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Our ultimate easy midweek pasta recipes 🍝

From one-pot wonders, to fresh and speedy sauces, we've got mealtimes covered with our ultimate pasta recipes.

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Pasta is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and there's no meal that's more versatile, especially when it comes to a speedy midweek dinner. From one-pan favourites, to viral pasta bakes, we've got something for everyone with our all-time favourite easy pasta recipes.

1

One-Pan Butter Chicken Farfalle

butter chicken farfalle

Add a curry twist to your pasta with this saucy version that will make for the perfect Friday-night fusion meal.

Recipe: One-Pan Butter Chicken Farfalle

2

Vodka Pasta

vodka pasta

Penne alla Vodka became popular in the 80s and now has many variations. Double cream was a novelty ingredient in Italy during this time, which is why this recipe became so famous. The vodka deglazes the pan and adds a deliciously acidic flavour.

Recipe: Vodka Pasta

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3

One-Pan Gochujang and Mascarpone Linguine

gochujang and mascarpone linguine

A Korean paste including chillies, glutinous rice and fermented soybeans, gochujang is increasingly available in supermarkets.

Recipe: One-Pan Gochujang and Mascarpone Linguine

4

One-Pan Miso Chicken Pasta

miso chicken pasta

If you can’t get hold of ramen broth, use fresh chicken stock instead. For a veggie version, swap the chicken for 450g firm tofu, cut into 2cm cubes.

Recipe: One-Pan Miso Chicken Pasta

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5

Fettuccine Alfredo

fettuccine alfredo

Originating in Rome, this recipe was initially made with just butter and Parmesan. It’s since evolved into a popular American dish with the addition of cream, and often chicken and prawns.

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo

6

One-Pan Sausage Lasagne

one pan sausage lasagne

Maximum flavour with minimum washing-up, this one-pan lasagne is easy to throw together and is sure to become a family favourite.

Recipe: One-Pan Sausage Lasagne

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7

One-Pan White Bolognese

white bolognese

Not authentically Italian, but still extremely delicious. Think of this white Bolognese as the indulgent cousin of the tomato ragu. Dried chilli flakes would be a tasty addition, if you like zing.

Recipe: One-Pan White Bolognese

8

One-Pan Tuna Penne Arrabbiata

tuna penne arrabbiata

Gluten-free pastas are made from a variety of ingredients, which is why we’ve specified a certain product. You can, of course, use another, but keep in mind that the cooking time and liquid needed may vary.

Recipe: One-Pan Tuna Penne Arrabbiata

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9

One-Pan Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta

garlic butter prawn pasta

Peppery rocket helps balance the richness of this simple pasta. Using chicken stock with seafood is a classic trick to add extra depth of flavour, but you can use vegetable stock if cooking for pescatarians.

Recipe: One-Pan Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta

10

One-Pan Orecchiette Primavera

orecchiette primavera

Packed with veg and deliciously dairy-free. Check the stock is suitable if cooking for vegans, if needed. Broad beans would work well instead of the edamame, but you might want to defrost them enough first to slip off the tougher outer skins before cooking.

Recipe: One-Pan Orecchiette Primavera

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11

Pasta Primavera with Broccoli Pesto

pasta primavera

Inspired by the Italian soup, this fresh supper is full of spring flavour. The wholewheat farfalle adds nuttiness, but you can use traditional white pasta, if you prefer.

Recipe: Pasta Primavera with Broccoli Pesto

12

Aglio e Olio

aglio e olio

Traditionally made with spaghetti, we’ve used the fun fusilli lunghi here. The sauce coats the spiral shape of the pasta wonderfully. If you don’t have fresh chilli, you can use 1tsp dried chilli flakes instead. For added decadence, sprinkle with finely grated Pecorino Romano.

Recipe: Aglio e Olio

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13

Easy Asparagus Pasta

easy asparagus pasta

This simple pasta recipe is a celebration of asparagus season. Use any of your favourite hard-style cheese if you’re not a fan of Manchego.

Recipe: Easy Asparagus Pasta

14

Amatriciana

amatriciana

One of the big Roman classics (though originating from Amatrice, hence the name). Traditionally made with guanciale (cured pork cheek), we’ve used pancetta here for ease.

Recipe: Amatriciana

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15

Pasta alla Norma

pasta alla norma
16

Miso Carbonara

miso carbonara

Miso adds salty savouriness to this veggie carbonara. You can swap the edamame for podded broad beans, if you like.

Recipe: Miso Carbonara

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17

Spaghetti Vongole

spaghetti vongole

You can use any shellfish you like here; cockles are a cheaper alternative to clams and mussels would also work well. If you don’t like tomatoes, you can leave them out and the recipe will be just as delicious. This venetian dish is also the perfect romantic dinner to impress, half the recipe if making for a special someone.

Recipe: Spaghetti Vongole

18

Baked Feta Pasta

easy pasta recipes baked feta pasta

This simple pasta recipe went viral on TikTok in 2021. Once you taste our version of this easy dish, you’ll be hooked, too!

Recipe: Baked Feta Pasta

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19

Prawn Linguine

prawn linguine

This pasta recipe is a classic and ready in less than 20 minutes!

Recipe: Prawn Linguine

20

Leftover Chicken Pasta

leftover chicken pasta

Ready in just 15min, you can use any leftover meat you have in your fridge.

Recipe: Leftover Chicken Pasta

Headshot of The Good Housekeeping Cookery Team

An experienced and highly skilled team of food writers, stylists and digital content producers, the Good Housekeeping Cookery Team is a close-knit squad of food obsessives. Cookery Editor Emma Franklin is our resident chilli obsessive and barbecue expert, who spends an inordinate amount of time on holidays poking round the local supermarkets seeking out new and exciting foods. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Her favourite carb is pasta, and our vibrant green spaghetti is her weeknight go-to. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating crispy corn and nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time (though she cannot resist a slice of tres leches cake). With a wealth of professional kitchen know-how, culinary training and years of experience between them, they are all dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work (and if they don’t – we’ll have the answer for why*) every time (*90% of the time the answer is: “buy an separate oven thermometer”!). 

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