Pasta is my go-to for those busy weeknight dinners. It can be such a quick meal to make, it can be fuss-free, there are so many different quick pasta recipes out there which makes it a super versatile meal, and contrary to what people believe, pasta can be a healthy and balanced meal.
There are so many healthy pasta sauces and healthy pasta dishes that you can make using very few ingredients. The beauty of using simple ingredients to make a delicious meal is that you can often use what you have at home and still get a nutritious and flavorful meal.
Delicious pasta recipes with few ingredients are definitely something you need to have on hand, which is why in this post, I’m sharing a roundup of pasta recipes that come together quickly (some of them can literally be done in 15 minutes) and use only a few ingredients.
Without further ado, here are easy pasta dishes with few ingredients.
6 Quick And Easy Pasta Recipes With Few Ingredients
Arugula Salad with Pasta & Avocado
Ingredients
- 1 cup Leafy greens, arugula, raw – 5 calories
- 1 cup Tomatoes, grape – 32 calories
- ¼ Onion, red – 11.25 calories
- 2 Uncured bacon, slice – 88 calories
- ½ cup Pasta, elbows, whole wheat, cooked – 53 calories
- ½ Avocado, small – 116.5 calories
- ¼ tsp Everything bagel seasoning – 0 calories
- 2 Tbsp Vinaigrette, light (less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp) – 30 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook pasta as trained on package.
Step 2: Halve tomatoes, dice onion, and cube avocado.
Step 3: Cut bacon into small pieces with kitchen shears.
Step 4: Fry bacon on stovetop on lowest heat, mixing frequently, ~8 minutes, or until cooked through.
Step 5: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
No bacon? Use turkey bacon or soy bacon. No avocado? Use extra bacon. Gluten-free? Use gluten free pasta.
Note: I like Trader Joe’s fat free vinaigrette – but Paul Newman, Whole Foods, etc. all have good light dressings.
One Pot Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- ½ cup Pasta, penne, uncooked (dry) – 200 calories
- ¾ cup Tomatoes, canned, crushed – 37.5 calories
- ¼ cup Broth, chicken or beef (cups) – 8.75 calories
- ⅔ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella – 224 calories
- 2 cups Broccoli, frozen – 62 calories
- ⅛ tsp Garlic salt – 0 calories
- ⅛ tsp Red pepper flakes – 0 calories
- ¼ tsp Oregano – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
Step 2: Add all of your ingredients besides the cheese to a casserole dish
Step 3: Mix your contents around, make sure your pasta is completely covered by liquid
Step 4: Top with cheese
Step 5: Cover your casserole dish with a lid or tin foil and bake for 20 minutes
Step 6: Remove the tin foil or lid, set your oven to broil, and broil for another 2-3 minutes
No cheese? Use dairy-free cheese or swap this meal out for another. No gluten? Use gluten-free pasta.
Pasta & Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella – 112 calories
- 4 oz Ground turkey, 93% lean, raw – 172 calories
- ½ cup Canned, diced tomatoes – 28 calories
- ½ cup Pasta, whole wheat, cooked – 80 calories
- ½ cup Tomatoes, grape – 16 calories
- ⅛ tsp Garlic salt – 0 calories
- ¼ tsp Basil, dried – 0 calories
- ¼ tsp Oregano – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook pasta in boiling water & drain the pasta water
Step 2: While pasta is cooking, chop cherry tomatoes in halves
Step 3: Spray a pan with an oil spray
Step 4: Stir-fry meat and cherry tomatoes ~8 minutes, until meat has cooked through
Step 5: Add in canned tomatoes for ~3 minutes
Step 6: Add sauce to pasta, top with cheese and seasonings
No ground turkey? Use tofu.
Gluten-free? Use gluten free pasta or one ofthe other white pasta alternatives.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ cup Pasta, bean (e.g. chickpea, lentil) – 120 calories (great for gluten-free pastas)
- 4 cups Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 28 calories
- 1 Tuna, canned (1 can) – 120 calories
- ¼ cup Alfredo sauce – 100 calories
- ¼ tsp Basil, dried – 0 calories
- ¼ tsp Oregano – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Step 2: This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings
Step 3: Cook pasta as box directs on stovetop until al dente
Step 4: Spray casserole dish with an oil spray
Step 5: Combine all ingredients in the casserole dish, bake for 25 minutes
P.S. I love Rao’s Alfredo sauce which is available at most stores
Salad With Pasta & Chicken
Ingredients
- ½ Avocado, small – 116.5 calories
- 2 cups Leafy greens, lettuce, raw – 10 calories
- ½ cup Pasta, whole wheat, cooked – 80 calories
- 6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories
- 2 Tbsp Red wine vinegar (Tbsp) – 6 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Spray a pan with an oil spray.
Step 2: Cut chicken breast into small pieces.
Step 3: Stir-fry chicken on stove top for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Make sure chicken gets to 165 degrees internally – use an instant-read thermometer.
Step 4: Mix ingredients.
Gluten-free? Use gluten free pasta.
Marry Me Chicken With Pasta
Ingredients
- 6 oz Chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories
- ½ cup Alfredo sauce – 200 calories
- 1 cup Broccoli – 31 calories
- ½ cup Pasta, penne, cooked – 100 calories
- 1 Tbsp Tomatoes, sun-dried, oil packed – 17 calories
- 1 tsp Butter (tsp) – 36 calories (alternatively, olive oil)
- ¼ tsp Garlic powder – 0 calories
- ⅛ tsp Red pepper flakes – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook pasta as instructed on package.
Step 2: Chop broccoli into small florets.
Step 3: Season broccoli and chicken with garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
Step 4: Melt butter in a pan on medium heat.
Step 5: Cook chicken on each side for 3 minutes.
Step 6: Add in your cooked pasta, broccoli, alfredo sauce, sun dried tomatoes, and more garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
Step 7: Stir contents.
Step 8: Cover you pan with a lid and let simmer on lowest heat for ~10 minutes, or until chicken has cooked through.
Step 9: Serve! Optionally top with parmesan cheese.
No dairy? Use dairy-free pesto, available at most stores. No chicken? Use white beans or tofu.
