If you’re trying to find the words to take the edge off your elevated stress levels, here you go: easy pasta recipes. For a low-effort weeknight dinner, you can’t go wrong with a big bowl of baked ziti, lemony fusilli, or soupy ramen.
All the easy pasta recipes below aren’t only a breeze to make; they all use basic ingredients that you most certainly have in your pantry or that are easily affordable and accessible if you need to grab a thing or two during your next supermarket run.
Keep reading to uncover 21 easy pasta recipes to make today, tomorrow, and—probably—the day after too.
Cheesy Rigatoni Skillet
The one-pan pasta dish we all need right now, using inexpensive and accessible ingredients. Get the recipe at Budget Bytes.
Cheesy 50/50 Spaghetti and Zucchini Bake With Eggs
It looks complex, but this decadent-seeming dish uses only a handful of basic ingredients, most of which you probably have right now. Get the recipe at Spoon Fork Bacon.
Creamy Red Pepper Shells
A 30-minute meal that definitely has “forever go-to” potential. Damn Delicious has the full recipe.
5-Ingredient Peanut Noodles
Better than takeout, this Asian-inspired pasta comes together in minutes and includes basics like spaghetti, cabbage, and carrots. Get the recipe at Cooking for Keeps.
Creamy French Onion Pasta
If you like cacio e pepe, you’ll love this easy pasta recipe that also includes black pepper and lots of cheese, but adds perfectly sautéed onions. Learn how to make it at Cooking for Keeps.
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Vegan One-Pot Ginger-Scallion Ramen Noodles
A handful of ingredients and only one pot makes this the perfect at-home lunch, dinner, or both. Get the recipe at Alexandra’s Kitchen.
Avocado-Kale Pesto Pasta
A vegan recipe that uses only a handful of ingredients. Pro tip: Make extra pesto and use it during the week on eggs, chicken, veggies, or whatever else you’re cooking up. Dolly and Oatmeal has the full recipe.
Roasted Broccoli Pasta with Lemon and Feta
Healthy, flavorful, and ready in under one hour. Get the recipe at Budget Bytes.
Unstuffed Spicy Tomato-Basil Shells with Whipped Ricotta
A cozy pantry pasta that still incorporates a taste of spring with fresh greens you probably have on hand like kale. The recipe can be made vegetarian or with meat, too. See how at Half Baked Harvest.
Instant Pot Bolognese
Fire up that insta-pot for a classic bolognese that cooks in one hour. Get the recipe at Damn Delicious.
Pasta Alla Vodka
Deceptively simple: This classic requires only items you most likely have in your pantry and takes under an hour to cook. Get the recipe at What’s Gaby Cooking.
Simple Marinara Sauce
The five things you need to whip up this perfect at-home marina sauce you probably already have in your pantry—canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, dried oregano, and olive oil. The best part: The onion and garlic don’t need to be chopped. Get the recipe at Cookie and Kate and pour it over almost any pasta.
One-Pot Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
This easy recipe combines short-cut pasta, cauliflower, milk, cheese, and butter. Much-needed comfort food that’ll be ready in under 30 minutes. Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.
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Broccoli-Lemon-Chickpea Pasta
Fresh, bright, and remarkably easy, this dish is great hot or you can pop it in the fridge for a lunchtime pasta salad. The version at Making Thyme for Health is vegan, but it can easily be adapted for cheese lovers.
Mushroom and Breadcrumb Pasta
An easy pasta dish that’ll impress anyone…even if it’s just yourself. Get the full recipe at Sugar et al.
No-Bacon Carbonara With Greens
If you have bacon lying around, feel free to add, but if not, this recipe calls for the basics: pasta, onion, the greens you’ve got, eggs, cheese, and lemon. Get the recipe at Alexandra’s Kitchen.
One-Pot Vegan Garlic and Brussels Sprouts Pasta
This recipe uses nondairy ingredients, which you’ll surely have if you’re vegan. It’s also easily adaptable with the milk and cheese sitting in the fridge. Learn how to make it at Rabbit and Wolves.
Chicken and Red-Cabbage-Noodles Stir-Fry
Probably the most flavorful thing you’ll whip up this week. Get the easy recipe at Sugar et al.
Roasted-Veggie Lasagna
An easy, healthy recipe that uses the handful of veggies you have in the fridge. Get step-by-step directions at What’s Gaby Cooking.
Lentil and Mushroom Meatballs Over Pasta
Use whatever shape pasta you have while making these easy vegetarian “meatballs.” Get the recipe at Cookie and Kate.
One-Pot Lemon Pasta With Greens and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Bright, citrusy, and remarkably simple since it only uses a single pot. Get the recipe at Making Thyme for Health.
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