7 Weeknight Pasta Recipes to Make Within 30 Minutes

After a long day, there's nothing more comforting than coming home and sitting down to a big bowl of pasta. The warm, delicious carbs are like a hug for your stomach. Pasta is also a quick and easy dinner solution when you need to feed the family quickly. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a pasta dish in 30 minutes or less. 

The best part is that most pasta recipes allow flexibility with the type of pasta used, so you can customise with whatever dried pasta you have on hand. To save even more time, try starting the pasta in cold water instead of boiling; this cuts the cooking time almost in half and conserves water. With 21 quick and easy pasta recipes to choose from, you'll have a different delicious dinner almost every night of the month. Each dish uses lots of fresh ingredients to keep things tasty and nutritious. 

So next time you come home hungry after a long day or need to get dinner on the table fast, turn to pasta. It's comforting, convenient, and crazy delicious. 

Creamy Cavatappi 

With just 20 minutes to spare, you can whip up a delightful pasta dish that's sure to satisfy. The key is cavatappi pasta—those corkscrew-shaped noodles that do a fantastic job of holding onto each drop of the rich, creamy cheese sauce. As the pasta boils, start making the sauce by melting butter and sautéing minced garlic. Then pour in the heavy cream and let it simmer. Stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the flavours. The sauce will thicken to a luxurious, decadent creaminess that coats each curly pasta tube. For a pop of colour and nutrition, you can also toss in some frozen peas in the last couple minutes. The peas add a touch of sweetness and make this a well-rounded one-pot meal. Served with a fresh green salad on the side, it's an easy yet impressive dinner that can be on the table in no time. 

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No-Cook Tomato Basil Pasta 

The beauty of this pasta dish lies in its incredibly flavourful, no-cook tomato sauce. To make it, simply boil pasta until al dente. Meanwhile, dice fresh, ripe tomatoes and combine with torn basil leaves, grated Parmesan, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Once pasta is cooked, immediately toss it with the fresh tomato sauce so the residual heat wilts the basil and melds the flavours. The tomatoes and cheese melt together to coat each strand of pasta in an irresistible, summery blend of sweet, herby, and savoury flavours. It's a quick, easy, and fresh-tasting pasta perfect for a weeknight meal. The no-cook sauce lets the natural flavours of in-season tomatoes and garden-fresh basil shine. Just a few ingredients and minutes of active prep are required for a bowl bursting with sweet, herby flavour. 

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Creamy Miso Mushroom Pasta 

This creamy, umami-packed spaghetti with mushrooms and miso is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes. To make it, boil a pound of spaghetti while you sauté one pound of sliced mushrooms in olive oil and garlic. Once fragrant, stir in some white miso paste to infuse the mushrooms with a savoury flavour. Add a splash of pasta water to the pan, along with Parmesan cheese and heavy cream. Toss the cooked spaghetti with the creamy mushroom miso sauce until it is coated. Top with extra Parmesan and chopped parsley for a rich, satisfying pasta dish that feeds four. With just 8 simple ingredients, this recipe proves you don't need much to make a delicious mushroom and miso pasta perfect for busy weeknights. 

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Spaghetti Aglio and Olio 

This pasta dish is simple yet flavourful, requiring just a few quality ingredients. Use fresh pasta like linguine or spaghetti cooked al dente. Sauté minced garlic in extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until fragrant. Remove from heat, and stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes to taste. Toss the hot pasta with the garlic-oil mixture. 

Also Read: Pasta Puttanesca: The Story Behind The Origin Of Whore’s Pasta

The heat melts the cheese into a creamy sauce, coating each strand. A sprinkling of parsley adds freshness. This quick, easy pasta comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. The key is finding the best olive oil, garlic, and Parmesan to let their flavours shine. This simple recipe makes an elegant meal with little effort. 

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Fresh Corn Pasta 

When fresh corn is in season, this mac and cheese corn bake is the perfect recipe to have on hand. It combines the creaminess of creamed corn with the cheesiness of mac and cheese for an irresistible side dish or light meal. You'll start by cooking pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, sauté onions and garlic, then stir in corn, cream, and cheeses until melted. Toss the pasta with the cheesy corn mixture. Transfer to a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs, and bake until bubbly and golden. The fresh, sweet corn pairs perfectly with the rich, creamy cheese sauce. In just 30 minutes, you can have this easy and delicious corn mac and cheese casserole on the table. 

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Buttery Tomato Pasta 

The ridges of corkscrew pasta perfectly capture tomato sauce made with canned tomatoes and butter rather than olive oil. There's a good chance you have the ingredients you need in your pantry already, and while the corkscrew pasta works great, you can use whatever pasta you have on hand. 

This simple pasta dish comes together with just a few ingredients that most people have on hand. Start by boiling a pot of water and cooking the corkscrew or other short pasta according to package directions. While the pasta cooks, melt a few tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add a can of diced or crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Let the sauce simmer until heated through. Drain the pasta and add it to the pan of sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated. The ridges and curves of the corkscrew pasta catch the creamy tomato sauce perfectly. Feel free to add spices like oregano, basil, or red pepper flakes to amp up the flavour. This pantry pasta dish is budget-friendly, easy to make, and delicious. The canned tomatoes and butter provide plenty of rich, tomatoey flavour to coat every twist of the corkscrews. 

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Mom's Pasta Primavera 

A Mediterranean vegetable primavera pasta dish that bursts with aroma and flavour. Sauté chopped onions, carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant in olive oil over medium heat until soft. Make a quick marinara by combining canned crushed tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a saucepan. Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes. Toss the cooked vegetables and marinara with penne pasta. Garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese for a creamy finishing touch. 

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This fresh, vegetable-packed pasta primavera skips heavy cream for a lighter tomato sauce. Sautéing the veggies first builds big flavour. With pantry staples, it comes together in under 30 minutes for a satisfying weeknight meal.