The 20 best easy pasta recipes – from pistachio pesto to great baked gnocchi

Clockwise from left: baked crispy gnocchi by Rukmini Iyer; bucatini with pancetta by Anna Del Conte; pistachio pesto by Elia Sebregondi. Prop styling: Kate Whitaker. Food styling: Bianca Nice. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

It was Jacob Kenedy’s pasta e patate that sold me. A beguiling dish of two favourite foods. Introducing maybe the best 20 Best: featuring Giorgio Locatelli’s garlic, oil and chilli spaghetti, Florence Knight’s clams and lovage linguine, Anna Del Conte’s bucatini wth pancetta. Perfect pasta meals made in just minutes. Whether it’s fast food for you in a hurry, or a feast with friends or family. Simple!

Florence Knight’s clams, lovage, linguine

Clams, lovage, linguine. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

The fresh taste of summer in a bowl

Nigel Slater’s prawns, peas and pasta

Prawns, peas and pasta. Photograph: Jonathan Lovekin/The Observer

Go for sustainable prawns in this lunchtime treat

Georgia Levy’s broccoli and anchovy farfalle

Broccoli and anchovy farfalle. Photograph: Sam A Harris

Probably the nicest thing you can do with a head of broccoli

Masha Rener’s gnocchi with green peas and ricotta salata

Gnocchi with green peas and ricotta salata. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

This cheesy peas dish is perfect comfort food

Claude Bosi’s angel hair pasta al pomodoro

Angel hair pasta al pomodoro. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

Nice and easy but very tasty

Mateo Zielonka’s warm pasta salad with orzo

Warm pasta salad with orzo. Photograph: Dave Brown

Lovely warm and just as good for a picnic or packed lunch

Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley’s pasta with yoghurt and parsley breadcrumbs – ma’caroneh bil laban

Pasta with yoghurt and parsley breadcrumbs. Photograph: Jenny Zarins

A quick and comforting midweek supper dish

Elia Sebregondi’s pistachio pesto

Pistachio pesto. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

A citrussy take on the classic Italian sauce made with pistachios, not pine nuts

Jacob Kenedy’s pasta and potatoes – pasta e patate

Pasta and potatoes. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

This dish is made with humble ingredients but gives maximum satisfaction

Irina Georgescu’s noodles with poppy seeds – iofcă cu mac

Noodles with poppy seeds – Iofcă cu mac. Photograph: Matt Russell

An easy, sweet treat from Romania for all ages

Anna Del Conte’s farfalle with cream and onion – farfalle con panna e cipolla

Farfalle with cream and onion. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

Super speedy to make and delicious

Nigella Lawson’s linguine with lemon, garlic and thyme mushrooms

Linguine with lemon, garlic and thyme mushrooms. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

You only need to cook the pasta for this easy dish

Chris Leach’s brown crab cacio e pepe

Crab cacio e pepe. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

Californian food inspired these interesting flavours

Giorgio Locatelli’s aglio, olio e peperoncino

Aglio, olio e peperoncino. Photograph: Romas Foord/The Observer

Simple, tasty and spicy are the keywords here

Joe Trivelli’s sausage and carrot gnocchetti

Sausage and carrot gnocchetti. Photograph: Romas Foord/The Observer

Carrots as the star of a sauce sounds leftfield but really works

Anna Del Conte’s bucatini with pancetta – bucatini all’amatriciana

Bucatini with pancetta. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

A taste of Abruzzo and Lazio in a bowl

Nigel Slater’s pasta with whole garlic, goat’s cheese and thyme

Pasta with whole garlic, goat’s cheese and thyme. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

The fresh herb, tangy cheese and sweet garlic are a perfect combination

Letitia Clark’s pasta with butter to save and salve – pasta al burro e salvia

Pasta with butter to save and salve. Photograph: Matt Russell

Comforting and buttery, this a friend for the fragile diner

Rachel Roddy’s cavatelli with sausage, mint and tomato – cavatelli con salsiccia, menta e pomodoro

Cavatelli with sausage, mint and tomato. Photograph: unknown

A rich and satisfying supper offering

Rukmini Iyer’s baked gnocchi with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and pine nuts

Baked gnocchi with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and pine nuts. Photograph: Kate Whitaker/The Observer

An impressive traybake with simple flavours to relish