It’s impossible to resist a steaming bowl of pasta; whether you top it with a rich and meaty ragù, a thick and creamy cheese sauce, or a fresh and zingy pesto, it never gets old. Here we’ve listed our top pasta recipes to suit every mood, from midweek pick-me-ups to lazy, weekend feasts.
Fresh Capelli d’Angelo with Prawns and Lemon
The vibrant flavours of lemon, chilli, white wine, and garlic enliven this simple dish of fresh angel hair pasta and prawns. Ready in just 5 minutes, this makes a speedy and flavoursome summer supper.
From the book
An A-Z of Pasta
Discover the stories, histories and recipes behind 50 different pasta shapes.
Learn to make fresh pasta dough from scratch and how to roll, shape and cut everything from spaghetti to ravioli.
Match your favourite shapes to sauces, from carbonara to ragù
Buy From
Nigella Lawson’s Pappardelle with Cavolo Nero and ‘Nduja
Featuring thick ribbons pappardelle and wilted cavolo nero coated in a fiery ‘nduja sauce, this simple pasta dish from Nigella Lawson is just what’s called for on a chilly midweek evening.
The Ottolenghi Test Kitchen’s M.E. Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Za’atar Pesto
A Middle Eastern twist on mac ‘n’ cheese, this sumptuous pasta dish from The Ottolenghi Test Kitchen is topped with za’atar pesto and crispy fried onions.
Paccheri with Aubergine, Two Sorts of Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Another recipe from pasta expert Rachel Roddy, this dish combines roasted aubergine, creamy mozzarella, and two kinds of tomato to create an intensely flavoursome pasta sauce.
Nadiya Hussain’s No Waste Creamy Carbonara
Unorthodox but brilliant, this creamy carbonara recipe from Nadiya Hussain makes use of leftover egg whites to create ‘mock bacon’. It also happens to be meat-free.
Baked Four-Cheese Spirali
This comforting recipe uses the irresistible combination of creamy cheese, salty ham and crunchy breadcrumbs. We can pretty much guarantee you won’t have any leftovers.
15 Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta
This recipe is a revelation. It uses a few key ingredients to create a creamy, moreish green sauce that is packed with nutrients. Plus it’s gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, sugar-free, and grain-free but still utterly, and genuinely, delicious.
Beef Ragù Pasta
Bolognese is always a firm family favourite and we love this recipe from Dean Edwards. It’s simple, straight-forward and any leftovers can be frozen for a busy day.
Macaroni Cheese
This recipe from the team behind the Hawksmoor restaurants makes use of several different types of cheese to produce a luxurious, fondue-like consistency.
Beetroot Noodles with Goat’s Cheese, Toasted Walnuts and Baby Kale
New to cooking pasta in vegetable juice? Let Felicity Cloake show you how with this delicious recipe from her cookbook The A-Z Of Eating. As well as being easy on the eyes, it’s super-simple and perfect for a midweek supper.
Tagliatelle with Pesto and Courgettes
Make your own pesto at home with this recipe from My Simple Italian. Fresh with the flavours of basil, lemon, and extra virgin olive oil, this dish sings with springtime flavours.
Onion Pasta with Parsley and Red Wine
Tasty, budget-friendly and a hit with the family, this recipe from Jack Monroe is one of those easy pasta recipes we rely on during the midweek rush. It’s also the perfect way to use up those onions rolling around in the back of the fridge.
Spaghetti with Mussels and Tomato Sauce
For a taste of Italy’s Amalfi coast, just whip up this recipe from A Taste of Home. Impressive enough for a dinner party, but far too delicious to save for occasions only, this pasta dish is one you’ll keep coming back to over the summer months.
