Easy authentic Italian pasta dishes are perfect for weeknight dinners: simple ingredients create irresistible dishes the whole family will love. Find delicious inspiration in this pasta recipe collection!

We all know pasta dishes are quick and comforting—especially as the cooler weather takes hold. But you may be surprised to know that making truly authentic Italian pasta is also really easy and usually requires just a few, simple ingredients.

The key is to make sure you have those ingredients on hand and to buy the best quality ingredients you can afford. Having just a few, good-quality ingredients can elevate a dish that’s great to one that’s simply divine!

This collection of easy, authentic Italian pasta dishes will create meals everyone at the table will love. Many recipes are vegetarian or can easily be modified to be vegan as well, so there really is something for everyone!

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1. Aglio e Olio Pasta

by Bacon is Magic

This cheap pasta dish is as simple and easy as it gets, yet it’s so satisfying to dig into. If you’ve got oil, garlic, and Parmesan, then you’re minutes away from a delicious plate of food! 

2. Pasta con le Sarde

by Champagne Tastes

This sardine pasta recipe for Pasta con le Sarde is an easy Sicilian classic, and features bucatini pasta with sardines and fennel.

3. Cacio e Pepe Pasta

by Food Nouveau

Learn how to make a surprisingly easy, authentic Italian pasta dish that has been called “the greatest thing in the history of the world” by Anthony Bourdain.

4. Spaghetti alla Carbonara

by Inside the Rustic Kitchen

Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a simple recipe made with guanciale, eggs, and Parmigiano Reggiano. This traditional Italian recipe does not contain any cream, yet it’s still super creamy, rich, and delicious!

5. Pasta alla Norcina

by The Pasta Project

This sausage and cream pasta recipe from Umbria is very easy and requires very few ingredients to make. Yet it’s so flavourful and creamy you’ll want to make it part of your regular pasta rotation!

6. Spaghetti al Limone

by Food Nouveau

Spaghetti al Limone with please all fans of mac’n’cheese! This easy, 5-ingredient recipe is rich, zesty, and utterly satisfying to eat. Dig in as is, or fold in veggies and/or proteins for a heartier dish.

7. Fettuccine Alfredo

by No Frills Kitchen

This recipe for fettuccine alfredo shows you how to make it the Italian way. Achingly simple and much lighter than the Italian-American counterpart, this dish is a must if you’re looking for a comforting Italian classic you can make in a flash.

8. Pasta Pomodoro

by Family Style Food

This classic, family-friendly pasta pomodoro recipe is made with fresh or canned tomatoes, olive oil, and basil. Guaranteed to land on your table in less than 30 minutes!

9. Penne alla Vodka

by House of Nash Eats

Rich, tomatoey, and creamy with an extra kick, this Penne Alla Vodka is absolutely amazing! It’s naturally vegetarian, although you can add in pan-seared chicken, shrimp, or cooked Italian sausages to make it a heartier dish. So easy to make and ready in less than 30 minutes!

10. Pasta alla Norma

by Scrummy Lane

Pasta alla norma might sound fancy, but it’s actually an easy, authentic Italian pasta dish with a tasty tomato and eggplant sauce stirred through. Add a pinch of chili flakes and some oozy mozzarella for a vegetarian dish that even the most hard-core meat eater in your life will enjoy!

11. Bucatini All’Amatriciana

by Food Nouveau

Bucatini All’Amatriciana features a rich-tasting but quick-to-make sauce made with crushed tomatoes, guanciale or pancetta, basic seasonings, and Pecorino Romano cheese. Ready in less than 30 minutes, it’s an easy, authentic Italian pasta classic you’ll fall in love with at first bite!

12. Penne Arrabbiata

by Christina’s Cucina

Penne arrabbiata is a super popular spicy pasta dish. Learn how delicious, yet quick and easy it is to make in the authentic Italian way!

13. Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

by Healthy Seasonal Recipes

This easy Puttanesca Sauce is made with a handful of pantry staples that are quickly simmered together. By the time your pasta is cooked, the sauce is ready, and dinner is on the table in record time!

14. Pappardelle alla Bolognese

by Food Nouveau

This authentic Bolognese Sauce is meat-centric and completely different from the bright red, tomato-based North American version of the sauce: it’s creamy, aromatic, and surprisingly delicate in flavor. Although authentic Bolognese Sauce does require simmering for a few hours, if you make it on a weekend and freeze the sauce in portions, you’ll be in for amazingly delicious, incredibly fast weeknight dinners later on!

15. Linguine alle Vongole

by Went Here 8 This

This linguine with white clam sauce is made with dried pasta, white wine, and fresh clams. The decadent buttery sauce is the perfect vehicle to highlight the delicate shellfish. Linguine alle Vongole is an incredibly elegant dish that requires very little time to make, yet you’ll be proud to serve it to guests, too!  

16. Linguini con Gamberi

by The Petite Cook

Bursting with flavor, this easy, authentic Italian pasta recipe for prawn linguine makes a fantastic option for a quick delicious meal!

17. Pasta e Ceci

by The Petite Cook

Pasta e Ceci combines pasta with chickpeas to create a warm, comforting, and protein-rich dish that illustrates Italian comfort food at its finest.

18. Pasta e Fagioli

by Southern Bytes

Pasta e Fagioli aka “Pasta Fazool” is a family recipe made from pasta and beans. It’s a complete meal made in just one pot that delivers incredibly heart-warming flavors!

19. Classic Lasagna

by Christina’s Cucina

This lasagna recipe will be the last one you’ll ever use. This Italian family’s recipe can now be yours; it’s classic, simple, and absolutely delicious!

20. Spaghetti and Meatballs

by Ashcroft Family Table

This Italian Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe is comforting, delicious, and popular with everyone, young and old! This Italian family recipe has been handed down for generations, so you know it’s 100% authentic!

21. Italian Wedding Soup

by Food Nouveau

Italian wedding soup is about delicious ingredients marrying their flavors together to create a comforting meal in a bowl. Learn how to make it quickly and easily, thanks to a clever time-saving tip!