cheap pasta

This simple ragù imitates an Italian dish that’s usually made with fresh beef and tomatoes, simmered for hours until the meat falls apart in delicate fronds at the touch of a fork. Stewed steak in gravy perfectly replicates the slow-cooked tender meat of its grander cousin. 

I made both versions side by side to test this recipe, and all of the people I gave them to in blind taste tests preferred this version! The lentils aren’t mandatory, but they add extra texture and protein, and make the meal go further; ideal if you’re meal prepping for the freezer, or feeding a crowd. 


Stewed steak ragù 

onion, onion

garlic paste garlic

vegetable oil

herbs

tin brown

x 400 grams tins chopped tomatoes

175 milliliters/6fl oz red wine (optional, see Recipe Tip)

tbsp vinegar (any kind)

pasta

grated cheese

Sausage pasta bake is a winner, especially with roasted veggies, cream and Parmesan! This recipe makes a lovely comforting, creamy dinner for the whole family.


Creamy sausage pasta bake 

red onion,

peppers,

trimmed,

olive oil

sausages (around 400 grams/14 ounces), each cut into 3 pieces

penne

300 milliliters/10fl oz single cream

grams/1¾ Cheddar cheese

salt and black pepper

You can easily double up this sausage pasta bake recipe and make one for the freezer, it will keep in the freezer for 2 months. Serve with a crisp green salad. 

This is designed to be a low cost recipe.

Easy sausage pasta bake

onion, diced

garlic cloves, chopped

pork

tin chopped tomatoes

300 milliliters/10½fl oz vegetable stock

butter

grams/1¾oz plain flour

500 milliliters/18fl oz milk

penne pasta

salt and pepper

Add a few extras to a ready-made tomato sauce for a wonderfully quick and substantial pasta dish!

Each serving provides 658 kcal, 26g protein, 72g carbohydrate (of which 9g sugars),28g fat (of which 9g saturates), 6g fibre and 1.8g salt. 

5-ingredient sausage pasta 

red pepper, seeds removed, finely chopped

350 grams/12¼oz tomato and chilli pasta sauce

Parmesan,

tbsp chopped fresh basil, to serve (optional)

This meatball pasta bake is a super-easy family meal that uses a small amount meat but lots of veg. Swap the homemade meatballs for ready-made if you like.


Mini meatball pasta bake 

beef mince (around 15% fat)

grams/1¾oz breadcrumbs

oregano

onion, finely chopped

150 grams/5½oz button mushrooms, halved

courgette,

garlic cloves, crushed

can chopped tomatoes

tomato purée

400 milliliters/14fl oz vegetable stock,

bay leaf

225 grams/8 ounces dried pasta shapes,

grams/3½oz cheddar, grated

This quick ham picnic pasta is equally delicious warm or cold. Try it in lunchboxes or for casual dinners, as well as picnics of course.

Ham picnic pasta

250 grams/9 ounces dried pasta shape

mayonnaise

tbsp runny honey

tsp English mustard

tsp dried chilli flakes (or 2 tsp Cayenne pepper)

100 grams/3½oz cooked gammon or ham

pepper

spring onions, thinly sliced

A family-friendly pasta recipe that makes the most of tinned foods. If your kids love Hawaiian pizza then this ham and pineapple pasta is a great twist to try for a quick mid-week dinner.

Hawaiian spaghetti

spaghetti (or pasta shape of your choice)

onion,

garlic

200 grams/7 ounces tinned ham,

pineapple

full-fat cream cheese

Spaghetti carbonara is a crowd-pleaser if ever there was one – eggs, cheese, bacon and pasta. And ready in the time it takes to boil spaghetti. This is designed to be a low cost recipe.

Budget spaghetti carbonara

spaghetti

bacon,

garlic clove,

grams/1¾oz

milliliters/1¾fl oz full-fat milk

Mushrooms add a rich savoury flavour to a lentil bolognese; a punchy spoonful of yeast extract will boost the flavour of the ragu further. Serve with pasta, or use in a vegetarian or vegan lasagne.

Each serving provides 258 kcal, 16g protein, 34g carbohydrates (of which 9g sugars), 3g fat (of which 0.5g saturates), 9g fibre and 0.7g salt.

Lentil bolognese

celery stick, finely chopped

carrot,

grams/3½oz mushrooms, finely chopped

tsp dried oregano or thyme

lentils

100 milliliters/3½fl oz vegan red wine

500 milliliters/18fl oz vegetable stock

tsp yeast extract,

½ lemon, juice only (optional)

Try this family-style Bolognese sauce in your slow cooker – it makes four very generous servings or easily stretches to six when served with lots of spaghetti. It keeps well in the fridge for a couple of days and freezes brilliantly for up to four months.

Easy slow cooker spaghetti Bolognese

500 grams/1lb 2 ounces beef mince

200 grams/7 ounces mushrooms, any kind, sliced

275 milliliters/9½fl oz hot beef stock, stock

bay leaves,

spaghetti, grated cheese and basil, to serve

Make broccoli the star of the show with this creamy broccoli pasta. This recipe is a doddle to prepare and will get you on your way to five a day. 

Quick broccoli pasta

150 grams/5½oz rigatoni or penne pasta

spring onions

grams/4½oz cherry tomatoes

broccoli

chilli flakes,

grams/2¾oz cream cheese

A tasty pasta meal in less than 20 minutes - with cream cheese, chilli and tomatoes.

Lisa Faulkner makes quick broccoli pasta

This quick and easy pasta with broccoli is perfect when you've got zero time to cook. Add any extras you like! 

Chargrilled broccoli pasta with chilli and garlic

grams/3½oz broccoli,

½ red chilli,

tbsp flaked almonds

This tuna pasta recipe is just as good cold as it is hot, so use any leftovers to make packed lunches. This is designed to be a low cost recipe.

Pasta with tuna and rocket

300 grams/10½oz penne pasta

lemon, juice and zest

70 grams/2¼oz rocket leaves, roughly torn

Orzo makes a quick alternative to risotto, no stirring for half an hour! The starch from the pasta makes a creamy sauce without the cream. Orzo is also great to use in a vegetable soup.

Top 14 cheap pasta recipes from across the web

The most viewed cheap pasta recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Stewed steak ragù

Creamy sausage pasta bake

Easy sausage pasta bake

5-ingredient sausage pasta

Mini meatball pasta bake

Ham picnic pasta

Hawaiian spaghetti

Budget spaghetti carbonara

Lentil bolognese

Easy slow cooker spaghetti Bolognes...

Quick broccoli pasta

Chargrilled broccoli pasta with chi...

Pasta with tuna and rocket

One-pan mushroom and leek orzo

Top 14 cheap pasta recipes from across the web

The most viewed cheap pasta recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Stewed steak ragù

Creamy sausage pasta bake

Easy sausage pasta bake

5-ingredient sausage pasta

Mini meatball pasta bake

Ham picnic pasta

Hawaiian spaghetti

Budget spaghetti carbonara

Lentil bolognese

Easy slow cooker spaghetti Bolognes...

Quick broccoli pasta

Chargrilled broccoli pasta with chi...

Pasta with tuna and rocket

One-pan mushroom and leek orzo

The most viewed cheap pasta recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine