10 Creamy Pasta Recipes You Can Make in Under 30 Minutes

Perfect for when you're craving comfort on the busiest days.

By
Myo Quinn
Myo Quinn
Myo Quinn
Myo's recipes, writing, and food styling can be found on King Arthur Baking, Food Network, Delish, Food52, and more. She collaborated on the cookbook Delish Vegan Dinners and trained at Gramercy Tavern and Untitled at the Whitney Museum.
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Published March 05, 2025
Myo Quinn
Creamy zucchini pasta in a dutch oven

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Do you ever get home after work or a long day shuffling the kids around and wish dinner could magically appear on the table? Well, I am no magician so I can’t make that happen. What I can do—bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!—is suggest these 10 creamy pasta recipes that are guaranteed to bring you and your family the comfort and nourishment you deserve in under 30 minutes. Start an episode of “Abbot Elementary” while you cook, and you'll have dinner on the table by the time the credits roll.

Below you’ll find handy tips for making each recipe from myself, our readers, and our Simply Recipes team.

  • Creamy One Pot Pasta with Zucchini

    Bowl of Creamy One Pot Pasta with Zucchini

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Delicious! What an unusual and delicious way to serve zucchini! I did some of the suggested adjustments. I added minced garlic and chopped fresh basil & parsley to zucchini. I also used chicken broth instead of water and grated some fresh Parmesan cheese when serving. I will definitely make this again. Thanks for another great recipe!" —Lori

  • Jennifer Garner’s Easy 5-Ingredient Pasta

    5-ingredient pasta

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    You can make this brown butter pasta in 15 minutes if you work smart. Set the pot of water over high heat with a lid on—I promise you the lid helps the water boil faster. Then, move on to making the brown butter sauce. When the water starts boiling while you make the sauce, drop the pasta in. If the sauce is ready before the pasta is done cooking, simply take it off the heat.

  • One-Pot Mac and Cheese

    One pot mac and cheese in a dutch oven with a wooden spoon, and in the surroundings, a bowl with cracker topping and a mustard kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Very creamy and cheesy... two characteristics you want in macaroni and cheese are found in this recipe. I ended up needing to add an additional teaspoon of kosher salt, but otherwise, this is a great quick and easy dinner recipe perfect for busy days." —Munni, Editorial Assistant

  • Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe

    Plate of Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe with Some Noodles Wrapped around a Fork, and Next to It, a Kitchen Towel, a Glass of Wine, and Two Small Bowls (One with Cracked Black Pepper and Another with Shredded Parmesan)

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    I tested this recipe while it was being developed and then I made it six times for my family. It’s that good and easy!

    Continue to 5 of 10 below

  • Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

    Copycat Olive Garden alfredo in a bowl with a fork, and in the surroundings, a white table napkin, a block of parmesan on a wooden board, and a glass with a drink

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

    "Nice and easy. For such a short cooking time it turned out delicious. The only change that I made was to add another clove of garlic." —David Bailey

  • Creamy Miso Mushroom Pasta

    Creamy Miso Mushroom Pasta in a Skillet

    Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

    "This was easy to make and very flavorful! My son loves all things miso. I topped it with shrimp that I sautéed in the same pan as the sauce. Delicious!" —Shannon

  • Creamy Cavatappi

    Bowl of Creamy Cavatappi Topped With Shredded Parmesan With a Fork and Sitting on an Olive Kitchen Towel. In the Surroundings, Another Bowl With a Serving, a Small Bowl With Blocks of Parmesan, and a Two Glasses.

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "You’ll want the sauce slightly looser than you think since it will thicken quickly as it cools." — Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

  • Chicken Carbonara

    Chicken carbonara

    Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes

    "This recipe relies on the residual heat of the pan, the cooked pasta, and the pasta cooking water to make the creamy sauce, so having everything ready to go is key to keeping things smooth. Whisk the egg mixture while the water comes to a boil so that it’s ready to go as soon as the pasta is cooked." — Devan, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 10 below

  • Fettuccine Alfredo

    Fettucine Alfredo
    Elise Bauer

    "I have been making this frequently. I have started adding broccoli florets cooked tender-crisp, sliced mushroom cooked in EVOO or butter, and grilled chicken breast, sliced. Fantastic! It always works!" —Sherry

  • Paccheri with Quick Sausage Ragu

    Pot of Paccheri With Quick Sausage Ragu With a Spoon, and in the Surroundings, a Glass, a Block of Parmesan, a Stack of Plates, and Basil Leaves

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Paccheri takes 7 to 10 minutes to cook to a perfect al dente. The best way to test if the pasta is cooked is simply to taste one. Paccheri is a thick, large pasta, so I always fish one out and cut it in half to give it a taste test, throwing the remaining half back into the pot." —Devan, Recipe Developer

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