Weeknight pasta dishes need to be simple and quick, right? After spending a long day at work, school, or doing whatever, no. one wants to start cooking from scratch. We all want fast and easy, and what’s easier or more comforting than pasta? NOTHING!
Simple, Quick Weeknight Pasta Dishes
Even though I try not to use boxed ingredients, and aim for fresh ingredients, it isn’t always possible. We need shortcuts and simple steps! Boxed pastas. Jars of organic sauces. Easy, simple instructions. BOOM. Done.
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Lemon is magical. I incorporate it into many of my own recipes, and if something doesn’t call for it, I find a way to work it in. Yep, lemon lover for life. It’s the best way to complete a chicken dish, pasta dish, or seafood dish. Good Housekeeping’s Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta is a go-to for weeknight pasta dishes, but I swap out the linguine sometimes to switch things up. It goes great with rigatoni, and even tortellini if we have some in the fridge (you know, the fresh kind).
One Pot Creamy Corn Pasta with Bacon
Bacon. Do I need to say more? Okay…made in one pot, how about that? Clean up is the worst part about cooking, and during the week it’s basically the end of the world. Salted Mint’s One Pot Bacon Corn Pasta hits all the spots.
Ravioli with Brown Butter & Spinach
Fresh ravioli from the local Italian grocer, and this one’s crazy easy to make on a weeknight. Give Good Housekeeping’s Ravioli with Brown Butter Spinach Recipe a go. It works well with frozen ravioli, too. But, honestly, the fresh stuff takes less time to boil and cuts cook time down even more for weeknight pasta dishes!
Easy Gemelli Pasta with Shrimp & Lemon Butter Sauce
It’s baaaack – LEMON! Gemelli’s also one of my favorite pasta types, too. Make Rebecca Bitzer’s Gemelli Pasta with Shrimp and Lemon Butter Sauce recipe. You’ll thank me, I’m sure.
Spaghetti Aglio & Olio (Garlic & Oil)
Keeping things simple, especially for weeknight pasta dishes, doesn’t get any easier than garlic and oil spaghetti! One of my favorites is Chef Jean Pierre’s Spaghetti Aglio e Olio.
Not Everyone Can Have Regular Pasta
If you’ve avoided pasta for years because of the gluten, or because you aren’t doing carbs, there’s other options than pastas made out of white flour. There’s chickpea versions, along with ones made out of cauliflower, hearts of palm, quinoa as well as lentils. Let’s just say you don’t have to say no to pasta anymore!
