Some nights, cooking needs to be as simple as dumping ingredients into a pot and walking away. No multitasking, no endless cleanup, just a solid meal with minimal effort. These pasta recipes are made for those nights. They come together fast, cook in one pan, and don’t ask much from you. You still get a real dinner without the usual mess or time sink.

A serving spoon scoops creamy penne pasta with chicken and diced tomatoes from a white dish, next to a bowl of Caesar salad with croutons on a table.
Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Pasta Bake with Turkey

Pasta Bake with Turkey. Photo credit: Mae’s Menu.

This no-boil pasta bake checks every box for a dump-and-cook dinner. It uses ground turkey, pantry pasta, and a single casserole dish to make a hearty meal with zero stovetop juggling. Toss it all together, bake, and let the oven do the rest.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Bake with Turkey

Instant Pot Bolognese

Instant Pot bolognese recipe on a plate with a fork.
Instant Pot Bolognese. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Traditional bolognese takes hours to simmer, but this version delivers deep flavor in a fraction of the time. Toss everything in the Instant Pot and let pressure do the work. Perfect for busy weeknights that still need a hearty meal.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Bolognese

Italian Tomato Pasta Soup

Italian tomato soup with pasta in a mug with a spoon.
Italian Tomato Pasta Soup. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Loaded with sausage, beef, mushrooms, and greens, this soup is a full meal that’s as comforting as it is easy. Just dump it all in a pot and let it simmer until dinner is ready.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tomato Pasta Soup

Brussels Sprouts Pasta

A bowl of pasta with bacon and brussels sprouts.
Brussels Sprouts Pasta. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

With just six ingredients and a 25-minute cook time, this pasta delivers big flavor with barely any prep. Bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, and artichokes do the heavy lifting while the pasta cooks.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Pasta

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

A bowl of pasta with vegetables and cheese garnished with basil on a table next to a pepper mill and a linen napkin.
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This weeknight pasta mixes rigatoni with a creamy tomato sauce, parmesan, and spinach for a meatless meal that feels rich without being heavy. Ready in 30 minutes and only uses one pan.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese with ground turkey in a pot.
Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This one-pot dinner combines pasta, ground turkey, cheddar, and veggies for a grown-up version of a childhood favorite. It’s a great dump-and-cook choice when boxed mac just won’t cut it.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

Baked Spaghetti Carbonara

Baked Spaghetti Carbonara. Photo credit: Chef’s Pencil.

All the richness of carbonara without hovering over a hot pan. This baked version layers spaghetti, eggs, cheese, and pancetta into a cozy dish that feeds a crowd and skips the stress. Dump, bake, done.
Get the Recipe: Baked Spaghetti Carbonara

Roasted Cauliflower Pasta

Roasted Cauliflower Pasta. Photo credit: Simply Bakings.

This weeknight pasta loads up on roasted cauliflower, garlic, and warm spice with barely any prep. Toss everything in one pan and let the oven handle it while you check out. It’s a great fit for the dump-and-cook lifestyle when you want something that feels a little different.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Pasta

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Buffalo Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Baking Beauty.

This one-pot pasta turns your favorite party dip into a dinner that actually fills you up. The chicken, hot sauce, cheese, and pasta cook together in a single dish, making cleanup painless and the end result perfect for spicy comfort food cravings.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Slow Cooker Lasagna

Slow Cooker Lasagna. Photo credit: Chef Savvy.

Skip the layering marathon and dump everything into the slow cooker instead. This version has all the classic lasagna flavors—meaty sauce, creamy ricotta, and plenty of mozzarella—without the hassle. Let it simmer while you do literally anything else.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Lasagna

Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna. Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

This Instant Pot lasagna delivers all the flavor of the traditional version in half the time and with a lot less cleanup. Just throw the ingredients into the pot and let pressure do the work. It’s everything you want from dump-and-cook pasta.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta

Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta. Photo credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

Packed with cannellini beans, spinach, pasta, and a rich coconut-tomato broth, this dump-and-go crockpot soup eats like a meal. It’s filling, flavorful, and the slow cooker does the heavy lifting while you go about your day.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta

Keto Baked Feta Pasta

Keto Baked Feta Pasta. Photo credit: LikeHotKeto.

TikTok made it famous, but this feta pasta actually earns a spot in your dinner rotation. Dump the cheese, tomatoes, and noodles in a dish, bake until bubbly, and stir. No chopping, no boiling, no mess.
Get the Recipe: Keto Baked Feta Pasta

Pizza Pasta

Pizza Pasta. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

This one-pot dinner throws pasta, sauce, cheese, and all your favorite pizza toppings into the same pot for a dish that’s equal parts nostalgic and easy. Dump everything in and cook it all at once—no oven time required.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta

Taco Pasta

Taco Pasta. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

Ground meat, taco seasoning, and pasta come together in a single pot for a Tex-Mex dinner that saves time and still brings bold flavor. It’s a great dump-and-cook option when tacos sound great but you don’t want to deal with the mess.
Get the Recipe: Taco Pasta

One-Pot Stovetop Lasagna

One-Pot Stovetop Lasagna. Photo credit: Foodess.

All the cheesy, saucy comfort of lasagna without turning on the oven. This one-pot version is perfect for when you’re craving lasagna but need it fast. Just add everything to the pot and simmer until it comes together.
Get the Recipe: One-Pot Stovetop Lasagna

Lazy Lasagna

Lazy Lasagna. Photo credit: Foodess.

Three ingredients, five minutes of effort, and the oven takes it from there. This is the definition of a dump-and-cook dinner. It might look like you spent time on it, but your secret’s safe.
Get the Recipe: Lazy Lasagna

Lazy Crockpot Lasagna

Lazy Crockpot Lasagna. Photo credit: Three Kids, Three Cats, and a Husband.

Forget the long bake time and complicated layering. This crockpot version lets you throw everything in the pot and walk away. After a few hours, you’ve got cheesy, saucy lasagna ready to serve with zero effort.
Get the Recipe: Lazy Crockpot Lasagna

Meatball Casserole

Meatball Casserole. Photo credit: The Forked Spoon.

Juicy meatballs, cooked pasta, and a creamy marinara base bake together into a dinner that hits every comfort food note. This one-pan meal is a go-to dump-and-bake option for busy nights or last-minute guests.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Casserole

Electric Skillet Spaghetti

Electric Skillet Spaghetti. Photo credit: In the Kitch.

This dinner gets made from start to finish in an electric skillet—no boiling water, no separate sauce. The chicken, noodles, and cheese cook together for a pasta dish that basically runs itself.
Get the Recipe: Electric Skillet Spaghetti

Gluten-free Hamburger Helper

Gluten-free Hamburger Helper. Photo credit: Whole New Mom.

This one-skillet meal comes together fast and tastes way better than the boxed version. Ground beef, noodles, and a rich sauce cook all in one pan, which makes cleanup just as easy as prep.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-free Hamburger Helper

Dairy-Free Chili Mac

Dairy-Free Chili Mac. Photo credit: Whole New Mom.

A dump-and-cook dish with bold chili flavor and classic mac comfort, all in a single skillet. No need to overthink it—just throw everything in the pan and let dinner take care of itself.
Get the Recipe: Dairy-Free Chili Mac

Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta

Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta. Photo credit: The Cinnamon Jar.

This orzo pasta balances bright lemon with a rich creamy base for a dinner that’s both fresh and filling. It comes together quickly in one pan and doesn’t ask much of you beyond stirring.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta

Vegetarian Goulash

Vegetarian Goulash. Photo credit: Cook Eat Live Love.

Elbow macaroni and plant-based protein simmer together in a bold tomato sauce in just 30 minutes. It’s hearty, easy to throw together, and perfect for when you want something filling without hovering over the stove.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Goulash

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Cajun Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

Creamy and spicy without being over the top, this Cajun pasta builds flavor fast in one pan. Great for when you want bold flavors and minimal mess.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Chicken Pasta

Founder and Writer at  | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *