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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    22 Minimalist Pasta Recipes That Will Save You Time

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on June 3, 2025, updated May 7, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Cooking pasta doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. With these 22 minimalist recipes, you can whip up delicious meals using just a few simple ingredients. Perfect for busy days, these dishes are quick to prepare and satisfying.

    Anchovy Pasta with Capers

    Anchovy Pasta with Capers.
    Photo Credit: Posh Journal.

    Anchovy pasta with capers is an easy and tasty dish. It's great for late-night meals or when you're trying to save some money.

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    Garlic Butter Pasta

    Garlic butter pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta dish is quick to prepare and uses ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something simple and satisfying.

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    Creamy Chicken Tagliatelle

    Creamy Chicken Tagliatelle.
    Photo Credit: Let's Cook Chicken.

    Creamy chicken tagliatelle is a cozy Italian pasta dish that's perfect for any night. Juicy chicken is cooked in a rich garlic cream sauce and mixed with soft tagliatelle noodles.

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    Penne Napoli

    Penne Napoli.
    Photo Credit: Delicious by Design.

    Penne Napoli is a tasty dish that highlights the goodness of fresh, simple ingredients. With garlic, onions, and basil mixed into a rich tomato sauce, this meal is both comforting and easy to prepare, making it great for busy weeknights.

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    Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta

    Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Savory Experiments.

    Garlic Parmesan Linguine is super simple to make, making it a great choice for dinner. It’s so easy that even grandmothers might raise an eyebrow, but that’s perfectly fine.

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    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta dish is simple and satisfying, perfect for a cozy meal. With just a few ingredients, it brings comfort and flavor to your table.

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    Tortellini with Sausage

    Tortellini with Sausage,
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    Tortellini with Sausage is a tasty meal that requires just a few basic ingredients and a large skillet. This one-pan pasta dish comes together in about 30 minutes and is sure to please everyone.

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    One-Pot Hummus Pasta

    Hummus pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Dinner can be quick and easy with just a few ingredients and one pot. This recipe is perfect for busy nights when you want something simple.

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    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

    Garlic butter shrimp pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is a quick and easy dish that combines juicy shrimp with perfectly cooked pasta in a rich garlic butter sauce. This is a great meal that everyone in the family will enjoy.

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    Pasta Puttanesca

    Pasta Puttanesca.
    Photo Credit; The Urben Life.

    This vegan puttanesca is a tasty Italian pasta dish featuring a simple sauce made with tomatoes, olives, capers, and garlic. It comes together in less than 30 minutes, making it a comforting meal that's full of flavor.

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    Ricotta Pesto Pasta

    Ricotta Pesto Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Through the Fibro Fog.

    This quick ricotta pesto pasta is a great vegetarian dinner that you can whip up in just 20 minutes. With a creamy, garlicky sauce made from just a few simple ingredients, it's both tasty and easy to prepare.

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    Shrimp Carbonara

    Shrimp carbonara.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Shrimp Carbonara is a quick and tasty take on the classic Italian pasta dish. It combines the creamy goodness of traditional Carbonara with perfectly cooked shrimp, making it a satisfying meal for seafood and pasta lovers.

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    Creamy Pesto Pasta

    Creamy pesto pasta topped with cherry tomatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This creamy pesto pasta is quick to make with just three ingredients and takes only 10 minutes to cook. The bright pesto sauce combined with Greek yogurt creates a simple and satisfying meal.

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    Spaghetti Pomodoro

    Spaghetti Pomodoro.
    Photo Credit: Aline Made.

    This spaghetti pomodoro recipe is a simple and tasty Italian dish. With just fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic, it’s bound to be a hit with everyone at the table.

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    Pizza Casserole

    Pizza casserole.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    This pizza casserole is a family favorite packed with marinara sauce, mini pepperoni, and two kinds of cheese. It's a great meal for busy weeknights and you can easily add your favorite pizza toppings.

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    Creamy Mushroom Pasta

    Creamy Mushroom Pasta in 10 Minutes.
    Photo Credit: Belly Rules the Mind.

    Creamy mushroom pasta can be ready in just 10 minutes with this simple Instant Pot recipe. This comforting dish combines earthy mushrooms in a smooth white wine sauce, making it perfect for a cozy dinner or a special occasion.

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    Pesto Tortellini with Asparagus and Peas

    Pesto Tortellini with Asparagus and Peas
    Photo Credit: Mandi of the Mountains.

    This easy pasta is a quick and delicious dinner. It’s loaded with vibrant, fresh spring veggies, then tossed in a pesto cream sauce. And it only requires one pot to make!

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    Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Lemon ricotta pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta dish is incredibly easy to make. With just a few ingredients, it's perfect for a quick meal.

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    Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts

    15-Minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts
    Photo credit: always use butter

    This 15-minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts is all about keeping it simple while still being tasty. It's great on its own, but adding some mozzarella or burrata cheese takes it to the next level.

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    Olive Oil Lemon Parsley Pasta

    Olive Oil Lemon Parsley Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Masala Herb.

    This lemon parsley pasta is a refreshing dish that's perfect for spring or summer dinners. With just a few simple ingredients and olive oil, it's easy to whip up and enjoy.

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    Tortellini Carbonara

    Tortellini carbonara.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This version of carbonara is fast and simple to prepare, using everyday ingredients you can easily find at any grocery store. It's perfect for a quick meal when you want something satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Cajun Alfredo Pasta

    Cajun alfredo pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Alfredo sauce has a spicy kick that adds a fun twist to the classic recipe. With just a few common seasonings you likely have in your pantry, it’s an easy and budget-friendly choice.

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    More Recipe Roundups

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      22 Dump-And-Go Recipes That Will Make You Love Cooking Again
    • Tikka masala.
      22 Delicious Crockpot Chicken Meals You Can Just Set and Forget
    • 19 Family Friendly Slow Cooker Meals That Are Perfect for Meal Prep
    • Orzo pesto salad.
      22 Quick Summer Salads That Are Bursting with Flavor

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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