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Pasta is pretty much the perfect comfort food. Pasta recipes are so adaptable to your tastebuds, and some are far simpler than you might expect. If you have noodles, seasonings, and a few whole ingredients, odds are you can make something delicious. Here are 32 lazy pasta recipes to to inspire your next meal, from classic Alfredos to one-pot wonders.
Easy Chicken Alfredo
fabeveryday
“This chicken Alfredo recipe with jar sauce is a quick and easy dinner for those hectic nights,” says recipe creator jojolyn. “For extra flavor, cook the chicken with lemon pepper and seasoning salt.”
Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe
“This is so freaking good. It’s a great weeknight hack for when you don’t have time (or patience) to make mac n’ cheese,” says reviewer rachelc. “Super easy to make and I always have the ingredients on hand. The garlic and olive oil really make this dish (and the cheese too, obviously.)”
Buttered Noodles
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
“Buttered noodles are simple to make with your favorite pasta, butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper for a quick and easy, kid-friendly dish,” says recipe creator elohel. “Fresh herbs and a little lemon juice could be added to amp up the flavor. Perfect to serve either as-is or alongside steak, chicken, or meatballs. It’s such a delicious recipe, yet I get many questions on how to make it.”
Mexican Mostaccioli
“First time I made this exactly as written. Everyone loved it. Easy, lots of flavor, and a great fast meal,” says reviewer Guminik. “I have made it several times since and sometimes mix it up with another ingredient or change out the meat and it always turns out great. I highly recommend it.”
Garlic-Herb Linguine
“Make this linguine pasta recipe and pair it with any meat, poultry, or fish,” says recipe creator Andrea Fahlor. “Add your favorite steamed, grilled, or sautéed veggies!”
Creamy Garlic Pasta
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“As far as creamy pasta recipes, this is the best I have ever had,” says recipe submitter Celestial. “Add prawns and/or scallops to make an amazing seafood Alfredo.”
Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
“A classic chicken spaghetti with Rotel tomatoes and green chiles, tender cooked chicken, and pasta stirred into a creamy, cheesy sauce,” says recipe creator bdld. “A great last-minute chicken recipe the whole family will enjoy!”
Easy Pasta Bake with Mostaccioli and Meatballs
“This baked mostaccioli with meatballs is an incredibly easy dish to prepare for a potluck dinner, a football party, or just for your family at home,” says recipe creator VIOLET2004. “It’s easy on the wallet because it has few ingredients and is great when served with garlic bread.”
Eggplant Pasta
“This is delicious. A nutritional and easy way to incorporate eggplant. The tomato and eggplant work so well the rigatoni,” says one Allrecipes reviewer. “Introduce your children to this traditional Italian recipe,”
Easy Feta Tomato Pasta
Grocery Addict
“This feta tomato pasta dish is super easy to make in just 20 minutes—dinner doesn’t get much quicker or tastier than this!” says Editorial Director Diana Moutsopoulos. “Boil any short pasta shape, and make the cheesy tomato sauce while the pasta boils. That’s about it!”
Creamy Pesto Penne with Sausage
“This is such a simple recipe, but what great flavor,” says reviewer Deb C. “Not to worry if you haven’t seen that pesto packet before because I haven’t. I used my homemade pesto and simply decreased the amount of olive oil.”
Bucatini Cacio e Pepe (Roman Sheep Herder’s Pasta)
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This peasant food comes from Roman sheep herders who had little time and money to spend on eating,” says Allrecipes Allstar Buckwheat Queen. “They used their sheep’s cheese and a bit of the water that cooked the pasta to create a cream, then added black pepper to give it some extra flavor. Cheap, easy, and fast: this was perfect for them and for us even today!”
Grandma’s Southern Mac and Cheese
“This is my grandmother’s macaroni and cheese recipe that we all crave and only get to have twice a year, if we play our cards right,” says recipe submitter Rhett Towles. Fairly simple and straightforward. The key is cooking time more than anything.”
Spaghetti a la Philly
“Your favorite spaghetti sauce gets a delicious make over when combined with cream cheese and cooked ground beef,” says recipe creator Philadelphia. “It’s mixed with hot cooked spaghetti for an easy supper.”
Hillshire Farm Sausage Alfredo
“This recipe has been added to our regular rotation,” says reviewer CookToave.
“It’s the first time I’ve added Cajun seasoning to a dish and we LOVE it! That, with the sausage, makes for an amazing flavor combination.”
Balsamic Ravioli
“Excellent, tasty dish!” says reviewer Paula Viccaro. “Really something different and interesting to eat! Like something you would order at a fine restaurant!”
Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo with Fettuccine
“I made this dish for the first time, and my family and I loved it,” says reviewer Esmer76. “I had never tried chicken & broccoli Alfredo. I will definitely be making it again.”
Spamaroni and Cheese
“This Spam mac and cheese is an easy, economical comfort food, that combines childhood favorites,” says recipe creator DustyRider. “My kids loved this when they were growing up.”
Linguine with Clam Sauce
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This linguine with clam sauce is an easy, inexpensive meal. Try the clam sauce over any pasta; lemon-pepper linguine is especially tasty,” says recipe creator Dorothy Rinaldi. “You can stretch the sauce for larger portions by adding 1/2 cup of chicken broth.”
One Pan Orecchiette Pasta
AllRecipes/Qi Ai
This delicious orecchiette pasta recipe only has a handful of ingredients, is very cheap to make, and most importantly, only uses one pan or pot for the entire procedure,” says Chef John. “Every year when it’s time to go back to school I get inundated with requests from students to post recipes that are super-easy, cost pennies, and require a bare minimum of kitchen equipment—this is one of them!”
Easy Pasta Fagioli
“This hearty pasta fagioli recipe with cannellini beans and ditalini pasta is a classic and deliciously comforting Italian soup,” says recipe creator Cindy. “Serve with a grating of Parmesan cheese and crusty bread.”
Parmesan Garlic Orzo
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“As far as orzo recipes go, this is an easy, delicious one that even my son enjoys making,” says recipe creator Colleen Volcjak.
Taco Pasta
Ramona Cruz-Peters
“This is an easy taco pasta dish to make with ground beef, your favorite taco seasoning, tomatoes, pasta, and two types of cheese for a quick and delicious dinner that hits the spot every time!” says recipe creator Allrecipes Allstar Yolanda Gutierrez.
Lemon Butter Herb Pasta
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“A quick, delicious, and light pasta sauce with a zesty flavor!” says recipe creator Elizabeth Sanford. “You can easily add chicken, shrimp, or your favorite veggies to personalize this basic lemon-butter sauce. Serve with Parmesan cheese.”
Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Five cheese ziti al forno is a delicious pasta bake made with ready-made marinara and alfredo sauces, Italian cheese blend, ricotta, ziti, and topped with panko bread crumbs and Parmesan,” says recipe developer Juliana Hale.
Broccoli Garlic Angel Hair Pasta
“This pasta with broccoli and garlic makes a beautiful side dish or vegetarian main course. If you’ve got to eat your broccoli, this is a great way to do it!” says Chef John. “Garnish each serving with a dusting of Parmigiano-Reggiano and more red pepper flakes if desired.”
Lemon Asparagus Pasta
France C
“This appetizing asparagus pasta dish is flavored with lemon zest and lemon juice,” says recipe creator Chop Suey. “It’s easy to make and can sit out during warm weather. Can be served hot, warm, or cold.”
3-Ingredient Boursin Cheese Pasta
“This is a quick and easy side pasta dish with only 3 ingredients!” says Allrecipes Allstar TheDailyGourmet. “Add a protein like grilled chicken breast to turn it from a tasty side dish to a main course—or it can be a vegetarian main.”
Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella
“Known as ‘gnocchi alla sorrentina,’ this classic Italian pasta dish that uses simple ingredients and tastes delicious,” says recipe creator Alemarsi. “Use homemade or store-bought gnocchi.”
Polish Noodles (Cottage Cheese and Noodles)
“This simple recipe for pasta with cottage cheese came from the Polish side of my family. We call it ‘cottage cheese and noodles’ or ‘lazy man pierogies,'” says recipe creator Brandi Rose. “It’s a great comfort food and can be made with any kind of noodle. You can serve it as a side dish, but we always enjoy it as a main course.”
Easy Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This delicious tomato sauce for spaghetti simmers over low heat for a rich and meaty homemade taste,” says recipe creator Sammye.
Easy One-Pot Ground Turkey Pasta
Kim’s Cooking Now
“This ground turkey pasta dish is a quick and easy one-pot main meal. Substitute your favorite ground meat, broth, spices, and pasta shape. For those who want an easy meal or those beginning to cook, this is for you,” says recipe creator FrackFamily5 CACT.