Simple 16 Pasta Dinners Made With Five Ingredients Or Fewer

You want dinner that tastes amazing without a grocery list that never ends. These 16 pasta ideas keep it tight with five ingredients or fewer, plus the usual salt, pepper, water, and oil.

Each one is quick, comforting, and weeknight friendly, with bright flavors where you want them and cozy richness when you need it. Skim, pick your vibe, and start boiling water.

1. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Garlic sizzles in olive oil until fragrant and lightly golden, creating a glossy sauce that hugs hot spaghetti. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes adds warmth you can dial up or down, and fresh parsley brings a clean finish.

Toss vigorously with a splash of starchy pasta water so everything clings.

You get big flavor from tiny effort, which is exactly what weeknights demand. Keep the garlic pale gold, not brown, for sweetness over bitterness.

Taste, adjust salt and pepper, then twirl right from the pot into bowls and finish with extra olive oil for shine.

2. Cacio e Pepe

This is creamy without cream, built from Pecorino, butter, and pepper plus pasta water magic. Grind pepper fresh so it blooms in butter, then whisk in cheese off heat to prevent clumping.

The sauce should look glossy and elastic, coating each noodle luxuriously.

Use finely grated Pecorino for smoother melting and keep everything warm, not hot. Add pasta water gradually until it turns silky, then taste for salt.

You will want that assertive peppery bite, so be generous. Serve immediately, with extra cheese showers and more cracked pepper to finish.

3. Lemon Butter Parmesan Pasta

Butter melts with lemon juice and zest to make a bright, tangy sauce that feels refreshing but still cozy. Toss hot pasta directly in the skillet, adding Parmesan and pasta water until it loosens and shines.

Parsley lifts the richness without stealing the spotlight.

This is perfect when heavy sauces feel like too much. Keep the heat gentle so the cheese melts smoothly, and finish with black pepper for balance.

A final squeeze of lemon wakes everything up. Serve with extra zest and a drizzle of olive oil if you like more gloss.

4. Pesto Pasta With Cherry Tomatoes

Stir hot pasta with pesto so the heat loosens the sauce and perfumes the bowl. Halved cherry tomatoes burst just enough to add sweetness and juice, lightening the basil and cheese.

Finish with Parmesan and a handful of pine nuts or walnuts for toastiness and crunch.

This one tastes like summer even in winter. Warm the tomatoes briefly in a pan for extra jammy edges.

Thin the pesto with a little pasta water to help it cling. Serve immediately, and swipe the bowl clean with the last noodles because nothing should go to waste.

5. Creamy Tomato Vodka-Style Pasta

You get that silky, luxurious pink sauce without needing a crowded pantry. Sweat diced onion in butter until soft, add crushed tomatoes, and simmer until slightly thick.

Stir in cream, then toss with pasta and Parmesan for a velvety finish that feels weeknight-fancy.

Use pasta water to adjust the texture so it coats without pooling. Salt carefully since the cheese adds seasoning.

Pepper brings gentle warmth and balance. It is the kind of bowl that makes you exhale at first bite, with sweetness from tomatoes and richness that never feels heavy.

6. Tuna Garlic Pasta

This is pantry cooking at its smartest. Sizzle sliced garlic in oil, then fold in good canned tuna until it warms and perfumes the skillet.

Add lemon zest and juice for brightness, and toss with parsley to keep the flavors lively and clean.

It is savory, quick, and surprisingly satisfying. Use the pasta water to loosen everything and help the tuna distribute nicely.

Finish with black pepper and more lemon if you like zing. You will love how something so simple can taste like a plan rather than an emergency dinner.

7. Sausage and Spinach Pasta

Brown Italian sausage until sizzling and deeply savory, then add garlic to perfume the pan. Toss in spinach and watch it wilt into silky ribbons in seconds.

Combine with hot pasta and Parmesan, adding starchy water to form a glossy, clinging sauce.

This tastes like you worked harder than you did. Choose spicy or sweet sausage depending on your mood.

The sausage seasoning carries the dish, so keep extras minimal. Finish with pepper and a squeeze of lemon if you want brightness, then serve steaming bowls that feel like an effortless hug.

8. Buttered Noodles With Crispy Breadcrumbs

Toast breadcrumbs in butter with a little garlic until nutty and golden. Toss hot noodles with more butter and Parmesan so they turn glossy and comforting.

Shower with the crispy crumbs for texture that makes every bite pop.

This is the definition of simple and addictive. Adjust salt carefully since cheese adds salinity.

Pepper adds just enough bite to keep things from feeling flat. If you have leftover bread, blitz it into fresh crumbs for extra crunch.

Scoop generous portions and lean into that buttery, toasty aroma.

9. Shrimp Scampi Pasta

Quick-cook shrimp in garlicky butter until just pink and juicy, then add lemon to keep everything bright. Toss with hot pasta and a splash of cooking water so the silky sauce coats each strand.

Parsley brings freshness without crowding the flavors.

This feels restaurant-like yet takes minutes. Keep shrimp tender by pulling them off heat promptly.

Taste for salt, add pepper, then twirl generous servings. If you want a little heat, pinch in red pepper flakes.

It is the kind of dinner that makes a Tuesday feel like a treat.

10. Bacon and Peas Creamy Pasta

Render bacon until crisp, then bloom everything in that savory fat. Stir in cream and Parmesan to make a velvety sauce that hugs noodles.

Toss in peas at the end so they stay sweet and pop with color.

This bowl hits salty, creamy, and gently sweet in perfect balance. Keep the sauce loose with a bit of pasta water, and season cautiously because bacon and cheese are salty.

Finish with pepper and another handful of peas for brightness. It is kid friendly but still crowd pleasing for adults too.

11. Gnocchi With Brown Butter and Sage

Let butter foam and brown until it smells nutty and turns amber, then fry sage leaves until crisp. Toss in pillowy gnocchi so they glaze and catch tiny browned bits.

Finish with Parmesan and lemon zest for lift that cuts through richness.

This tastes special with almost no effort. Keep the butter just shy of burnt for deep flavor without bitterness.

A squeeze of lemon brightens everything right before serving. You will catch yourself chasing the sage chips because they are that good.

12. Pasta With Mushrooms and Garlic

Slice mushrooms and let them brown undisturbed so they go from watery to deeply savory. Add butter and garlic to gloss the pan, then a pinch of thyme for woodsy aroma.

Toss with pasta and a little water until it clings.

This is earthy, comforting, and perfect for chilly nights. Salt toward the end so mushrooms actually brown.

Finish with pepper and more thyme leaves for fragrance. If you like, add a final pat of butter for shine.

Every bite tastes like a cozy corner booth.

13. Ricotta and Lemon Pasta

Whisk ricotta with lemon juice, zest, and a little pasta water until smooth and cloudlike. Toss with hot noodles off heat so it stays silky, then rain in Parmesan for gentle saltiness.

Black pepper adds subtle bite that keeps everything lively.

The result is creamy, tangy, and delicate without feeling bland. It is mellow comfort that still tastes bright.

Adjust thickness with more water until it clings like soft frosting. Serve immediately with extra zest for sparkle and a final crack of pepper.

14. Caprese Pasta

Turn the classic salad into dinner by tossing hot pasta with juicy tomatoes, torn basil, and olive oil. Add fresh mozzarella at the end so it softens into gentle strands without melting away.

The warmth coaxes sweetness from tomatoes while basil perfumes every bite.

This is fresh, simple, and best when tomatoes are peak-season good. Season thoughtfully and finish with pepper for contrast.

If tomatoes are pale, a quick sauté boosts flavor. Serve immediately while the mozzarella is still beautifully soft and stretchy.

15. Garlic Parmesan Broccoli Pasta

Blanch or steam broccoli until tender, then sauté garlic briefly for fragrance. Toss with pasta, Parmesan, and lemon so the florets catch cheese in every crease.

Use pasta water to create a light, clingy sauce that keeps everything juicy.

This tastes wholesome without feeling worthy. The lemon keeps it bright, and pepper adds gentle heat.

Chop some broccoli small so it becomes a sauce, leaving a few bigger florets for contrast. Serve with extra cheese and a final drizzle of olive oil if you want shine.

16. Chicken Alfredo Shortcut Pasta

Stir cream and Parmesan into a quick sauce that turns silky as it simmers. Fold in cooked chicken, whether leftover or rotisserie, and let it warm gently so it stays tender.

Toss with pasta and a splash of water until everything glistens.

This is classic comfort made faster. Keep heat moderate so the sauce stays smooth and does not split.

Season after adding cheese, then finish with cracked pepper and maybe a squeeze of lemon for balance. It is the reliable everyone-will-eat-this dinner.