22 Easy Pasta Dinners With 5 Ingredients or Less

Minimal ingredients, maximum comfort.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published February 03, 2026
Theodora Kaloudis
A plate of farfalle pasta with chili crisp seasoning and a creamy sauce

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Comforting, easy, and versatile are just a few ways to describe pasta. It's also budget-friendly, quick to make, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. So, we're paying homage to this beloved carb. Dig into this collection of super-easy pasta dinners that come together with just five ingredients. From Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake and Spaghetti all'Assassina to Scallion Oil Pasta and Ravioli Lasagna, there's something here for everyone.

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  • Ravioli Lasagna

    4-ingredient ravioli lasagna lifted from a casserole dish using a spatula

    Simply Recipes / Meghan Splawn

    "So much of this dish’s flavor is built at the grocery store. My family loves Rao’s basic marinara but grab your favorite roasted garlic marinara or arrabbiata sauce. You could even shortcut this further with a jar of bolognese sauce." —Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

  • Broccoli Pasta

    Overhead shot of a bowl of rigatoni pasta with broccoli and parmesan cheese

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    "The key to this recipe is to cook the broccoli just enough so that it is soft enough to mash, but still retains its bright green flavor. If you are currently in a phase where green vegetables are a hard no (I see you!), feel free to use cauliflower instead." —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

  • Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Bake

    5-ingredient pasta bake

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "The ingredients—pasta, sauce, ground beef, cheese, and cottage cheese—were readily available at any grocery store and the bill was substantially lower than going to an Italian restaurant. It was also simple to make: parboil the pasta, then toss with the sauce and the cooked ground beef." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Peanut Butter Noodles

    Peanut butter noodles garnished with sesame seeds and scallions in a bowl with serving utensils

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "One day while poking around in my kitchen, I gave myself the challenge of making a no-cook peanut sauce with as few ingredients as possible. Using just three pantry items (plus a splash of hot water), I whisked up a nutty, savory, gently spicy sauce, perfect for tossing with just about any noodle." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 22 below

  • One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage

    One-Pan Ravioli in a pan with a large spoon

    Simply Recipes

    "This recipe is the perfect example of minimalism, using just five ingredients, one pan, 15 minutes start to finish. The combination of cheesy ravioli, tender spinach, and meaty sausage keeps me coming back for more." —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

  • Shrimp Pesto Pasta

    Shrimp pasta with pesto and a fork in a bowl

    Simply Recipes / Danielle Campbell

    "I made this recipe often for my clients as a private chef, and I was also told it was a kid favorite. All you need to make it are four key ingredients: some fresh basil pesto, thick-cut bacon, shrimp, and a box of your favorite curly pasta." —Danielle Campbell, Recipe Developer

  • Creamy Chili Crisp Pasta

    A plate of farfalle pasta with chili crisp seasoning and a creamy sauce

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "It’s a true comfort on nights when I don’t even want to dirty a cutting board, because it requires no chopping. The whole thing comes together while the pasta boils. All that’s left to do is serve up the steaming noodles with some extra spice or eat straight from the pan (which, let’s be honest, always tastes better)." —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers

  • Spaghetti With Tuna and White Beans

    Pasta with tuna, white beans, herbs, and breadcrumbs in a bowl, fork resting on the side.

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "This is the quintessential affordable pantry dinner, made exclusively with staples I keep stocked at all times: pasta, canned tuna, and canned white beans." —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

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  • 4-Ingredient Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake

    Chicken Alfredo pasta bake with broccoli in a casserole dish

    Mark Beahm / Simply Recipes

    "The brilliance here really does lie in the dish’s simplicity. With just four ingredients, you have a dinner that can feed a family for several days. Penne pasta provides the carbs, rotisserie chicken brings the protein, broccoli gives it a green veggie pop, and a good Alfredo sauce ups your flavor." —Joey Firoben, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Johnny Mac

    plate of Johnny Mac (4-Ingredient Casserole)

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Johnny Mac is my grandma’s simplified version of the classic cheesy tomato and meat-laden Johnny Marzetti casserole. Her version relies on ground beef or turkey instead of sausage, Parmesan cheese only, and a hefty amount of tomato sauce to avoid fiddling with any added vegetables." —Joey Firoben, Recipe Developer

  • Quick Peanut Chicken Noodles

    Plate of peanut chicken noodles garnished with a lime wedge

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "My recipe for quick peanut chicken ramen noodles starts with a pack of instant ramen. While the noodles boil, you brown ground chicken in a pan. Stir in the ramen flavor packet, a big dollop of peanut butter, and some of the water the noodles cooked in to make it saucy. Toss in the cooked noodles, add a squeeze of lime juice for brightness, and you’re done!" —Rebecca Fennel, Recipe Developer

  • Spaghetti all'Assassina (Assassin's Spaghetti)

    Bowlful of assassin's spaghetti at a table setting with more in a bowl, a glass of water, utensils, and light blue kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "This naturally vegan pasta really doesn’t need any further bells and whistles, but you can certainly add them. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is an easy addition, but a soft cheese like a little fresh burrata is nice to help offset the heat." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

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  • Midnight Pasta

    close-up: bowl of midnight pasta

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "The brilliance of midnight pasta is how flexible it is. It’s impromptu and asks for you to tweak it depending on what you have to have in your pantry." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Fresh Tomato Pasta

    fresh tomato pasta in a bowl (close-up)

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "The recipe comes together in around 15 minutes, since you make the sauce while the pasta is cooking and then toss everything together in the saucepan at the end. This is one of those riffable recipes that you can make your own, just don’t fuss over it too much; it should be nice and easy." —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

    Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens in a Pot With a Serving Spoon, All on a White Kitchen Towel on the Counter, and in the Background, a Glass of Water and a Block of Pecorino Romani Cheese on a Cheese Board

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Tender wilted greens not only add color, but bulk up the pasta to turn it into a true one-pan dinner. This is a comforting, feel-good meal that’s fit for the busiest of weeknights." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Artichoke and Lemon Pasta

    Bowl of pasta with artichoke hearts and lemon shavings fork placed on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "This lemon artichoke pasta has just enough zip to wake up your senses. The quartered artichokes give the dish a bit of savoriness from their brine, breaking up the monotony of plain ol' pasta. But the dish’s brightness comes from lemon juice, with just a pinch of red pepper flakes for spice." —Amanda Blum, Recipe Developer

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  • 4-Ingredient Penne and Smoked Sausage Casserole

    Penne and Smoked Sausage Casserole in a baking dish with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "If you’re looking for a dinner option that comes together with ease, feeds a crowd, and won’t break the bank, this recipe is everything you’re looking for. Pasta for carbs, sausage for protein, a whopping amount of tomato sauce for vitamins, all rounded out with a layer of golden brown cheese to make your taste buds extra happy. " —Joey Firoben, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Scallion Oil Pasta

    Two bowls of scallion pasta on a table, with forks nearby

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

    "Xueci’s version was my first experience with the dish. Unlike some other traditional recipes, she slowly coaxes flavor out of the scallions by frying them gently over low heat until they’re tender all the way through, then finishes cooking them in the sauce, rather than frying them quickly until crispy and browned and removing them from the pan. I find this method both easier for the home cook and even more richly flavored, so this is the way I always make this dish." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Pasta Pomodoro

    easy pasta pomodoro in a dutch oven

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

    "Pomodoro means 'tomato' in Italian, so the main ingredient and flavor in Pasta Pomodoro is exactly that: fresh tomato. In this recipe, cherry tomatoes are pan-roasted with white wine, garlic, and basil to create a light yet luscious sauce to coat tender pasta." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 3-Ingredient Cheater’s Tuna Noodle Casserole

    stove-top tuna noodle casserole

    Simply Recipes / Sarah Crowder

    "My mom’s Cheater’s Tuna Noodle Casserole, as I affectionately refer to it, calls for your favorite boxed mac and cheese, frozen peas, and canned tuna. That’s it. I think it originated as a way to make a full meal of the always-on-hand Kraft macaroni and cheese, but I love that it’s also a shortcut method for making tuna casserole." —Sarah Crowder, Senior Art Director

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  • Caramelized Cabbage Spaghetti

    A white bowl with caramelized cabbage spaghetti, garnished with chopped parsley

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    "This pasta dish has become a go-to weeknight pasta dish for those evenings when I don’t know what to cook. It’s super quick, only requires a handful of ingredients, is packed with vegetables, and everyone will eat it. What more could you ask for?" —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

  • Lemony Zucchini Pasta with Cottage Cheese

    5-ingredient zucchini pasta in a pot with a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Grace Elkus

    "Like any good five-ingredient recipe, this one is ripe for adaptation. Jury still out on cottage cheese? Swap in ricotta. Basil plant looking droopy? Supplement with dill, mint, or chives. Even the zucchini can be replaced with yellow squash." —Grace Elkus, Recipe Developer

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