pasta, possibly made with brass or bronze dies. Premium-quality pasta is a bit more expensive than basic pasta, but it’s resilient, has a more robust texture, and beautifully holds sauces. Yes, brands matter, and even if you cook on a budget or are short on time, you deserve a delicious bowl of pasta packed with flavor!

More pasta recipes you’ll love

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

If you make one of these quick pasta recipes, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram.

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Top view of some spinach spaghetti with garlic crumbs.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

25 Quick Pasta Recipes

This selection of amazing yet quick pasta recipes will spoil you for choice. Start with this incredible spinach spaghetti, which is ready in about 15 minutes and full of flavor!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: spinach spaghetti
Servings: 4
Calories: 324kcal
Author: Katia

Ingredients

Spaghetti

  • 8 oz (220 grams) Spaghetti (or any other long pasta cut)

Spinach with garlic crumbs

  • 1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons garlic cloves, divided
  • 4 tablespoons breadcrumbs
  • ¼ teaspoon chilli flakes (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • ½ lb (220 grams) baby spinach
  • salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or more to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt, and cook the spaghetti until al dente (follow the package instructions). Reserve ½ cups of hot pasta water before draining the pasta.
  • Toast the breadcrumbs: Heat ½ tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 garlic clove, breadcrumb, and chili flakes and cook, stirring often, until golden—about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the parmesan, transfer to a small bowl, and set aside.
  • Cook the spinach: Place the skillet back on the stove, add the rest of the olive oil and 1 minced garlic clove, and cook over medium heat for about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of pasta cooking water and the spinach, a handful at a time, stirring until wilted. Turn the heat off, taste, and season accordingly.
  • Assemble and serve: Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, drain, and add the spaghetti to the skillet. Add lemon juice and breadcrumb mixture, tossing until well combined. Taste to make sure you're happy with the overall flavor (you might prefer more salt or lemon juice), then serve immediately with more grated parmesan cheese, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil for its fruity flavor, or chili flakes for some heat. Enjoy!

Notes

Nutrition facts: The nutrition values are for one serving and are based on an online nutrition calculator. They are estimates only and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Please see my disclosure policies.

Nutrition

Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 671mg | Potassium: 472mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 5190IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 3mg

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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