Weeknights can be hectic, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a delicious, home-cooked meal. Pasta is a versatile and quick-cooking ingredient that can be transformed into a variety of satisfying dishes. Here are seven easy pasta recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights.

1. Creamy Cavatappi with Cheese Sauce

Contents hide

1 1. Creamy Cavatappi with Cheese Sauce

2 2. One-Pot Sausage and Orzo

3 3. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Green Olives

4 4. Bow Tie Pasta with Mushrooms and Cheesy Wine Sauce

5 5. Penne with Roasted Cauliflower and Lemon

6 6. Parmesan Pasta Shrimp Skillet

7 7. One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan

7.1 Ingredients:

7.2 Instructions:

7.3 Why You’ll Love It:

8 7 Pasta Recipes for Busy Weeknights

8.6 Did you make this recipe?

Creamy Cavatappi is a comforting dish that’s both rich and satisfying. The corkscrew shape of cavatappi pasta holds onto the creamy cheese sauce, ensuring each bite is flavorful.

Ingredients:

Cavatappi pasta
Butter
Garlic, minced
Heavy cream
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Cook the cavatappi pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Pour in heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
Gradually add shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until the sauce is smooth.
Season with salt and pepper.
Combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, stirring to coat evenly.

Tip: For added nutrition, stir in steamed broccoli or peas before serving.

2. One-Pot Sausage and Orzo

This one-pot meal combines savory sausage with tender orzo pasta, making for a hearty and flavorful dish with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients:

Italian sausage, casing removed
Orzo pasta
Diced tomatoes, canned
Onion, chopped
Garlic, minced
Chicken broth
Spinach, fresh
Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions:

In a large pot, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned. Remove and set aside.
In the same pot, sauté chopped onion and minced garlic until translucent.
Add orzo pasta, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer until the orzo is tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed.
Stir in fresh spinach and cook until wilted.
Return the sausage to the pot and mix well.
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Note: This recipe is inspired by Simply Recipes’ collection of easy pasta dishes.

3. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Green Olives

A classic Italian dish, Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is simple yet full of flavor. The addition of green olives adds a briny depth to this quick meal.

Ingredients:

Spaghetti
Garlic, thinly sliced
Olive oil
Red pepper flakes
Green olives, sliced
Parsley, chopped
Salt, to taste

Instructions:

Cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve some pasta water and drain.
In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking until garlic is golden.
Add sliced green olives and cook for an additional minute.
Toss the cooked spaghetti into the skillet, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
Season with salt and garnish with chopped parsley.

For more on this dish, see the Wikipedia article on Spaghetti Aglio e Olio.

4. Bow Tie Pasta with Mushrooms and Cheesy Wine Sauce

This elegant dish pairs bow tie pasta with earthy mushrooms and a creamy wine-infused cheese sauce, perfect for a cozy dinner.

Ingredients:

Bow tie (farfalle) pasta
Mushrooms, sliced
Garlic, minced
White wine
Heavy cream
Parmesan cheese, grated
Butter
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Cook the bow tie pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sliced mushrooms, sautéing until mushrooms are tender.
Pour in white wine and simmer until reduced by half.
Add heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth.
Season with salt and pepper.
Combine the cooked pasta with the sauce, tossing to coat evenly.

Inspired by the recipe from Cooper Cheese’s collection of easy pasta recipes.

5. Penne with Roasted Cauliflower and Lemon

This vegetarian pasta dish features roasted cauliflower and a bright lemon flavor, making it both healthy and satisfying.

Ingredients:

Penne pasta
Cauliflower florets
Olive oil
Garlic, minced
Lemon zest and juice
Parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast until golden and tender.
Cook penne pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine roasted cauliflower, cooked pasta, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
Toss with chopped parsley and adjust seasoning as needed.

This recipe is adapted from The Hudsucker’s quick pasta recipes.

6. Parmesan Pasta Shrimp Skillet

A quick and flavorful dish, this shrimp pasta is cooked in a single skillet, making it ideal for busy nights.

Ingredients:

Linguine or spaghetti
Shrimp, peeled and deveined
Garlic, minced
Butter
Parmesan cheese, grated
Lemon juice
Parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
Add shrimp to the skillet, cooking until pink and opaque.
Stir in cooked pasta, grated Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice.
Toss to combine and season with salt and pepper.
Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

For more shrimp pasta ideas, explore Delish’s weeknight pasta recipes

7. One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan

This bright and zesty pasta dish is the definition of weeknight ease — everything cooks in one pot, including the pasta and vegetables. It’s perfect for a quick, healthy, and flavor-packed dinner with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients:

12 oz fettuccine or spaghetti
2 cups broccoli florets
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and black pepper, to taste
½ cup reserved pasta water (as needed)

Instructions:

Cook pasta and broccoli together:
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil.
- Add pasta and broccoli florets together and cook until the pasta is al dente and broccoli is just tender (usually about 8–9 minutes).
- Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain.
Sauté the aromatics:
- In the same pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté until just golden and fragrant (about 1 minute).
Combine and finish:
- Return the drained pasta and broccoli to the pot.
- Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese.
- Toss everything well, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce is silky and coats the pasta evenly.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot, optionally garnished with more Parmesan or red pepper flakes for a slight kick.

Why You’ll Love It:

Quick and easy — ready in under 20 minutes
Nutritious — packed with broccoli and lemon
One-pot cleanup — fewer dishes at the end of the night