Easy Pasta Recipes For Busy Weeknights

Weeknights can feel like a race—work, school, errands, and somehow you still have to put a real dinner on the table. When time is tight, pasta is one of the easiest ways to make something warm, filling, and genuinely satisfying without spending your whole evening in the kitchen. It cooks fast, it plays well with whatever you already have in the fridge or pantry, and it can go in a dozen delicious directions—from creamy and cheesy to fresh and bright.

This collection of easy pasta recipes for busy weeknights is made for home cooks who want dinner to be simple, not stressful. You’ll find options that work for picky eaters, hungry teenagers, and those “I need comfort food” nights. Think cozy classics like chicken Alfredo and tuna noodle casserole, plus fun twists like pizza pasta, spinach artichoke pasta, and caprese pasta. There are also hearty skillet-style meals with sausage and peppers, and lighter choices with basil, tomatoes, and plenty of veggies.

Most of these dinners come together with everyday ingredients and straightforward steps, so you don’t need special equipment or fancy cooking skills to make them taste great. Whether you’re planning meals for the week or just need a quick idea for tonight, these recipes will help you get a flavorful pasta dinner on the table fast—without sacrificing that homemade feel. Grab your favorite noodle shape and let’s make weeknight cooking easier.

Pesto Chicken Pasta

An easy summer pasta dish that takes only minutes to create. Roasted tomatoes paired with garlic and pesto make this meal highly flavorful!

Add butter, basil pesto and heavy cream to a skillet; when bubbling, mix in cream cheese and parmesan and let simmer. Then sprinkle grated parmesan on top before garnishing with whole pine nuts (optional). This recipe serves two.

Chicken Parmesan Pasta

An easy chicken parmesan pasta dish makes the ideal weeknight dinner. Your whole family will surely love this hearty and satisfying dinner that won’t take too much effort on your part!

Ingredients needed for this dish include boneless skinless chicken breasts, eggs, olive oil, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese – plus fresh herbs to give an additional burst of flavor!

Cajun Pasta

Cajun food reflects what was available in its local community. While rice may have been the staple for early Acadian cooks, pasta and dairy likely existed as alternatives.

Melt butter in a large pan and combine with white wine. Meanwhile, combine heavy cream, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano and remaining one teaspoon of Cajun seasoning in another bowl before stirring into your cooked pasta and parmesan cheese in the large pan.

Broccoli Cheddar Pasta

One pot comfort food recipes for busy weeknights! Tender pasta and broccoli in an ultra creamy white cheddar sauce made even simpler by organic powdered cheddar cheese.

Cook the Pasta and Broccoli: In a large pot, melt butter before whisking in flour. Reduce heat to medium low and slowly add chicken broth, half and half and garlic powder, gradually stirring to bring everything to al dente before turning off heat and stirring in cheeses, turmeric, salt and pepper to finish it off.

Caprese Pasta

Experience the classic flavors of tomatoes, basil and mozzarella in this creamy pasta recipe – ideal for summer nights when time is limited and simple enough for any busy night!

Bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook the pasta until just under al dente, about one minute less than desired. While that is cooking, saute garlic in some olive oil until golden-brown before tossing into your tomato mixture along with fresh mozzarella (small ciliegine or pearls are ideal) and hand-torn basil leaves.

Pizza Pasta

Pizza pasta is an easy and satisfying dinner dish that combines two Italian classics into one delicious dinner meal. Rigatoni pasta holds up well against its thick cheese sauce while ground beef, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese add a meaty, smoky bite that will please even picky eaters! With such delicious results guaranteed by this tasty pizza-inspired pasta recipe!

Switch up the meat or cheese blend for an unexpected flavor combination, and serve this delectable pasta alongside a tasty salad for an easy family-friendly dinner!

Spinach Artichoke Pasta

Creamy spinach artichoke dip meets tender penne pasta to create this comforting one-pot dinner, customizable according to your own personal tastes by swapping out ingredients or adding extras.

Combine water, half and half, pasta, onion, garlic, artichoke hearts and seasonings in a pot. Cook until noodles have softened and most of the liquid has been absorbed; stir in cream cheese, baby spinach and parmesan.

Sausage & Pepper Pasta

Inspired by Italian sausage and peppers, this easy weeknight dinner recipe offers fresh flavors with every bite! Made using sausage and store-bought tomato sauce jars – making this meal ideal for busy nights!

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, place sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat and fry until it has turned brown, before adding peppers, onion & garlic until softened.

Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Creamy pasta tossed with an easy homemade alfredo sauce and pan-seared chicken are sure to impress at any dinner party! Don’t miss out – serve this tasty treat tonight!

Fettuccine is the traditional pasta choice for chicken alfredo, though you could also try linguine, tagliatelle or cavatappi as long as they can hold more of the creamy sauce. Freshly grated parmesan cheese adds an irresistibly delicious nutty texture and fresh basil can add depth of flavor.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Redditors often recall growing up with this classic tuna casserole made with macaroni noodles, canned tuna, cream of mushroom soup, and cheese as their go-to dish for family meals. Plus, it’s simple and quick to prepare!

Bring water to boil in a rondeau pot and cook noodles according to package directions until tender, drain and set aside. In a mixing bowl combine cream of mushroom soup, tuna and milk before stirring in cooked noodles and peas.