Pasta is a versatile and beloved staple in many households. It's not only easy to cook but also incredibly budget-friendly, making it a go-to option for quick and satisfying meals. This article explores a variety of cheap and healthy pasta recipes, perfect for weeknight dinners or any time you're craving a comforting dish without breaking the bank.
The Allure of Pasta: Cost-Effective and Nutritious
Pasta's affordability is a major draw. A box of pasta can serve multiple meals, and when paired with simple, inexpensive ingredients, it becomes a champion of budget-friendly cooking. But beyond its cost, pasta can also be part of a healthy diet. Whole wheat pasta, in particular, offers a good source of fiber and nutrients.
Pantry Power: Utilizing Staple Ingredients
One of the secrets to creating cheap and healthy pasta meals is to rely on pantry staples. Many flavorful pasta dishes can be made with ingredients you likely already have on hand. A fully stocked pantry is cheap pasta’s best friend.
Recipe Ideas for Budget-Conscious Pasta Lovers
Here are some inspiring pasta recipes that are both delicious and easy on the wallet:
Simple Tomato and Spinach Pasta
This recipe is a testament to the fact that simple ingredients can create a flavorful and satisfying meal. It requires just a handful of ingredients and cooks up super fast, is perfect for any day of the week, and leaves me feeling full and happy. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish combines pasta with a creamy tomato sauce, spinach, and a touch of Parmesan cheese.
Read also: Is Beef Tallow a Good Moisturizer?
Ingredients:
- ½ lb penne pasta
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes (with juices)
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 oz cream cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 oz fresh spinach
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add ½ lb. penne pasta. Boil the pasta until tender, then drain in a colander.
- Sauté the onion and garlic: Add 1 diced yellow onion and 2 cloves minced garlic to a large skillet with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Also, add 2 Tbsp tomato paste and ½ cup water to the skillet. This will help make the sauce thicker and with a more tomatoey punch.
- Turn the heat down to low. Cut 2 oz cream cheese into chunks and add it to the skillet. Stir or whisk the sauce until the cream cheese has melted into the sauce.
- Once the cream cheese has melted in, add ¼ cup grated Parmesan. Stir in the spinach: Add 4 oz fresh spinach to the skillet.
- Add the pasta and stir until it is well coated in the creamy tomato sauce. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
Creamy Pesto & Kale Pasta
Enjoy our creamy pesto and kale pasta as a tasty and nutritious supper. Make it with just a handful of ingredients and storecupboard staples.
Herby Mushroom Pasta
A quick, low-fat idea for a midweek supper - good if you're on a budget.
Marinara Sauce
Ditch the shop-bought pasta sauce and combine tomatoes, onion and garlic to make a homemade version. Serve tossed through pasta for an easy and healthy meal.
Tomato & Pasta Soup
Make our simple, budget-friendly tomato, pasta and chickpea soup in just 30 minutes. This easy, vegetarian family meal is healthy and even low fat.
Spaghetti with Sardines
This storecupboard supper is super quick and superhealthy to boot.
Read also: Delicious and Affordable Meals
Sardine Tomato Pasta with Gremolata
Enjoy our crowd-pleasing pasta with sardines and gremolata. With added nutrients thanks to the sardines, it's a healthy dish that's low on calories and fat.
Smoky Tomato Carbonara
This version of carbonara adds tomatoes and uses bacon to impart smokiness. One element that remains the same, though, is the eggy sauce, which she smartly tempers with hot pasta water before mixing it with the pasta to prevent curdling.
Gochujang Buttered Noodles
Eric Kim deploys spicy gochujang paste here to maximum effect for a six-ingredient pasta with ample depth of flavor. Honey enhances the sauce, while butter mellows it out, ready to slick the noodles.
Pasta Marinara With 40 Cloves of Garlic
Garlic lovers, we see you. This pasta channels marinara and a meat ragù, but still manages to be vegan with its - yes - 40 cloves of garlic. A light braise tenderizes that garlic before the tomatoes are added. It’s all paired with any short tube pasta of your liking, all the better to hold the chunky sauce.
Peanut Butter Noodles
“Peanut butter (the less fancy, the better),” Eric Kim advises you use in this dreamy 20-minute pasta. So pull out your beloved childhood jar, and make this gentle, comforting meal for one that’s just as easily scaled for more.
Read also: Muscle Gain Diet on a Budget
Spaghetti all’Assassina (Spicy Singed Tomato Pasta)
Not only is it an affordable six-ingredient pantry pasta that cooks in one pot, it’ll also transport you to Italy - spiritually at least. Use jarred or homemade tomato sauce, depending on your bandwidth, then spice it up with some red-pepper flakes for a delightfully simple dinner full of heat.
Mushroom Wafu Pasta
Japanese mushrooms are cooked in a buttery sauce run through with soy sauce in this classic wafu pasta. Scallion and nori as finishing touches add umami and a light, oniony brightness to counter the earthy mushrooms.
Creamed Spinach Pasta
Creamed spinach, that star steakhouse favorite, gets the pasta treatment. She calls for fresh spinach here, but you could also easily take a tip from a commenter and use frozen chopped spinach that has been thawed and drained. It’s cooked down in garlic butter, then thickened into a sauce with cream. A dollop of ricotta makes it feel especially rich without breaking the bank.
Five-Ingredient Creamy Miso Pasta
Miso, butter and Parmesan come together to form a simple, umami-rich sauce in this one-pot recipe.
Granny’s Spaghetti
My husband and I now enjoy making this for our dinner. You can easily use ground turkey instead of ground beef if that’s what you happen to have on hand.
Pasta with Mushrooms and Sausage
In Rome, we dined near the Pantheon. The amazing restaurant is now history, but its memory lives on in this tasty pasta with mushrooms and sausage.
Ravioli with a Mexican-Inspired Twist
I adapted this recipe to suit our taste for spicy food. The ravioli taste like mini enchiladas. I serve them with a Mexican-inspired salad and pineapple sherbet for dessert.
BLT Pasta
This quick weeknight meal reminds me of a BLT, with its chunks of bacon and tomato. The whole wheat linguine gives the skillet dish extra flavor and texture.
Pasta with Garden Produce
This is the first meal I ever cooked for my husband and all these years later, he still enjoys every bite. This recipe combines delicious whole wheat pasta with fresh garden produce. It's tossed with heart-healthy olive oil, and a sprinkling of feta cheese gives it bite.
Chicken and Yellow Squash Pasta
On lazy summer weekends, we like chicken and yellow squash tossed with bow tie pasta. Add extra fresh grated Parmesan for a Sunday touch.
Taco Spaghetti
I came up with this kid-friendly taco spaghetti recipe one afternoon when I was using up leftover spaghetti and ground beef. When I'm lucky enough to have extra time, I make two batches and freeze one.
Pasta with Tomato Sauce
When my mom made this spaghetti sauce, the house would smell so good that I'd open the windows to torture the neighbors. It even tastes wonderful the next day, when the flavors have really melded.
Gus's Special Pasta
At my house, this dish is known as Gus's Special Pasta. My oldest child claimed it as his own when he was 8, and I am always happy to oblige his request for this cheesy, garlicky, pungent meal.
Tips for Keeping Pasta Meals Healthy and Affordable
- Choose whole wheat pasta: It's more nutritious and provides more fiber than white pasta.
- Load up on vegetables: Add plenty of vegetables to your pasta dishes to boost their nutritional value and make them more filling.
- Use lean protein sources: Opt for lean protein sources like chicken, turkey, beans, or lentils to keep your meals healthy.
- Control portion sizes: Be mindful of portion sizes to avoid overeating.
- Cook at home: Eating out can be expensive and often less healthy than cooking at home.
- Utilize leftovers: Repurpose leftover pasta into new meals, such as pasta salads or baked pasta dishes.
- Shop smart: Look for sales and discounts on pasta and other ingredients.