By: Julia Mertes, Communications Intern, The Lion’s Pantry
If you need a quick and easy meal to whip up after a long day at work, then look no further. You can’t go wrong with pasta, so we’ve found you 11 top-notch meals to make this season.
1. Cacio e Pepe
Add some Italian cuisine to your meal plan by whipping up cacio e pepe for dinner.
Cacio e Pepe translates to “cheese and pepper,” which are the main ingredients needed to make this meal. You can use this recipe from Bon Appétit that uses only 5 ingredients including, your choice in pasta, unsalted butter, black pepper, grated Parmesan cheese and Pecorino.
2. Spinach Parmesan Pasta
When cooking your pasta, sprinkle in some spinach and cheese to soften with the noodles as they cook. Stir in some Alfredo sauce if you want to increase the creaminess of the dish, and top it with Parmesan cheese.
3. Pasta al Limone
To “zest” up your next meal, add some lemon juice, butter, Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper to your pasta.
Since lemons contain “vitamin C, soluble fiber, and plant compounds” that are beneficial to one’s health according to healthline, this meal may become your next go-to healthy dinner. Plus, it would be a simple — yet delicious — dish to whip up when you’re expecting company.
4. Spaghetti Taco Pasta
If you grew up as an iCarly lover, then this recommendation may sound familiar to you! Grab some hard-shell tacos on your next trip to the store and fill them with cooked pasta in marinara sauce.
5. Pizza Pasta
Besides topping your spaghetti with red sauce, add some traditional pizza ingredients like pepperoni, garlic, onion, mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasonings. If you would like to follow a recipe to make this scrumptious dinner, The Country Cook shared a tasty pasta bake with few ingredients. This meal would be perfect if you’re a leftovers lover.
Photo by Katerina Holmes on Pexels
6. Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti Carbonara is a classic Italian dish that includes eggs, cheese, bacon and black pepper. You can’t go wrong with bacon, as many breakfast lovers proclaim! Find a quick and easy recipe for this meal on The New York Times Cooking.
7. Southwestern Rotisserie Chicken Pasta
Add some spice to your penne pasta by including peppers, black beans, and taco seasoning to the mixture. Chop up your rotisserie chicken for additional protein, and sprinkle in some corn and jarred Alfredo. The final creation will create an explosion of flavor.
8. Cajun Sausage Alfredo
Pick up some smoked sausage that can be cooked on the stove and add it to your pasta mixture filled with Cajun seasoning, heavy cream and cheese. You can find a recipe for this creation by Plain Chicken.
9. Canned Tuna Pasta
If you would like to follow a recipe, then make sure to check out this recipe from Salt and Lavender that requires few ingredients and a reasonable cooking time. You’ll only need canned tuna, garlic, salt and pepper, olive oil and lemon juice to incorporate with your pasta.
10. Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
Elevate your pasta with some softened broccoli, garlic and Alfredo sauce. This pasta creation lacks complexity but is loaded with flavor.
Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels
11. Pantry Pasta
You may be wondering what pantry pasta is and what the dish includes. Wonder no longer!
Pantry pasta includes any ingredients lying around in your kitchen pantry that can be added to your pasta. Do you have some foods that are about to expire, add it to the dish. Did you recently pick up something from The Lion’s Pantry that you do not know how to include in a meal? Sprinkle it in. This dish is simply a mishmash of flavors.
