We may have 24 hours a day but most of that is used for work and sleep. With so little time left, cooking food with complicated recipes is probably the last thing on our minds. What we need is something quick, simple, and filling. Pasta is one food that’s easy to cook.
If you want something simple and convenient, these pasta recipes are perfect for you. You just need to boil the pasta and cook the sauce—that's basically it!
Ready to start cooking? Here are simple pasta recipes to try.
Buttered Noodles
There’s nothing easier than Buttered Noodles. As the name suggests, its main ingredients are butter and pasta but you’ll also need Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to make it more flavorful. Start by cooking the pasta in generously salted boiling water. Once it’s cooked, drain the water from the pasta. Mix in 6 tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until the pasta is coated. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Aglio Olio
Aglio Olio may be simple but it packs a punch thanks to the garlic and the chili flakes. To make, heat 1/2 cup of olive oil in a large pan and then add 6 garlic cloves cut into thin slivers. Stir the garlic until it’s golden brown and then add 1/2 tablespoon of crushed red pepper flakes. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste before adding 8 oz of cooked spaghetti. Toss the spaghetti in the pan until it’s coated in the olive oil mixture. Toss with a bit of parmesan and chopped parsley.
Pasta al Limone
If you’d like to add a bit of a kick to creamy pasta, then you should definitely try cooking Pasta al Limone (Lemon Pasta). Start by combining the zest of one lemon and 3/4 cup of heavy cream into a pot. Cook the mixture over heat until it simmers and then whisk in 6 tablespoons of butter one at a time. Whisk until the sauce is creamy then transfer 12 oz of cooked spaghetti into the sauce. Add lemon juice and salt to taste.
Pesto Pasta
The quick and easy version of pesto pasta requires a jar of pesto. After you boil your pasta, take some of the pasta water and then add it to the store-bought pesto sauce. Stir over heat until the pesto thins. Toss the cooked pasta in the sauce until thoroughly coated and then add salt, pepper, or crushed chili flakes to taste. Top with crushed pine nuts to enhance the nutty taste of the pesto.
Canned Tuna Pasta
Pasta is known for its carbs but you can add protein to it. Canned tuna is one such food that is high in protein and goes well with pasta. One variation of the Canned Tuna Pasta recipe uses olive oil as its base. Heat olive oil in a pan and stir in minced garlic until cooked. Stir in the drained tuna until combined. You can also toss in chopped parsley, squeeze a lemon, or add salt and pepper to taste.
You can cook these kinds of pasta in bulk so that you can eat them for the whole week. Just store them in an airtight container in your fridge to make them last for up to five days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove before eating.
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