10 Creamy Pasta Recipes You Can Make in Under 30 Minutes

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

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

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

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Get Recipe: Creamy One Pot Pasta with Zucchini

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"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

Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

Get Recipe: Jennifer Garner’s Easy 5-Ingredient Pasta Is the Most Luxurious Weeknight Dinner

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

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

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"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

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Get Recipe: The 20-Minute Dinner I've Made a Thousand Times

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!

Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

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

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

Get Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

"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

Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

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"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

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

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

Chicken Carbonara

Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes

Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes

Get Recipe: Chicken Carbonara

"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

Fettuccine Alfredo

Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer

Get Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo

"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

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Get Recipe: Paccheri with Quick Sausage Ragu

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"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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