10 Creamy Pasta Recipes You Can Make in Under 30 Minutes

Start an episode of "Abbot Elementary" while you cook any one of these 10 creamy pasta recipes, and you'll have dinner on the table by the time the credits roll.

Creamy zucchini pasta in a dutch oven — Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Do you ever get home after work or a long day shuffling the kids around and wish dinner could magically appear on the table? Well, I am no magician so I can’t make that happen. What I can do—bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!—is suggest these 10 creamy pasta recipes that are guaranteed to bring you and your family the comfort and nourishment you deserve in under 30 minutes. Start an episode of “Abbot Elementary” while you cook, and you'll have dinner on the table by the time the credits roll.

Below you’ll find handy tips for making each recipe from myself, our readers, and our Simply Recipes team.

Creamy One Pot Pasta with Zucchini

"Delicious! What an unusual and delicious way to serve zucchini! I did some of the suggested adjustments. I added minced garlic and chopped fresh basil & parsley to zucchini. I also used chicken broth instead of water and grated some fresh Parmesan cheese when serving. I will definitely make this again. Thanks for another great recipe!" —Lori

Jennifer Garner’s Easy 5-Ingredient Pasta

You can make this brown butter pasta in 15 minutes if you work smart. Set the pot of water over high heat with a lid on—I promise you the lid helps the water boil faster. Then, move on to making the brown butter sauce. When the water starts boiling while you make the sauce, drop the pasta in. If the sauce is ready before the pasta is done cooking, simply take it off the heat.

One-Pot Mac and Cheese

"Very creamy and cheesy... two characteristics you want in macaroni and cheese are found in this recipe. I ended up needing to add an additional teaspoon of kosher salt, but otherwise, this is a great quick and easy dinner recipe perfect for busy days." —Munni, Editorial Assistant

Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe

I tested this recipe while it was being developed and then I made it six times for my family. It’s that good and easy!

Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

Copycat Olive Garden alfredo in a bowl with a fork, and in the surroundings, a white table napkin, a block of parmesan on a wooden board, and a glass with a drink — Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

"Nice and easy. For such a short cooking time it turned out delicious. The only change that I made was to add another clove of garlic." —David Bailey

Creamy Miso Mushroom Pasta

"This was easy to make and very flavorful! My son loves all things miso. I topped it with shrimp that I sautéed in the same pan as the sauce. Delicious!" —Shannon

Creamy Cavatappi

"You’ll want the sauce slightly looser than you think since it will thicken quickly as it cools." — Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

Chicken Carbonara

"This recipe relies on the residual heat of the pan, the cooked pasta, and the pasta cooking water to make the creamy sauce, so having everything ready to go is key to keeping things smooth. Whisk the egg mixture while the water comes to a boil so that it’s ready to go as soon as the pasta is cooked." — Devan, Recipe Developer

Fettuccine Alfredo

"I have been making this frequently. I have started adding broccoli florets cooked tender-crisp, sliced mushroom cooked in EVOO or butter, and grilled chicken breast, sliced. Fantastic! It always works!" —Sherry

Paccheri with Quick Sausage Ragu

"Paccheri takes 7 to 10 minutes to cook to a perfect al dente. The best way to test if the pasta is cooked is simply to taste one. Paccheri is a thick, large pasta, so I always fish one out and cut it in half to give it a taste test, throwing the remaining half back into the pot." —Devan, Recipe Developer