On busy weeknights, when you want to get in and out of the kitchen in 20 minutes, these quick and easy pasta recipes are perfect dinners. Proteins, creamy cheese and savory vegetables come together for a comforting meal that everyone at your table will love. Plus, you only need one pot or pan, so nighttime dishes are a breeze. Try our One-Pot Spinach, Chicken Sausage & Feta Pasta for a hearty and satisfying dish, or give our One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan a shot for a simple but delicious evening meal.
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One-Pot Chicken Pasta with Cajun Seasonings
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless
This one-pot chicken pasta dish with Cajun seasonings is a snap to whip up. Here we use the technique of stirring often to help the starches release for natural creaminess. We love the spicy flavor profile of Cajun seasoning, but you can substitute different spices depending on what you have on hand.
One-Pot Spinach, Chicken Sausage & Feta Pasta
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
A little bit of Sunday meal prep goes a long way in this one-dish pasta recipe. Cooking the pasta ahead and refrigerating it saves time here—or use any leftover cooked pasta you have on hand. Chicken sausage with feta is especially good in this recipe.
One-Pot Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta
Victor Protasio
This creamy chicken and mushroom pasta recipe makes for an easy weeknight dinner. Using store-bought rotisserie chicken saves time when cooking, and leftover chicken would work just as well.
One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan
This hearty pasta dish with bright, fresh flavor is ideal for busy weeknights. The Parmesan adds welcome saltiness and notes of umami, and you get added texture from the slight crunch of broccoli and whole-wheat noodles. Add some shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp or crispy chickpeas to punch up the protein.
One-Pot Chicken & Broccoli Pasta
Jennifer Causey
This creamy chicken and broccoli pasta makes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. We opt for small shells in this recipe, but any other small pasta—like orecchiette—would work, too.
White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
Jacob Fox
Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe, providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.
Chicken Sausage & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
Jamie Vespa
This one-pan pasta combines tasty chicken sausage and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal that’s garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. It’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner everyone is sure to love. This recipe is a variation on our Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan, which is a super-popular recipe developed by Devon O’Brien.
3-Ingredient Goat Cheese Pasta with Broccoli
Carolyn A. Hodges, R.D.
Swap out regular pasta for pasta made with chickpeas and you’ll more than triple the fiber and double the protein in this simple, satisfying dish. Be sure to save some of the pasta water to make a sauce. Feel free to use frozen broccoli in a pinch (you can blanch the broccoli in the same water you use to cook the pasta).
Pasta e Fagioli with Instant Ramen Noodles
Quick sautéed vegetables, canned tomatoes, dried oregano and canned beans transform ramen noodle soup mix into this classic Italian favorite in minutes. To cut back on sodium, look for ramen varieties with less than 600 mg sodium per serving or use less of the seasoning packet.
Lemon Chicken Pasta
In this easy lemon chicken pasta recipe, we love the combination of lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs. This healthy dinner is made with rotisserie chicken, quick-cooking spiralized zucchini and baby spinach, so you get a complete meal in just 10 minutes.
