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Easy Pasta Recipes for One

Updated  By  30 Minute Meals, Cooking for One, Easy Recipes, Pasta Dishes

Make any of these easy pasta recipes for one for a quick weeknight dinner. These delicious recipes make cooking for one easy and something to look forward to. You deserve to eat deliciously!

collage of four plates of pasta

Table of contents

Cooking for One Tips

These single serving recipes are a great place to get started if you cook for one, but here are a couple easy cooking for one resources to make cooking easy and more enjoyable.

Other recipes:

Pastas Using a Can of Tomatoes

Black Bean Pasta
Shop your pantry to make this quick black bean pasta. In just 15 minutes, you can chop up some veggies, throw in canned black beans, tomatoes and other ingredients from your pantry to make a delicious dinner.
Check out this recipe
square image of black bean pasta with cheese in a bowl
One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Make this 20 minute, pantry ingredient, one pot chicken parmesan pasta with crispy breadcrumbs instead of traditional crispy, cheesy chicken parmesan without the extra time, steps, and mess.
Check out this recipe
square photo of spiral pasta with tomatoes on a black plate with a fork
Canned Tomato Pasta
Make this easy canned tomato pasta with pantry ingredients. It comes together in just 15 minutes and doesn't taste like you threw it together. Freshly cooked pasta, a can of tomatoes, Italian seasoning, basil, and Italian sausage are delicious in this meal.
Check out this recipe
simple pasta in a white bowl with sausage on top and ingredients behind

Vegetarian Pastas

Protein Mac and Cheese
Protein mac and cheese recipe is silky, creamy, cheesy, and ready in 20 minutes. One secret ingredient in this pasta recipe adds silkiness and protein without changing the taste of classic, delicious macaroni and cheese.
Check out this recipe
close up of protein mac and cheese in a bowl
Instant Pot Lentil Stroganoff
This Instant Pot vegetarian stroganoff with tender, meaty mushrooms is perfect when you need a comforting, easy dinner. This stroganoff is hearty, filling, and a vegetarian take on the traditional beef stroganoff. 
Check out this recipe
close up of lentil stroganoff with parsley
Light Pasta Carbonara
This healthy carbonara pasta is just as good as the best versions you've had, it just has less added fat without skimping on flavor or creaminess. Not only is this carbonara recipe healthy and delicious, it can be made in just about 15 minutes.
Check out this recipe
pasta with peas, prosciutto, and a poached egg in a bowl

20 Minute Pasta Recipes

Jerk Shrimp Pasta
Make this jerk shrimp pasta if you're in the mood for a 20 minute dinner that's spicy, creamy, and bursting with flavor! It's similar to the Jamaican Italian fusion Rasta Pasta, but can be adapted to use up ingredients you already have in your kitchen!
Check out this recipe
close up of jerk shrimp pasta in a bowl
Pesto Pasta for One
Make this pesto pasta for one in just 10 minutes with pre-made pesto sauce, like this Arugula Basil Pesto or Pistachio Pesto. It's a quick dinner you can throw together on days you didn't plan ahead and want something equally easy and delicious.
Check out this recipe
bowtie pasta with pesto in a white bowl with ingredients on table

One Pot Pasta Recipes

Single Serving Mac and Cheese
Dinner is just 15 minutes away with this easy single serving mac and cheese. It's versatile, delicious, and made with a handful of pantry ingredients. Enjoy it as is or add a side for a filling meal.
Check out this recipe
macaroni and cheese, broccoli on black plate
One Pot Chicken Bacon and Mushroom Pasta
Combine the best salty, earthy, and meaty flavors in this 20 minute creamy one pot chicken bacon and mushroom pasta. Quickly cook your pasta while preparing your mushrooms then add it back after cooking the meat and mushrooms for a super easy one pot dinner for one.
Check out this recipe
close up of pasta with mushrooms, bacon, and chicken with a fork in it

FAQ

What can I add to pasta when there's nothing?

Buttered noodles are a great easy recipe. My dad made them when I was growing up. Cook elbow noodles (but any pasta works), drain water, add butter and salt to taste.

You can also drizzle olive oil, garlic salt over pasta. Add lemon and/or parmesan cheese if you have it. Frozen vegetables or a protein are great additions, if you have either in the freezer.

I also love a great throw together spaghetti. Cook pasta, add a can of tomatoes, a pinch of salt, a couple pinches of sugar, Italian seasonings, and garlic if you have it. Add frozen vegetables/protein if you have either as well.

How do you make 1 serving of pasta?

What's a serving? I could look it up, but many 1 serving pasta recipes use ½ ish cup of dry pasta. Personally, I like to use ½-2/3 cup of pasta in 1 serving to fill me up more. Most of these easy pasta recipes for one use ½-2/3 cup pasta.

Determine how much you need by your hunger level and when you'll be able to eat next/schedule more than what a serving size 'should be' because those recommendations are arbitrary.

Did you make any of these easy pasta recipes for one? Leave me a comment & rating to share how they turned out!

Want to get more single serving recipes delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

More 30 Minute Meals

About Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD

Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gina says

    This is the perfect list of recipes to work my way through on the days my husband works overnights! Thanks for this!

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      great! enjoy

      Reply

  2. Sharon Chen says

    Thank you for all the tips!!! Saving this so I can still get quick lunches when I am swamped with work lol!

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      oh a couple will be perfect for busy days

      Reply

  3. Dannii says

    There are so many great recipes to choose from here. Perfect for a solo dinner.

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      totally! enjoy

      Reply

  4. Katherine says

    This is a great collection of pastas for one! I can't wait to try the jerk shrimp version!

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      enjoy!

      Reply

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