3 Simple Pasta Dishes in 30 Minutes or Less

by Lori Madden 04/11/2021

Being short on time is no reason to not enjoy a healthy meal at home. These three quick and easy pasta dishes whip up in a mere 30 minutes or less, giving you plenty of time to even to the dishes before you could be in and out of a drive thru lane.

20-Minute Lemon Pepper Pasta with Shrimp

Fast and delicious, this delightfully light and healthy recipe can be made with many staple ingredients you likely keep on hand.

Ingredients

1/2 Lb. Dry Twisted, Tube or Fusilli Pasta

1 Lb. Medium Shrimp, Small or Medium, Peeled and Deveined

1 Cup Fresh Broccoli, Spinach or Kale, Chopped (May Sub Frozen)

1/3 Cup Dry White Wine

1/4 Cup Basil Pesto

1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated

1/2 Tsp. Course Black Pepper

1 Lemon

1 Tsp. Salt

1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Cooking Directions

Prepare the pasta following the packages directions. Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a large nonstick sauté pan or skillet. Heat to medium and add shrimp. Cook for two minutes before turning. Add your vegetable/s of choice to the pan along with the lemon zest. Sprinkle with pepper and salt to taste and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and drain pasta. Toss pasta with shrimp mixture, cheese and pesto.

Pasta & Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce

This 15 minute recipe is bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors, and is a light and healthy meal that is excellent cold or hot.

Ingredients

1 Lb. Dry Pasta

3 Pints Cherry Tomatoes

2 Garlic Cloves, Finely Chopped

1 Cup Fresh Basil, Coarsely Chopped

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

1/2 Tsp. Ground Black Pepper

Pinch of Sugar

Grated Parmesan for Serving

Cooking Instructions

Prepare pasta in boiling water and a pinch of Kosher salt until desired level of firmness. Transfer pasta to a large bowl and set aside. Heat olive oil in a heavy, medium sized skillet over medium-high heat. Slowly introduce the garlic and tomatoes and sprinkle over seasonings and sugar and salt to taste. Cook for approximately 6-8 minutes until the cherry tomatoes burst and create a juicy sauce. Top pasta with the sauce and basil. Top with parmesan if desired.

One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

This one pot wonder will leave everyone wanting a second serving. It’s a quick fix that doesn’t make a big mess and takes less than half an hour to prep and cook.

16 Oz. Linguini Pasta

4 1/2 Cups Vegetable Broth

15 Oz. Diced Tomatoes in Liquid

4 Garlic Cloves, Thinly Sliced

1 Sweet Onion, Julienned 1/4 Strips

1 Bunch Basil, Diced

2 Tbsp. EV Olive Oil

2 Tsp. Oregano, Dried

1/4 Tsp. Red Pepper Flakes

Parmesan for Garnish

Cooking Instructions

Pour vegetable broth in a large stock pot, and add pasta, onion, tomatoes and garlic. Sprinkle the oregano and pepper on top and drizzle with olive oil. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Cook until liquid has mostly evaporated and season to taste. Add basil leaves to mixture, top with parmesan and serve.

These easy, delicious, and healthy meals in less than 30 minutes take the stress out of cooking and clean up quickly.

Cooking

Dinner

Meal Planning

About the Author

Lori Madden

As a Florida native growing up in Sarasota, I have seen my hometown grow from a sleepy coastal town to a highly sought-after destination along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. After working in Chicago for 5 years, I returned to Sarasota and saw it through a new lens and really began to appreciate what makes Sarasota so desirable, including temperatures that allow for year round outdoor activities including tennis (a personal favorite), golf, boating, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding, or just relaxing and/or shelling on our pristine sandy shores, including Dr. Beach’s #1 beach in the United States for 2017, Siesta Key! Sarasota’s cultural amenities are many and diverse, appealing to a wide range of arts lovers. Downtown Sarasota has become a destination in itself, drawing many new developments for those who want to be within walking distance of Main Street's offerings and the picturesque bayfront and marina. Foodies will find an eclectic mix of locally owned and operated restaurants offering something for everyone, and there are now Farmers Markets every day of the week in various locations throughout Sarasota, but the Saturday morning Farmers Market in downtown Sarasota draws the biggest crowds. Since 1988, my passion has been selling real estate, representing both buyers and sellers. I have been recognized by my clients and customers for an uncompromising work ethic and dedication to helping them achieve their real estate goals. Relying on my experience as a real estate paralegal and being highly organized, I am able to help make the transition between contract and closing a smooth one for my clients. With an eye for interior and landscape design, I've been known to pitch in and help Sellers minimize and/or reorganize their belongings in order to stage their home to maximize its sale potential. I specialize in out of state buyers looking for their piece of paradise along the Gulf Coast and make it a priority to keep them up to date on our quickly changing local real estate market. I welcome the opportunity to share with you all Sarasota and her surrounding islands have to offer!