Recipes Everyday Cooking Quick and Easy Main Dishes 80 Weeknight Pasta Recipes You'll Come Back to Again and Again These quick and easy pasta recipes are perfect for busy weeknights. By Corey Williams Corey Williams Corey Williams is a food writer for MyRecipes and Allrecipes. She has a decade of journalism experience. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on February 8, 2024 Close Even the most passionate home cooks can feel some kitchen burnout after a long day. That's why it's important for everyone to have some trusty weeknight recipes in their arsenal. If you're in need of some quick and easy ideas, whether you have 15 minutes or an hour to spare, look no further than this collection of easy weeknight pasta recipes. 01 of 81 Chicken and Rapini Penne Pasta View Recipe "We are trying to eat more greens in our diet, and rapini (aka broccoli rabe) is one of our favorites! Toss in some leftover rotisserie chicken and penne pasta, and you have yourself a meal!" —Kim's Cooking Now 02 of 81 Quick and Easy Chicken Spaghetti View Recipe dotdash meredith food studios "This chicken spaghetti recipe is quick and easy to make, yet is hearty and delicious. It's a great way to use leftover chicken!" —Beamish 03 of 81 Tomato and Garlic Pasta View Recipe "This is probably one of my favorite recipes from this site! I have made it more times than I can count." —calizen 04 of 81 Penne alla Vodka View Recipe ALLRECIPES / ANA CADENA "This penne alla vodka recipe is quick and easy to make from scratch with a homemade tomato and vodka sauce that's so flavorsome for an elegant Italian meal on your table in less than half an hour!" —Nicole McLaughlin 05 of 81 Pesto Pasta View Recipe Rita Pellegrini "“This is a huge winner. And versatile too. I can imagine adding grilled chicken or shrimp for an even heartier meal.” —Curt McLey 06 of 81 Cheesy Ramen Noodles View Recipe "Melting cheese in ramen makes for an extremely simple and delicious spin on typical ramen noodles that can be easily made in the college environment." —Emily 07 of 81 Spaghetti alla Carbonara View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "Try this recipe if you want to make an authentic, creamy carbonara that comes straight from Italy, where I live. Buon appetito!" —ivan zeta 08 of 81 Simple Hamburger Stroganoff View Recipe Melissa Goff "I created this easy hamburger stroganoff recipe because I love the taste of a good stroganoff, but I don't like the expense of beef tips, steak, or roast beef, nor do I like all the time it takes to make them. My version is creamy and tastes great." —Jessica 09 of 81 Pasta with Peas and Sausage View Recipe "Made this exactly per recipe and family loves it. I think it's my favorite when I don't have a lot of time or just don't feel like cooking." —MZanca 10 of 81 Pasta Pomodoro View Recipe "Easy and light pasta with tomatoes and garlic. Cooked chicken breast chunks or shrimp can also be added to sauce for a great main dish!" —Dinah 11 of 81 Lemon Butter Herb Pasta View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This is a great and very versatile dish. We needed a dish to accompany grilled chicken, and had to find one with ingredients on hand. This pasta was just that — and you could make this whatever you wanted." —Julie Baker 12 of 81 Sicilian Spaghetti View Recipe "This anchovy pasta is quick, easy and very tasty. If you love anchovies and pasta, this recipe is for you." —Simon 13 of 81 Buttered Noodles View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "Buttered noodles are simple to make with your favorite pasta, butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper for a quick and easy, kid-friendly dish." —elohel 14 of 81 Spaghetti Alla Carbonara Tradizionali View Recipe Buckwheat Queen "I can’t believe pasta can taste so creamy without any cream. It’s magic, and this is so delicious and easy to make. I’m obsessed." —Kiki875 15 of 81 Bucatini Cacio e Pepe (Roman Sheep Herder's Pasta) View Recipe "This is THE true recipe for Cacio e Pepe. No garlic, no frozen peas, no bacon: just the pasta, cheese, and pepper. This was a regular Friday evening dish growing up. It's still a favorite because it's delicious and inexpensive. Close your eyes and you're in Rome." —healthyeater 16 of 81 Baked Ziti View Recipe chibi chef "This baked ziti is always a hit! A lady I worked with brought this in one day, and everyone loved it. Now it is the favorite of all my dinner guests." —Colleen 17 of 81 Quick and Easy Pancit View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This quick pancit recipe with chicken, vegetables, and rice noodles is easy and delicious. It will remind you of island fiestas!" —Heather Maurer 18 of 81 Cajun Chicken Pasta View Recipe "Cajun chicken pasta is easy and delicious. Cajun cooking combines French, Southern, and other influences. It's robust, country-style cookery, just like this dish. Laissez les bons temps roulez and bon appétit!" —Carol Spradling 19 of 81 Lo Mein Noodles View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "I absolutely loved this recipe and I will make this one again. I was so quick to make and made a very satisfying meal." —Douglas Markin 20 of 81 Chicken With Artichokes and Sundried Tomatoes View Recipe Allrecipes Magazine "Sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese give this simple chicken dish a delightfully different twist." —Bren 21 of 81 Yakisoba Chicken View Recipe Chef'd "This is the first yakisoba recipe I have ever tried to make, and it turned out exceptionally well! It easily compares with the teriyaki restaurant near my home that makes this dish." —Maggie 22 of 81 One Pan Orecchiette Pasta View Recipe Chef John "This delicious orecchiette pasta recipe only has a handful of ingredients, is very cheap to make, and most importantly, only uses one pan or pot for the entire procedure." —John Mitzewich 23 of 81 Pantry Puttanesca View Recipe "Puttanesca is a hearty tomato sauce with a rich texture and a spicy kick. Pair it with hot pasta, and a fresh tasting, wholesome dinner will be on the table in no time." —Julie Filips 24 of 81 Shrimp Scampi with Pasta View Recipe DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS ""Absolutely amazing. This was our wedding night dinner at our hotel restaurant in 1979. We both loved it so much we've been trying recipes since. This one nailed it! It's a keeper." —pamster6451 25 of 81 Pesto Chicken Penne Casserole View Recipe fabeverydayblog "Creamy, flavorful and so easy to fix. This meal-in-one will wow family and friends." —LindaLou 26 of 81 Baked Pasta with Sausage and Baby Portobello Mushroom White Sauce View Recipe briharris "This easy-to-make, flavorful dish will impress your family or friends and have them coming back for more!" —Peter Alfieri 27 of 81 One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce View Recipe bd.weld "One-pot spaghetti puts Italian sausage, pasta sauce, and noodles together for a dish you can have on the table in less than 45 minutes." —bdweld 28 of 81 Million Dollar Spaghetti View Recipe France C "Million dollar spaghetti is the perfect combination of noodles, lean ground beef sauce, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream. It's unbelievably good!" —Coqui30 29 of 81 Garlic Noodles View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "My family thought this was wonderful! I paired it with scallops sauteed in garlic and butter. The combination was fabulous." —Timothy Higgins 30 of 81 Rich Pasta for the Poor Kitchen View Recipe naples34102 "A wonderful recipe to make when you don't feel like making a trip to the grocery store. I used what I had on hand and it worked like a charm." —VAMPYRELADY 31 of 81 Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese View Recipe DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS "So creamy and rich. I real family hit and so easy. I've made numerous times and it always disappears quickly!" —chris12804 32 of 81 Udon Peanut Butter Noodles View Recipe Mr. B "This is a great recipe! Simple to put together and really flavorful." —chartman 33 of 81 Cabbage and Noodles View Recipe Jim Goings "Cabbage and noodles, cooked with bacon, is comfort food supreme, great for a chilly day." —Kathryn Weidenheimer 34 of 81 Creamy Linguine with Clam Sauce View Recipe Melissa Goff "Very easy, quick and sinfully satisfying. Great with a tossed green salad with vinaigrette dressing." —Lorraine Williams 35 of 81 One-Pot Cajun Chicken and Sausage Alfredo Pasta View Recipe SunnyDaysNora "It is so simple to make and absolutely packed with flavor. Tender chunks of chicken with smoky pieces of sausage in a rich and delicious homemade Cajun-flavored Alfredo sauce." —Christine 36 of 81 One-Pot Ham and Veggie Pasta View Recipe "This single-pot meal is the perfect way to use up leftover ham for a weeknight dinner. It's creamy, comforting, and quick-and-easy." —lutzflcat 37 of 81 Cheese and Hamburger Macaroni View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "Homemade macaroni and beef version of Hamburger Helper — just as easy and tastes so much better!" —macandjakesmom 38 of 81 Polish Noodles (Cottage Cheese and Noodles) View Recipe LandOfOzzie "This simple recipe for pasta with cottage cheese came from the Polish side of my family. We call it "cottage cheese and noodles" or "lazy man pierogies." It's a great comfort food and can be made with any kind of noodle." —Brandi Rose 39 of 81 Chicken Milano View Recipe "A delicious pasta and chicken dish with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil." —MARBALET 40 of 81 Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta View Recipe Thedailygourmet "The pasta dish will be ready in 30 minutes. Add a green salad and glass of sweet peach tea for a fast weeknight meal." —thedailygourmet 41 of 81 St. Louis Toasted Ravioli View Recipe Meredith Food Studios "Toasted ravioli, St. Louis-style! This method of breading and frying ravioli is unique and delicious. The crisp, golden brown ravioli are dusted with Parmesan cheese and served with marinara sauce for dipping." —Barb 42 of 81 Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This smoked salmon pasta is a lighter version of pasta carbonara. For people who want the flavor but not the bacon, smoked salmon is the perfect substitute!" —Dinah 43 of 81 Simple Hamburger Stroganoff View Recipe AllrecipesPhoto "This is a great comfort dish. It is easy to make and has a fantastic blend of flavors." —Explorer of Eats 44 of 81 Garlic Shrimp Pasta Bake View Recipe Ed N Angela Latimer "This shrimp casserole with noodles is quick and easy. With shrimp and pasta coated in a creamy herb sauce, this seafood pasta bake is a meal the whole family will love." —Ed N Angela Latimer 45 of 81 Baked Feta Pasta View Recipe My Hot Southern Mess "Super easy, delicious, makes a lot of food." —Michelle 46 of 81 Greek Chicken Pasta View Recipe "This pasta dish incorporates some of the flavors of Greece. It makes a wonderfully complete and satisfying meal." —Lorna 47 of 81 Bucatini All'Amatriciana View Recipe "Great flavors and easy to make! I love the serving size for two, it was perfect. This is a recipe that delivers a great range of flavors and in such a short amount of time." —Howard 48 of 81 Shrimp Lo Mein with Broccoli View Recipe naples34102 "Outstanding! The sauce defiantly makes this dish." —Mike Haire 49 of 81 Easy Skillet Chicken Primavera View Recipe Easy Skillet Chicken Primavera. fabeveryday "I cooked it according to the recipe and absolutely loved it! It was a big hit with the family, and made a delicious healthy meal." —CT C 50 of 81 Italian Chicken Skillet View Recipe "This Italian chicken skillet recipe is a delicious and easy dinner! The best part is that it cooks all in one skillet so there is hardly any mess!" —RHARRIS524 51 of 81 Simple Macaroni and Cheese View Recipe Homemade Mac and Cheese. Allrecipes "Quick, easy, and tasty macaroni and cheese dish. Fancy, designer mac and cheese often costs forty or fifty dollars to prepare when you have so many expensive cheeses, but they aren't always the best tasting. This simple recipe is cheap and tasty." —g0dluvsugly 52 of 81 Garlic Chili Oil Noodles View Recipe "These easy garlic chili oil noodles are not for those with a mild palate! Wok-fried garlic chili oil takes ramen noodles to a new level." —TheDailyGourmet 53 of 81 Creamy Garlic Pasta View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "Delicious! Made it twice already and it never gets old!" —Abigail Morgan 54 of 81 Savory Sea Scallops and Angel Hair Pasta View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This scallop pasta dish is a very simple, easy-to-prep meal that you will most likely be asked to make again! The taste, if carefully prepared and not overcooked, is incredible." —Jim F 55 of 81 Easy and Quick Halushki View Recipe "It was a remarkably easy dish to prepare, and it turned out to be incredibly delicious." —Felix 56 of 81 Spicy Pumpkin Pork Noodles View Recipe ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA "The moment I smelled the paprika and hoisin simmering together, I knew this was going to taste amazing with pumpkin, and it did." —Carole 57 of 81 Creamy Bay Scallop Spaghetti View Recipe DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS "This scallop pasta dinner with a creamy sauce is fast and easy. I cook the scallops a bit longer than many chefs, but that gives the dish more flavor and they're still tender and moist." —Chef John 58 of 81 Spicy Chicken Noodles View Recipe Chef John "Yum! This was a great way to use up some leftover chicken. It made a delicious lunch and the heat level was perfect with the jalapenos." —Lacyanne 59 of 81 Bow Tie Pasta with Broccoli, Garlic, and Lemon View Recipe Stashley "Very simple yet delicious! Fairly healthy and quick and easy to make and incorporate into a dinner rotation." —Elizabeth Currier 60 of 81 Gnocchi with Sage-Butter Sauce View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "A delicious sage-butter sauce with gnocchi pasta and Parmesan cheese makes a delicious side dish or complete meal." —Gina Izzy Shores 61 of 81 Pan-Seared Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Pasta View Recipe Angela F. "This fish pasta recipe features citrusy tilapia served with a light, cheesy pasta." –vo0do0 62 of 81 Fabulous Cilantro Pesto View Recipe *~Lissa~* "This cilantro pesto is a delicious variation of basil pesto with a little more zip! You can substitute the vinegar with lime juice, lemon juice, or Italian salad dressing." —Gena Urias 63 of 81 Ham Tetrazzini View Recipe "A quick casserole that only takes about 30 minutes to make: perfect for those busy 'game' days." —Susan Holtgrewe 64 of 81 Pesto Pasta Caprese Salad View Recipe Buckwheat Queen "Loved both the simplicity and versatility of this recipe. So easy to season, and make it your own." —jenn 65 of 81 Authentic Cincinnati Chili View Recipe humblepieliving "Piled on top of spaghetti, with raw chopped onions and a huge pile of very finely shredded cheddar cheese, this is my idea of heaven on a plate. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!" —Duke 66 of 81 Easy Tuna Casserole View Recipe DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS "This easy tuna casserole is quick to make. Perfect for the busy mom!" —Jennie Ridgeway 67 of 81 Spinach Tomato Tortellini View Recipe "Easy and tasty weeknight meal." —Jenn 68 of 81 Weeknight Chicken Florentine Pasta View Recipe humblepieliving "This dish is so fast to make, and is company worthy. For faster preparation- wilt the spinach at the same time you drain the pasta." —thedailygourmet 69 of 81 Grandma's Hamburger Casserole View Recipe Meredith Food Studios "My grandmother's hamburger casserole is classic comfort food! Featuring ground beef, noodles, and a creamy cheese sauce, this simple recipe dates back to the 1940s." —LaDonna Langwell 70 of 81 One-Pot Ham and Veggie Pasta View Recipe "This single-pot meal is the perfect way to use up leftover ham for a weeknight dinner. It's creamy, comforting, and quick-and-easy." —lutzflcat 71 of 81 Kid's Favorite Pizza Casserole View Recipe Kid's Favorite Pizza Casserole. Cynthia Ross "This was easy to make and my one year old LOVED it." —Colins Mom 72 of 81 Easy Pasta Fagioli View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This hearty pasta fagioli recipe with cannellini beans and ditalini pasta is a classic and deliciously comforting Italian soup." —Cindy 73 of 81 Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce View Recipe Dotdash Meredith Food Studio "I experimented with Alfredo sauce until I found a quick, cheap, and easy Alfredo sauce combination — the secret ingredient is cream cheese!" —Dawn Carter 74 of 81 Baked Penne with Italian Sausage View Recipe "This baked penne pasta recipe makes a hearty, filling meal that's full of flavor!" —SADIEQQ 75 of 81 Clams Casino Stuffed Pasta Shells View Recipe Chef John "Bacon, clams, peppers, cream, and cheese are stuffed into pasta shells for a truly incredible dinner." —Chef John 76 of 81 Orzo with Parmesan and Basil View Recipe H L "Love this recipe! Make it all the time!! AMAZING just the way it is!" —Amy Jo 77 of 81 Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce View Recipe mcrenegade "Great recipe, full of flavor, and fast to put on the table. It's definitely in our dinner rotation." —barley 78 of 81 Tony's Summer Pasta View Recipe House of Aqua "I usually have all these ingredients on hand which is tremendously handy. I will definitely make this again." —Geri 79 of 81 Creamy Pesto Penne with Sausage View Recipe Deb C "Quick weeknight dinner. Ready in 15 minutes!" —BaughHumbug 80 of 81 Fettuccine with Sweet Pepper-Cayenne Sauce View Recipe sanzoe "Very flavorful and spicy. You'll never know this fettuccine with red bell pepper sauce is a healthy dish. You can also add some cut-up grilled chicken." —Julieliz 81 of 81 More Inspiration 35 Easy Dinner Ideas for Families 18 Cheap and Easy Dinner Recipes 20 Easy Dinner Recipes for Beginners Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit