You know that feeling when you’re too tired to cook, but too stubborn to give in to the temptations of takeaway? That awful limbo can be solved with one word—PASTA! Quick, simple, and above all, delicious, pasta is the perfect choice for those lazy nights when you want something hearty that hits that starchy-spot we all secretly have. We’ll show you how to make 5 easy pasta recipes that you can whip up tonight—like, as soon as you finish reading this. Plus tips, tricks, and some tasty sides you can pair them with for a balanced and complete meal—because apparently, pasta doesn’t count as a food group.
For the recipes mentioned in this blog, as well as plenty more delectable pasta dishes, be sure to head over to Isabella’s Pantry.
Simple Pasta Recipes Perfect for Home Cooking
Don’t let the simplicity of these dishes fool you, they’re packed with comforting Italian flavours and just the right amount of fat and salt to satisfy your cravings, without making you feel guiltily full. And the best part is that these simple pasta recipes are either set-and-forgets, or come together in under 30 minutes, great for feeding a busy family on weeknights, or just a convenient, time-saving treat after a long day of work.
Top 5 Easiest Pasta Recipes you can make tonight
1. Spaghetti Bolognese
Ingredients: onion, garlic, beef mince, red wine, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, beef bouillon, white sugar, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, thyme
A beloved Italian classic, there’s not a lot of meals that can top a savoury, indulgent bolognese sauce, served over silky golden strands of spaghetti. Packed with flavour, don’t let the longer ingredient list deter you, chances are you’ve already got most of them in your pantry. It starts with onion and garlic, sauteed in oil until your kitchen smells amazing. The beef is added and browned, then deglazed with the wine. Tomato paste adds richness, while canned tomatoes give the sauce body.
A pinch of sugar, worcestershire and a beef bouillon cube accentuate the natural umami in the tomatoes, while bay leaves and thyme bring that gentle, earthy note that ties everything together. Let the sauce simmer for as long as you can contain your hunger—the longer it goes, the deeper and richer the flavours become.
2. Cacio e Pepe
Ingredients: olive oil, pepper, butter, Pecorino Romano
The name of this simple pasta dish could almost double as the ingredient list—it’s that simple: Cheese and Pepper. This Roman classic can come together in just 15 minutes, and with a little bit of technique, a creamy and flavoursome meal emerges. First, the pepper is toasted in olive oil to release its intense flavours. While that’s happening, get your spaghetti boiling.
For creamy cacio e pepe, use as little water as possible, as the starches that release from the pasta will act as a natural thickening agent, instead of using cream. Once it’s al dente, it’s added to the oil and pepper pan, along with some pasta water and butter. Finally, on a low heat, the finely grated Pecorino Romano is added, and stirred in until a creamy sauce appears like magic.
3. Gnocchi Genovese
Ingredients: olive oil, fresh basil, parmesan, garlic, pine nuts, guanciale (or bacon)
Soft, chewy gnocchi and crispy guanciale is met with vibrant, herbaceous basil pesto in this ultra-simple and annoyingly addictive pasta recipe. Ready in just 15 minutes, gnocchi genovese is the definition of bang for your buck. The pesto is made by combining basil, olive oil, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic and a pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle—or blender. Boil your gnocchi in plenty of water to ensure there’s no sticking, and crisp up some guanciale.
Combine the gnocchi with the guanciale, take the pan off the heat to preserve the vibrant colour of the pesto, then stir it in, adding pasta water as required. Top with more parmesan and pine nuts, and then marvel at how something so easy could be so ridiculously delicious.
4. Pasta al Pomodoro
Ingredients: olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, canned tomatoes, fresh basil, Parmigiano Reggiano
Rich tomato sauce, infused with basil, chilli and garlic—is there anything better? Like cacio e pepe, pomodoro starts with sauteing our aromatics in olive oil. Lightly crushed garlic goes into the pan first, followed by the red pepper flakes. Just don’t let the garlic brown, or it’ll turn bitter. The tomatoes go in, and the sauce is cooked until it’s thickened and saucy.
Traditionally, the sauce is now passed through a food mill, but this isn’t required, just use a fine mesh sieve—or leave it chunky! A quick season, some grated parm and basil leaves, and this sauce is ready to be married with a pasta of your choice. Spaghetti is most common, but the simplicity of this sauce allows it to be paired with really any variety of pasta. There you have it; one of the easiest pasta recipes you’ll find.
5. Prawn Bucatini
Ingredients: olive oil, prawns, garlic, chilli, capers, napoli sauce, lobster stock (or fish stock), rocket
Seafood and pasta don’t get the love they truly deserve—we’re here to change that. There’s a reason nearly every Italian restaurant serves seafood marinara or prawn linguine; these flavours meld into a sweet, oceanic harmony, and prawn bucatini is no exception. Prawns are seared in oil until they’re just cooked, and garlic, chilli and capers are thrown in and lightly sauteed. Napoli sauce (can be store-bought or even made ahead of time) is added with the lobster stock and simmered. Finish with fresh rocket for a peppery note, and stir in the bucatini and a dash of pasta water to bring everything together.
How to make pasta perfectly every time
We’ve covered the sauces, now let’s talk about the pasta. Cooking pasta is the foundation of an excellent pasta recipe, but there are so many home cooks who don’t know how to make pasta the right way.
1. Salting your pasta water
This is the simplest way to enhance the overall taste of the dish, as the pasta absorbs the salty water as it cooks, flavouring the noodles from within. The easiest way to perfect this is to remember the ratio 1:10:100. 1 litre of water, 10g of salt, 100g of dried pasta. Sticking to this ratio will yield perfectly seasoned pasta and pasta water, every time.
2. Cooking al dente pasta
This term is thrown around all the time, but how do you know when your pasta is at this mystical ‘to the tooth’ point? The simplest way is to subtract 2-3 minutes from the cooking time indicated on the pasta packaging. Another good indicator is by simply eating a piece, it should be firm, but not crunchy, and there is usually a small white dot in the cross-section of the pasta when it’s at al dente perfection.
Pasta Pairing and Serving Suggestions
While pasta is most certainly a complete meal for most, adding sides can balance out the carbs—or lean even further into comfort. A super simple rocket salad with lemon vinaigrette can contrast beautifully, its peppery, tangy freshness pairing well with tomato or cream-based pasta dishes. Grilled vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, and green beans are also favourites, but the possibilities are endless. But if you’re craving a real treat, a cheesy garlic bread is the ultimate indulgence, loaded with garlic compound butter and cheese, and grilled to golden, bubbling perfection. Do whatever suits your mood—and let the pasta shine!
Delicious Pasta Made Simple
So there you have it, a handpicked selection of our favourite pasta recipes— simple and soul-satisfying. Whether it’s a classic Italian bolognese or a decadent gnocchi genovese, the bottom line is that pasta never lets you down. But as easy and delicious as these recipes are, sometimes the desire to sit back and let someone else do the cooking wins over—and there’s no shame in that.
Luckily for you, at Italian Street Kitchen we’ve been tirelessly perfecting these recipes—plus a whole slew of other authentic Italian dishes—so when that pasta craving is calling, all you have to do is make a booking at any of our 7 fabulous restaurants around Australia. To find the closest one to you, head over to our Restaurant Locations page, and make a booking today!
