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When it comes to cooking during the week, the most time-efficient recipes are the most valuable. 30-minute meals used to be all the rage, but in this age of instant gratification, 15-minute dinners are the new standard. What’s the key to getting dinner on the table that quickly? Using quick-cooking proteins, veggies, and pasta, of course.
Whether it’s a one-pot alfredo or a cheesy, kid-friendly orzo dish, these 15-minute pasta recipes are the way to go when you need to make dinner a speedy affair.
Build up your 15-minute pasta recipe rolodex with these 20 dishes that go from prep to plate fast.
Most Hungry
3-Ingredient Rigatoni with Sausage
You read that right! This weeknight pasta recipe only asks for three ingredients: spicy sausage, crushed canned tomatoes, and pasta. Add some seasonings, and you're set. (via Most Hungry for Brit + Co)
Brit + Co
Quick Pancetta Pasta
Pancetta adds massive flavor to 15-minute pasta recipes like this one in no time at all. Using only nine ingredients (with most of them being staples), this dish is absolute perfection. (via Brit + Co)
Brit + Co
Pumpkin Sage Pasta
Follow this quick pumpkin pasta recipe for more fall time flavors. (via Brit + Co)
Brit + Co
Avocado Pasta
Avocado sauce packs this quick weeknight pasta dish full of vitamins C, E, K, and B-6. Pasta that's actually healthy? That's a win-win. (via Brit + Co)
Brit + Co
Easy, Cheesy, Garlicky Weeknight Pasta
This pick has tons of cheese and garlic—what more could you want from a pasta?! Toss any kind of pasta shape with the sauce, and you'll fall in love. (via Brit + Co)
Girl Gone Gourmet
15-Minute Mediterranean Pasta
Sure, this dish sounds fancy, but all it entails is unscrewing a few jars and boiling your spaghetti. What would our 15-minute pasta recipes be without olives, sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts? (via Girl Gone Gourmet)
My Food Story
15-Minute Mushroom Spaghetti Aglio Olio
Traditional spaghetti aglio e olio consists of pasta tossed with olive oil and garlic. Include earthy mushrooms in the mix, and you’ve added tons of flavor with little to no extra time. (via My Food Story)
Epicurious
Pasta With 15-Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce
Sautéing cherry tomatoes brings out their sweet flavor and creates a luxurious pasta sauce that coats every strand of pasta. If it’s good enough for the Italians, it’s definitely good enough for us. (via Epicurious)
Crowded Kitchen
Vegan Lemon Pasta
Lemon pasta sauce is a no-brainer. It always tastes so good! The brighter notes on this weeknight pasta will satisfy you on spring days. (via Crowded Kitchen)
Give Recipe
Pasta with Feta Cheese
You'd be surprised at how far a little feta and parsley can go. This pasta recipe can be easily translated to any pasta shape of your choosing for maximum yum. (via Give Recipe)
The Real Food Dietitians
Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad
The veggies in this quick pasta recipe don't need to be cooked, which saves you a massive amount of time. The ranch-y flavors make this one of the freshest 15-minute pasta recipes for a summer potluck! (via The Real Food Dietitians)
My Fussy Eater
Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Even the pickiest of eaters will devour this 15-minute mac and cheese in an instant. Broccoli is totally acceptable when it’s covered in cheddar, right? (via My Fussy Eater)
The Edgy Veg
Vegan Miso Pasta
Miso is a quick hack for adding flavor to pretty much anything, 15-minute pasta recipes included. It tastes heavenly alongside the mushrooms in this lightning-fast pasta dish. (via The Edgy Veg)
Recipe Tin Eats
Creamy Salmon Orzo
Love tuna casserole? This creamy salmon pasta is similar but comes together in under 15 minutes. It’s a great way to sneak some vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids into your kiddos’ meals, too. (via Recipe Tin Eats)
Cafe Delites
15-Minute Creamy Tomato Garlic Butter Shrimp
It’s hard enough to find 15-minute pasta recipes that are elegant enough to serve to company, let alone one you can make quickly. Serve this dish alongside a crusty baguette to sop up the buttery tomato sauce. (via Cafe Delites)
Baker by Nature
15-Minute Italian Pasta Salad
Have you ever needed a quick recipe for a last-minute potluck? This flavorful pasta salad will be a total crowd-pleaser, and you can basically make it while you finish your makeup. (via Baker by Nature)
Lemon Butter Garlic Shrimp With Angel Hair Pasta
You shouldn’t have trek out to your favorite Italian restaurant when you can have this 15-minute pasta on the table, stat. Make some buttery bread sticks on the side and you’re good to go! (via Averie Cooks)
The Stay at Home Chef
Penne Rosa
Skipping the meat in your pasta means you can shave even more time off your dinner prep. Add a splash of cream to take this quick meal to the next level. (via The Stay at Home Chef)
Gimme Delicious
Quick and Easy 15-Minute Chicken Pasta
When you don’t feel like waiting 45 minutes for baked rigatoni, use this shortcut to get the same results. Pro tip: pair with a bottle of Merlot to unwind after a hard day. (via Gimme Delicious)
Bless Her Heart Y’all
Vegan Butternut Squash Pasta With Kale and Onion Sprouts
This paleo and vegan pasta dish is also gluten-free and grain-free. It may taste totally indulgent, but it’s full of healthy goodness. (via Bless Her Heart Y’all)
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This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.
