Weeknight dinners don’t have to be stressful. When I get home late and tired, I always turn to one of my three go-to pasta dishes: garlic butter spaghetti, creamy tomato penne, and chili oil noodles. They’re fast, affordable, and don’t require fancy ingredients.
Garlic butter spaghetti is my favorite for lazy days — all you need is spaghetti, garlic, butter, and a pinch of chili flakes. For something a bit more filling, the creamy tomato penne uses canned tomatoes, cream, and parmesan. Chili oil noodles are perfect when I want something spicy and satisfying.
These recipes each take under 20 minutes and are great for solo meals or sharing. I’ll share exact steps and tips below, so you can make them your own.