40 Quick and Easy Pasta Dinner Ideas to Try Tonight

Craving pasta but short on time? These 40 quick and easy pasta dinner ideas are perfect for busy nights when you want a delicious meal without the hassle. From creamy sauces to simple stir-fries, these recipes will have you enjoying a satisfying pasta dinner in no time.

1. Classic Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Ingredients: Spaghetti, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes.

Instructions: Cook spaghetti, sauté garlic in olive oil, toss with red pepper flakes and cooked pasta.

2. Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, canned tomatoes, cream, fresh basil.

Instructions: Cook pasta, blend tomatoes with cream, and stir in fresh basil. Toss with pasta.

3. Pesto Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, pesto sauce, Parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes.

Instructions: Cook pasta, toss with pesto sauce, and top with Parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes.

4. One-Pot Mac and Cheese

Ingredients: Macaroni, cheese, milk, butter.

Instructions: Cook macaroni, then stir in cheese, milk, and butter until creamy.

5. Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, shrimp, garlic, olive oil.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté shrimp and garlic in olive oil, and toss with pasta.

6. Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Ingredients: Jumbo pasta shells, ricotta cheese, spinach, marinara sauce.

Instructions: Stuff cooked shells with ricotta and spinach, cover with marinara sauce, and bake.

7. Chicken Alfredo

Ingredients: Pasta, chicken breasts, Alfredo sauce, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté chicken, toss with Alfredo sauce, and top with Parmesan cheese.

8. Pasta Primavera

Ingredients: Pasta, mixed vegetables, olive oil, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook pasta and vegetables, toss with olive oil and Parmesan cheese.

9. Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, mushrooms, cream, garlic.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté mushrooms and garlic in cream, then toss with pasta.

10. Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients: Pasta, beef strips, sour cream, onions.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté beef and onions, stir in sour cream, and toss with pasta.

11. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, lemon, garlic, olive oil.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté garlic in olive oil, and toss with lemon juice and pasta.

12. Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil.

Instructions: Cook pasta, toss with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil.

13. Sausage and Peppers Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, Italian sausage, bell peppers, marinara sauce.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté sausage and peppers, mix with marinara sauce, and toss with pasta.

14. Pasta Carbonara

Ingredients: Pasta, eggs, pancetta, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook pasta, mix eggs with Parmesan cheese, combine with crispy pancetta, and toss with pasta.

15. Greek Pasta Salad

Ingredients: Pasta, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese.

Instructions: Cook pasta, toss with cucumbers, olives, feta cheese, and a Greek vinaigrette.

16. Chili Mac

Ingredients: Macaroni, chili, cheese, onions.

Instructions: Cook macaroni, mix with chili, top with cheese and onions, and bake.

17. Lemon Basil Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, lemon, basil, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook pasta, toss with lemon juice, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese.

18. Baked Ziti

Ingredients: Ziti pasta, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese.

Instructions: Mix cooked ziti with marinara sauce and ricotta, top with mozzarella cheese, and bake.

19. Creamy Avocado Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, avocado, garlic, lemon juice.

Instructions: Blend avocado with garlic and lemon juice, toss with cooked pasta.

20. Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Ingredients: Pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, and toss with Parmesan cheese.

21. Pesto Tortellini

Ingredients: Tortellini, pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook tortellini, toss with pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese.

22. Sicilian Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, olives, capers, anchovies.

Instructions: Cook pasta, toss with olives, capers, and anchovies.

23. Creamy Spinach Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, spinach, cream, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté spinach in cream, and toss with Parmesan cheese.

24. Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Ingredients: Pasta, roasted red peppers, garlic, cream.

Instructions: Blend roasted red peppers with garlic and cream, toss with cooked pasta.

25. Chicken Pesto Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, cooked chicken, pesto sauce, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Toss cooked pasta with chicken, pesto sauce, and Parmesan cheese.

26. Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients: Macaroni, cheese, milk, breadcrumbs.

Instructions: Mix cooked macaroni with cheese and milk, top with breadcrumbs, and bake.

27. Tomato Basil Orzo

Ingredients: Orzo pasta, tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook orzo, toss with tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan cheese.

28. Pasta with Garlic Butter Sauce

Ingredients: Pasta, garlic, butter, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté garlic in butter, toss with pasta and Parmesan cheese.

29. Stuffed Pasta Shells

Ingredients: Jumbo pasta shells, ricotta cheese, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese.

Instructions: Stuff cooked shells with ricotta cheese, cover with marinara sauce, and bake with mozzarella.

30. Pasta with Sausage and Spinach

Ingredients: Pasta, sausage, spinach, garlic.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté sausage and spinach with garlic, and toss with pasta.

31. Caprese Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil.

Instructions: Cook pasta, toss with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.

32. Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, chicken, broccoli, cream.

Instructions: Cook pasta and broccoli, sauté chicken, and combine with cream.

33. Pasta with Clam Sauce

Ingredients: Pasta, canned clams, garlic, white wine.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté garlic, add clams and white wine, and toss with pasta.

34. Vegetable Pasta Stir-Fry

Ingredients: Pasta, mixed vegetables, soy sauce, garlic.

Instructions: Cook pasta, stir-fry vegetables with garlic and soy sauce, and toss with pasta.

35. Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, cooked chicken, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese.

Instructions: Toss pasta with chicken and marinara sauce, top with mozzarella cheese, and bake.

36. Pasta with Sweet Corn and Basil

Ingredients: Pasta, sweet corn, basil, Parmesan cheese.

Instructions: Cook pasta, mix with sweet corn, basil, and Parmesan cheese.

37. Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, cooked chicken, buffalo sauce, cheese.

Instructions: Toss pasta with chicken and buffalo sauce, top with cheese, and bake.

38. Spinach Artichoke Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, spinach, artichoke hearts, cream.

Instructions: Cook pasta, mix with sautéed spinach, artichoke hearts, and cream.

39. Pasta with Sausage and Peppers

Ingredients: Pasta, Italian sausage, bell peppers, marinara sauce.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté sausage and bell peppers, mix with marinara sauce, and toss with pasta.

40. Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta, shrimp, Cajun seasoning, cream.

Instructions: Cook pasta, sauté shrimp with Cajun seasoning, and toss with cream and pasta.

These pasta dinner ideas are perfect for any night of the week. They’re quick to prepare, flavorful, and sure to satisfy your pasta cravings. Enjoy a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen!