5 easy Italian pasta recipes to try

When it comes to having dinner on the table pronto, nothing beats pasta.

Whether you like spaghetti, penne or any of the dozens of pasta varieties out there, the following easy pasta recipes will ensure you have an easy Italian pasta dinner ready for the family in 30 minutes or less.

From Southern Italian orecchiette with arugula to simple pasta salad to spicy penne or even adding in shrimp for a fish supper, you'll be enjoying a flavoursome bowl of comfort food before you know it.

If you want to experiment more with pasta shapes check out this encyclopaedic guide to all varieties of pasta.

Tagliatelle with shrimp

A creamy dill sauce makes this easy Italian dinner seem like a decadent meal that took hours to make. Perfect for the spring, when asparagus is in season, and nutritionally well balanced in terms of carbs, protein and vegetables.

Spicy Italian penne

Chili peppers, capers, tomatoes and garlic add a big boost of flavour to simple penne pasta. This colourful recipe couldn’t be easier to make and tastes like Italian summer in a bowl. Serve with a glass of Sangiovese.

Bowtie pasta salad

This simple but flavourful pasta salad blends farfalle with chicken breast, peas and parmesan cheese. Ideal for a filling lunchbox treat or as one of several dishes on a barbecue or salad buffet.

Orecchiette with rocket

This Southern Italian dish from the Puglia region blends spicy rocket with tomatoes, garlic and pecorino cheese. The name orecchiette literally means 'little ears'.

Pasta with squid ink

Extremely quick and easy to make, no one will believe this stunning pasta dish can be ready in less than half an hour. Aim for squid as fresh as you can get and handle the ink sack carefully until you need to use it to add drama to the pasta.

This article was updated on 30/03/2023.