25 Easy Pasta Recipes

These easy pasta recipes will satisfy any pasta craving! Whether you're hungry for classic lasagna or a quick spaghetti, we've got you covered.

Jeanine Donofrio

Phoebe Moore

Updated Apr 9, 2026

Pasta recipes are some of the most versatile dishes out there. Cooking a romantic dinner for two? There’s a pasta recipe for that. Need a quick and easy dinner on a weeknight? There’s a pasta recipe for that. Serving a crowd? There’s one for that too.

Below, you’ll find 25 easy pasta recipes we’ve made and loved on all sorts of occasions—family gatherings, date nights in, and busy weeknights when I needed dinner on the table ASAP. They include creamy pastas, bright and lemony ones, and hearty baked pastas for when nothing but comfort food will do.

These pasta dishes are some of our favorites. I hope you love them as much as we do!

Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes

Pasta Puttanesca

Capers, olives, garlic, and red pepper flakes add bold, briny flavor to this pasta’s simple tomato sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s one of the best pasta recipes for busy weeknights.

Pasta Primavera

This vibrant pasta is spring on a plate! It’s packed with the season’s best produce—asparagus, peas, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and more. All the veggies cook together in one pan, making it easy to throw together.

Lemon Pasta

This 20-minute pasta is a Love & Lemons reader favorite. Jessica wrote, “Love the light flavors coming from the lemon and fresh Parmesan.”

Pesto Pasta

This one’s a classic for a reason! Luckily for us, it comes together in 15 minutes flat. Use homemade pesto if you have an abundance of fresh basil, or sub store-bought to make it even simpler.

Lentil Pasta

In this protein-packed weeknight pasta, I dress up store-bought marinara sauce with cooked lentils, carrots, and mushrooms for savory flavor. A little balsamic vinegar adds the perfect tangy kick.

Arrabbiata Sauce Pasta

Tired of plain old marinara sauce? Try arrabbiata instead! It’s like marinara’s fiery cousin—a generous pinch of red pepper flakes brings the heat.

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Olive oil and garlic are the star ingredients in this classic Italian pasta. I dress mine up a bit more with a little lemon zest and fresh kale. It’s so simple, yet so delicious.

Baked Pasta Recipes

Vegetarian Lasagna

If you like a LOT of vegetables in your lasagna, this recipe is the one for you. I pile over 5 cups of roasted veggies between layers of creamy ricotta, pasta, and tomato sauce. They make it flavorful, hearty, and good for you, too!

Stuffed Shells

With over 230 5-star reviews, these stuffed shells are one of the most popular pasta recipes on Love & Lemons. I love to serve them for special occasions because they’re great for making ahead!

Homemade Mac and Cheese

Creamy and comforting, this mac and cheese is a hit with kids and adults alike.

Easy Baked Ziti

This baked ziti recipe is perfect for any and every occasion, from a busy weeknight to a holiday dinner. It’s quick and easy to make, great for serving a crowd, and delicious to boot!

Creamy Pastas

Fettuccine Alfredo

You only need 6 ingredients to make my homemade Alfredo sauce. Silky and velvety, it’s such an impressive dinner that you can make in under 30 minutes.

Penne alla Vodka

Don’t buy that jar of vodka sauce—this homemade version is SO much better! It couldn’t be easier to make either. Rich, creamy, and tangy, it relies on basic ingredients like onion, tomato paste, and a touch of cream.

Creamy Corn Pasta

When sweet corn is in season, I can’t get enough of this summer pasta! The juicy corn kernels blend with starchy pasta cooking water to create a perfect cream sauce without using actual cream.

Butternut Squash Pasta

Of all the pasta recipes on this list, this butternut squash pasta is the one I crave the most in fall. It stars a creamy sauce made from blended roasted squash, cashews, and herbs. No dairy here!

Cacio e Pepe

I fell in love with cacio e pepe on my first trip to Rome with Jack. This classic Roman dish is creamy, nutty, and salty, with the slightest funk from pecorino cheese, one of the key ingredients in the sauce. Pair it with a green salad for the perfect date night meal!

Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

This nutty, velvety fettuccine Alfredo has a secret ingredient hiding inside it: cauliflower! Blended with Parmesan cheese, pasta water, and a touch of butter, it creates a sauce that’s lighter than the classic—but every bit as delicious.

Vegan Mac and Cheese

This plant-based spin on mac and cheese is the closest you can get to boxed macaroni from scratch. I make the sauce by blending sweet potatoes, cashews, and nutritional yeast. It comes shockingly close to the real thing!

Vegetable Pasta Dishes

Mushroom Pasta

This pasta recipe is a terrific choice for a date night in, especially if your date loves mushrooms as much as mine does. It feels elevated, but it’s deceptively easy to make. I won’t tell if you won’t!

Zucchini Pasta

This recipe is perfect for that moment in the summer when you have more zucchini than you know what to do with. Two full pounds cook down into a silky sauce that’s bright with lemon.

Linguine with Lemon and Tomatoes

Slow roasted tomatoes add wonderful pops of savory flavor to this elegant summer pasta. I add little bits of roasted lemon too. They make this dish feel unexpected and fresh!

Roasted Vegetable Pasta

Make this flexible, veggie-packed pasta with whatever produce you have on hand! Toss the caramelized veggies with feta cheese, fresh basil, and a big squeeze of lemon juice to make a bright, satisfying dish.

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Tomatoes aren’t the only vegetable that can create a delicious red sauce! This one stars roasted red peppers, which make it slightly smoky and a touch sweet.

Artichoke Pasta

I call for fresh roasted artichokes in this quick pasta, but when they’re not in season, you could just as easily use good-quality jarred ones. Both options taste delicious in the bright lemon butter sauce in this recipe.

Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe

Bitter greens and savory plant-based sausage team up in this veggie pasta dish. Hearty and satisfying, it’s one of my favorite pasta dinners to make throughout the fall and winter.