Easy 15-Minute Pasta Dinner
An easy weeknight pasta dinner takes about 15 minutes with a Pastacraft pasta sauce starter. While the pasta boils, the sauce comes together in a couple of minutes in a pan with butter or olive oil and starchy pasta water. There is no chopping and no long simmering, and you still get a restaurant-quality, homemade-tasting sauce.
How to make a pasta dinner in about 15 minutes
- Start the water. Boil salted water and cook 1 lb of pasta al dente. Save 1 to 1½ cups of pasta water.
- Make the sauce while the pasta cooks or right after. For Cacio e Pepe and Miso Butter, whisk the starter into butter and hot pasta water in a pan over medium heat. For Aglio e Olio, sauté the starter in olive oil for about 30 seconds, then add pasta water.
- Toss and serve. Add the pasta, toss until glossy and add a splash more pasta water if needed.
One pouch makes enough sauce for 1 lb of pasta (4 to 6 servings). Shop the flavors.
Pick a flavor for your night
- Want something creamy and peppery? Cacio e Pepe
- Want something savory and rich? Miso Butter
- Want something vegan, bright and garlicky? Aglio e Olio
Easy add-ins that keep it fast
- Vegetables: frozen peas, spinach, broccoli or cherry tomatoes tossed in the pan.
- Protein: pre-cooked chicken, shrimp, white beans or a jammy egg.
- Finish: grated Parmesan, lemon zest or toasted breadcrumbs.
Questions
What is a quick pasta dinner I can make on a weeknight?
Cook 1 lb of pasta, then finish it with a pasta sauce starter, butter or olive oil, and starchy pasta water. The whole dinner takes about 15 minutes, and the sauce itself comes together in a couple of minutes.
Is it really homemade?
You finish the sauce yourself in your own pan, so it has the silky texture and fresh flavor of a homemade sauce. The starter is a dry, concentrated pasta sauce mix that does the hard seasoning work for you. See how it works.
Can kids eat it?
Cacio e Pepe is creamy and cheesy, and Miso Butter is savory and mild. Aglio e Olio has a gentle chili kick.
What if I need a dinner with no dairy?
Aglio e Olio is vegan. Cacio e Pepe contains milk and Miso Butter is finished with butter.
More recipes on our recipes page, or see the FAQ.
