Are you wondering how to find some delicious and quick pasta for a weekday that doesn't take much time? Below are 10 easy and quick meals. Which should not take you long to prepare.
Pasta is everyone's best friend on weekdays, especially on Mondays. It is often used for its speed, versatility and amazing adaptability to almost any type of project. This is true because preparing pasta dishes in the kitchen does not take many hours. Creamy pasta for dinner, spicy pasta to spice up the day and light pasta for new health.
In this guide, I'll take you through 10 easy pasta recipes. It takes half an hour to cook so you can enjoy your pasta meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Using a few basic ingredients, available in the pantry and a few cooking methods, there are many things to try and incorporate into the weekly dinner menu.
Why is pasta a weeknight dinner?
Starchy products like pasta stand out. It is an excellent source of food because it is prepared quickly. Many raw materials are estimated and relatively cheap to produce. What can be added or added to pasta is virtually endless and can easily be made into a wonderful meal from high calorie meals to light meals.
Pasta comes with very simple ingredients. For example, olive oil, garlic and canned tomatoes make it a great option in those emergencies of time and ingredient constraints.
Essential Ingredients to Have in Your Pantry:
Before going with the various recipes, allow me to make sure that you have these items in your kitchen pantry. Having these staples on hand will help you wash the pasta dishes quickly. I present to you some recipes that you need to prepare pasta dishes. What you need when you're in a hurry:
- Pasta: It can have spaghetti, penne, fettuccine, farfa all manners of shape and all of them can be enjoyed at any time.
- Olive Oil: Suitable for a variety of cooking methods such as sautéing, basting as well as preparing sauces.
- Garlic: It adds rich flavor to almost any type of food you can think of.
- Canned Tomatoes: Useful in preparing a quick sauce or any concoction that requires quick preparation.
- Parmesan cheese: A final touch that is used in many pasta recipes.
- Herbs and Spices: Basil, oregano and chili flakes are great additions for seasoning salt and pepper.
10 easy pasta recipes for busy weeknights
1. One-Pot Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
2. Creamy spinach and mushroom pasta
3. Lemon Garlic Shrimp Past
4. Penne Arrabbiata
If you want something spicy you can opt for penne arrabbiata. The ingredients used in this recipe for tomato sauce are garlic, chili pepper flakes and plenty of olive oil to give the preparation enough heat and spicy flavor.
5. Pesto Pasta
Pesto pasta is a cooked sauce that has the goodness of basil, garlic, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. Pair it with your favorite type of pasta and you're sorted in as fast as 15 minutes.
6. Tuna Pasta Salad
This chilled tuna pasta salad features canned tuna and fresh vegetables. It should be dressed with a light vinaigrette. It makes a lot of sense to prepare it in advance and serve it for evening meal or packed lunch the next day.
7. Carbonara
This type of pasta is Roman and creamy without using any cream! Eggs, parmesan and pancetta are combined with pasta to coat each strand in a creamy sauce of your choice.
8. Baked Ziti
Of all the pasta dishes, baked ziti is the best to make ahead of time. All you have to do here is mix the cooked ziti with marinara sauce and parmesan cheese and bake for about 20 minutes. It is very cheesy and high in protein. So it is ideal for families or groups of people.
9. Alfredo with Chicken
Comforting and hearty, Chicken Alfredo is so delicious. Which is made with heavy cream, butter and parmesan cheese. Add grilled chicken on the side to make it even more protein-packed and make it a complete meal in under 30 minutes.
10. Tomato Basil Pasta
I also prepared this easy pasta dish with cooked garlic, olive oil, canned tomatoes and fresh basil. This is something that does not require a lot of time and effort to prepare during the week.
Tips for cooking perfect pasta every time
- Cook to al dente: Never overcook the pasta but ensure that the pasta is cooked to the right consistency and not overcooked to become soft and mucilaginous.
- Salt your water: The amount of salt you add depends on the taste of the food. Use about 1 tablespoon for every 4 quarts of water.
- Save the pasta water: Save a portion of the pasta water to use when making the sauce as it helps thicken the sauce and stick to the pasta.
Make-Ahead Options for Busy Weeknights
Although it's not the best thing to do during the week, try and prepare some ingredients in advance. Examples of sauces that can be prepared in large quantities include marinara and pesto. Which can then be stored in the fridge or even frozen. You can also prepare vegetables such as chopping onions or prepare carbohydrates such as cooked chicken to use throughout the week.
FAQ about 10 Easy Pasta Recipes for Busy Weeknights
Can I use gluten-free pasta in these recipes?
Yes! Of all the pasta 1 recipes presented above, all of them can be made using gluten-free pasta. However, when purchasing and preparing gluten-free pasta products, you just need to make sure you use the correct recipes and the proper cooking parameters on the packet because different pastas have different boiling requirements.
How do I store leftover pasta?
After cooking the pasta, leftover pasta should be stored in an airtight container, refrigerated and will last for 3-5 days. The absorbent surface formation can be restored by washing with water or olive oil and reheating.
conclusion
These simple tips below will help you make the best of these 10 easy breakfast recipes. All these recipes are delicious and easy to cook. So they are suitable for anyone and anytime. Prepare the ingredients you need and you can make this great dinner as minimal as possible.