Pronto pasta: Quick and easy pasta recipes you need this week

Cauliflower adds a savoury twist to this classic mac and cheese, layered with three cheeses and topped with crunchy rye crumbs. Lemon, garlic and thyme bring brightness to this rich, bubbling bake.

Sweet prawns, briny Kalamata olives and semi-dried tomatoes come together in this bright, summery linguine.

A Roman classic for good reason, spaghetti alla carbonara needs little more than eggs, pecorino, guanciale and pepper. The trick is a silky sauce made without cream — just pasta water and careful tossing.

When you’re craving something that tastes like a seaside holiday, this spaghetti delivers. Briny vongole, bottarga, chilli and lemon come together in a quick, elegant pasta that’s made for summer evenings.

Cacio e pepe gets a colourful update with sweet and spicy mixed peppers. Pecorino and plenty of cracked pepper make the sauce rich and silky, while the peppers add freshness and a gentle sweetness.

A fresh, springtime pasta with sweet peas, asparagus, broad beans and crisp pancetta.

Nothing beats homemade meatballs, especially when they’re tucked into a bowl of spaghetti and rich tomato sauce. This comforting Italian favourite is worth the little extra effort for a dinner everyone will love.

Made with earthy porcini and Swiss brown mushrooms, finished with lemon, pecorino and crisp herb crumbs. The dried porcini soaking liquid adds an extra layer of savoury flavour.

For nights when pasta calls but you want something with a little more punch, this is it. Crisp chorizo, chickpeas and harissa bring smoky heat, balanced by cooling burnt-butter yoghurt.

The answer to “what can I make with what I’ve got?” Briny olives, capers and plenty of lemon turn pantry staples into a punchy pasta that comes together in minutes.

A shortcut to a proper Italian-style dinner, these spinach and ricotta ravioli are paired with nutty brown butter, sage and parmesan.

For cold nights when only a bowl of something warming will do, this pasta soup hits the spot. Small pasta, beans and vegetables simmer together in a hearty broth for a comforting dinner.

Casarecce is tossed with mixed mushrooms, garlic and thyme, then finished with butter and pecorino for a rich, earthy pasta. A mix of oyster, king brown, Swiss brown and enoki mushrooms brings varied texture and flavour.

This orecchiette pairs cauliflower with a nutty walnut and brown-butter pesto.

Bitter radicchio cuts through the richness of pork sausage in this weeknight-friendly pasta. Finished with parmesan and a splash of wine.

A little like aglio e olio with a fresh, peppery twist, this linguine pairs chilli with rocket and lemon.

A vegetarian Southern Italian-inspired pasta that makes a little go a long way, this gnocchetti sardi pairs broccolini with tomato sugo and salty pecorino.

A pantry hero for nights when the fridge is looking bare, puttanesca packs plenty of flavour from a handful of staples. Olives, capers, anchovies and tomato make this salty, punchy pasta a weeknight winner.

Tender polpetti, roasted tomatoes and ribbons of pappardelle make for a comforting Italian classic. A combination of finely minced beef and coarsely minced pork gives these meatballs their tender texture and rich flavour.

Sweet spanner crab makes this spaghetti feel instantly special, while chilli, lemon and garlic keep it bright and fresh. An elegant choice for a quick dinner when you want something a little more celebratory.

Sweet pumpkin and salty pancetta are a classic match in this autumnal pasta, with chilli and sage adding warmth and fragrance. Just finish with a generous grating of parmesan.

A reliable cold-weather pasta, this casarecce pairs pork sausage with cavolo nero and chilli for a dish that’s hearty without feeling heavy. Ideal for nights when you want dinner on the table fast.

Sweet corn meets salty anchovies in this clever pasta, with fresh mint keeping things bright. It’s a quick, summery dish that makes the most of peak corn.

A lighter pasta for nights when you want comfort without the heaviness. Spelt spaghetti is tossed with zucchini and cavolo nero, then finished with a creamy almond sauce.

A little ginger gives this tomato pasta an unexpected lift, adding warmth and spice to a familiar favourite. Keep it in your repertoire for those nights when you want something simple.

A pantry-friendly alternative to classic pesto, this pasta swaps pine nuts for walnuts. Parsley keeps it fresh, making it an easy option for a quick lunch or weeknight dinner.

A taste of Liguria in a bowl, this trofie combines potatoes and green beans with vibrant pistachio pesto. It’s a bright vegetarian pasta that’s ideal when you want something fresh and filling.

When you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen, this is the pasta to make. Sweet pipis, garlic, chilli and white wine come together in a fragrant sauce.

A fresh take on the classic ragu, this rigatoni swaps beef for chicken and adds a vibrant green sauce.

This one is for mushroom lovers. The porcini soaking liquid gives the sauce extra depth, making this simple bowl taste wonderfully rich.

The answer to making broccoli a little more exciting, this penne pairs it with salty pancetta and crisp pangrattato.

A taste of the Mediterranean in a bowl, this mussel-studded risoni is brightened with lemon, parsley and dill. Quick enough for a weeknight, it’s an easy seafood dinner worth keeping in rotation.

A little heat goes a long way in this prawn pasta, with a punchy fra diavolo sauce balancing sweet seafood with chilli and tomato. An easy choice when you want a weeknight dinner with some fire.

A taste of the coast, this spaghettini pairs tender calamari with fragrant rosemary, lemon and garlic.

Sweet caramelised fennel and smoky trout make a particularly good match in this silky tagliatelle, with crème fraîche adding richness and balance.

This is cauliflower pasta at its most irresistible, with anchovies melting into the sauce for savoury depth, plus garlic, chilli and parmesan for extra richness.

Serve with a crisp green salad and chilled white wine for an easy Mediterranean-style supper.

Strozzapreti, a hand-rolled pasta from central Italy, is made for catching rich sauces. Here, it’s paired with pork and wine sausage, tomato and chilli for a hearty bowl best served with plenty of parmesan.

A rustic cousin to classic pesto, pesto matto swaps basil for parsley and adds almonds for a nuttier, more robust sauce. Tossed through linguine, it’s a quick Italian favourite for when you want dinner on the table fast.

Paella’s pasta-loving cousin, fideuà swaps rice for toasted noodles, here paired with sweet clams, saffron, paprika and fino sherry. Serve straight from the pan with aïoli for a relaxed Spanish-style feast.

Now is the time to master carbonara. This classic Roman pasta is all about getting the balance right: crisp pancetta, garlic, pecorino and Parmigiano bound into a silky, creamy sauce — without a drop of cream.

A lighter take on pasta night, this buckwheat spaghetti pairs juicy tomato with lemon and flat-leaf parsley.

This ribbon pasta is loaded with asparagus, peas and zucchini, then tossed with bacon, parmesan, lemon and herbs. It’s an easy way to make a generous bowl of greens feel indulgent.

A winter pasta worth putting on repeat, this penne combines earthy cavolo nero with creamy Fontina and parmesan.

Master the classic pesto with this simple Genoese recipe, where fresh basil, pine nuts, parmesan and pecorino come together with garlic and olive oil. Make a batch for pasta, sandwiches or spooning over vegetables.

Mushrooms and bitter radicchio are folded through silky tagliarini with creamy ricotta and Parmigiano.

A Venetian classic, bigoli in salsa is a thick whole-wheat pasta tossed through a savoury sauce of slowly softened onion and anchovies. Simple, salty and deeply satisfying, it’s a lesson in making a few ingredients go a long way.

Canned tuna, kale, lemon and chilli become a fresh, easy dinner in minutes — no elaborate shopping required.

Broccoli gets a luxurious upgrade with salty anchovies and saffron in this golden pennone.

A quick pasta with plenty of texture, this spaghetti pairs tender broccoli with parmesan and crisp prosciutto crumbs.