Perfect Pasta Dishes Using 5 Ingredients or Less
By: Leah Rodrigues
Published: June 24, 2014

Pasta is the epitome of quick and easy cooking.  The combinations of pasta, sauces and ingredients are endless.  In other words, this is a good way to clean out your fridge and use up ingredients that are on their last leg.  Most pasta dishes start by boiling the water to cook the pasta.  While you are waiting for the water to boil, this is the time to get the other ingredients together and prepare the pasta sauce.  All of these pasta recipes can be on the table in under 30 minutes.
Caprese Pasta
Submitted to Foodista by LeMoine Family Kitchen
Inspired by the traditional Italian tomato salad, pasta is tossed in a balsamic dressing with tomatoes, fresh basil and summer tomatoes.  You can eat this dish hot or cold depending on what you're in the mood for.

Pasta with Broad Beans and Mint
Recipe from Food Around Blog
Broad beans or fava beans can be difficult to find because it has a very short season.  Feel free to substitute with another bean you have on hand like lima beans or green beans or use peas instead.  No matter what vegetable you use, this pasta dish will be delicious. 

Lemon Pepper Pasta
Recipe from The Talking Kitchen
Bright, light and comforting, lemon pepper pasta comes together in a flash.  Al dente whole wheat spaghetti finishes cooking in a butter sauce flavored with lemon juice, freshly ground black pepper and authentic parmesan cheese.  This dish proves that a few quality ingredients can turn into wonderful food.

Baked Ziti
Recipe from I Wash..You Dry
This classic comfort food uses jarred tomato sauce to make this dish quick and easy.  Penne pasta is combined with golden brown Italian sausage and tomato sauce and baked in the oven with a cheesy topping.  Fresh chopped basil adds freshness and a finishing flavor to the dish.

Pesto Tortellini
Submitted to Foodista by Lori Riddle
This dish can be prepared, cooked and on the table in just 15 minutes.  The secret to using store bought pesto as a pasta sauce is adding a couple tablespoons of pasta water.  The starch in the water will help the pesto stick to the tortellini.