You’ve been mom-ing all day, it’s time to make dinner, and you’ve got the energy of a sloth. I can help! Here are 7 simply delicious pasta dishes you can make in 30 minutes. They are extra tasty and will leave your family with full, happy tummies. Everyone wins!
7 Simple And Tasty Pasta Recipes
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta
You really can’t go wrong with garlic, cheese, heavy cream, and pasta. This is one of my favorite go-to quick and easy dinners when I’ve got no inspirational bone left in my body.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until evenly coated in the creamy sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Lemon Asparagus Pasta
This dish just sounds cheerful. Anything with lemon makes me smile. You can easily add chicken or shrimp to this if you want an extra kick of protein.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes, for garnish (optional)
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the asparagus to the skillet and sauté until tender-crisp, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with the lemon zest and lemon juice. Toss until well combined.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the pasta is coated in a light sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with red pepper flakes if desired.
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
I’m on a roll with lemon, but this one was too good to leave out. No one is mad about multiple lemony pasta dishes, right? Pair this delicious dish with a glass of wine, and you’ll feel like you’re on a mini holiday.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook until pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice, then add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss until well combined.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
Creamy Chicken and Spinach Pasta
This is a great way to get some greens in without the kiddos noticing too much. Who can turn away heavy cream and cheese?
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced chicken breasts and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the fresh spinach leaves and cook until wilted.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until evenly coated in the sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.
Bacon Carbonara Pasta
My son adores this pasta dish. He is a big fan of bacon, so any recipe containing bacon is ok with him. He usually goes through his dish and my dish to get all the bacon bits before digging in to the pasta.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain on paper towels, reserving the bacon fat in the skillet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and black pepper.
- In the same skillet with the reserved bacon fat, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Immediately pour the egg and cheese mixture over the pasta, tossing quickly to coat the pasta evenly and prevent the eggs from scrambling.
- If the pasta seems too dry, gradually add the reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
- Add the cooked bacon back to the skillet and toss to combine.
- Serve the pasta hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese.
Sausage and Peppers Pasta
This pasta dish is reminiscent of my childhood. My dad loves sausage and peppers, so we had them often. I think of him whenever I make this yummy dish.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice
- 1 pound Italian sausage, sliced
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
- Chopped fresh basil, for garnish
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the sliced Italian sausage over medium heat until browned and cooked through.
- Add the thinly sliced onion and bell peppers to the skillet and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning, and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the diced tomatoes (with juices) to the skillet and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until evenly coated in the sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil.
Tomato Basil Pasta
You really can’t get easier and more traditional than this one. There is something so good about simple recipes made with good quality, tasty ingredients. It’s a no frills, wonderfully perfect kind of meal.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the diced tomatoes (with juices) to the skillet and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the tomatoes have softened and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Stir in the chopped fresh basil leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until well coated in the tomato basil sauce.
- Serve the pasta hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Bon Appetit!
How did you do? Did you find something you and your family would love? I hope one of these 7 delicious 30 minute pasta dishes fit the bill for you.
Pasta is the best because you can add just about any sauce and protein and call it a meal.
Try the recipes here, and hopefully you’ll be inspired to play around with different ingredients and make your own special pasta dishes.
The Italians will be proud of you! I know I am.
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