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et’s be actual—summer time doesn’t at all times include construction. Someday, you’re on a productiveness kick; the following, you’re totally in rest mode. And on these slower days, dinner won’t be high of thoughts. That’s the place these summer time pasta recipes are available. They’re recent, straightforward to throw collectively, and excellent for each laid-back lunches and spontaneous weeknight dinners. Bonus: They’re additionally assured to be crowd-pleasers.
Pasta is a staple in my kitchen irrespective of the season—however when the temps rise, I gravitate towards recipes that really feel gentle and brilliant. Assume citrusy dressings, herbaceous toppings, and easy olive oil sauces. These summer time pasta recipes are scrumptious on their very own or paired together with your favourite protein for a extra filling meal. Nevertheless you serve them, they’ll develop into your go-to for simple summer time eating.
18 Summer time Pasta Recipes to Brighten Up Your Desk
These days, I’ve been reflecting on how briskly the season flies by. If we don’t find time for the little joys—sundown dinners, spontaneous picnics, lingering meals with associates—they’ll simply slip away. And for me, one of many easiest methods to savor the second is with a fantastic bowl of pasta. These summer time pasta recipes rejoice the season’s recent flavors and embrace a slower, extra intentional tempo.
Burst Tomato Pasta
With solely 5 substances, it’s lovely in its elegant simplicity. That is at all times the dish I flip to after I don’t know what to make for a cocktail party (and my visitors are solely minutes away). It’s actually a lifesaver and a pasta dish I’ll have on repeat all through the summer time and past.
Ratatouille-Type Roasted Vegetable Pasta
This roasted vegetable pasta is impressed by ratatouille. Eggplant, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, and garlic cook dinner collectively on one sheet pan and get tossed with rigatoni for a easy, satisfying supper.
Tomato Pasta with Miso
Tomatoes and garlic are two of the principle taste parts on this 5-ingredient dish. Roast them slowly in tons of olive oil. The tomatoes will develop into succulent and gentle whereas the garlic will get caramelized and candy. In different phrases, completely addicting.
Easy Zucchini Rigatoni
Aka “what to do with your farmer’s market haul.” Candy caramelized squash, aromatic herbs, and nutty parmesan make this straightforward summer time pasta completely addictive.
Spaghetti alla Nerano
Should you be taught something from Stanley Tucci on Looking for Italy, it’s that the emphasis on easy substances handled nicely make for magical experiences—aka, this pasta.
Summer time Pasta Salad
Caramelized grilled veggies meet swirly pasta. That is the kind of pasta salad you’ll wish to have available all summer time, and it’s a common crowd-pleaser at barbecues. It’s additionally filled with protein, advanced carbohydrates, fiber, and wholesome fat. A win on all fronts.
Lemon is the unsung taste of the summer time, and after I wish to incorporate its zesty tang right into a meal, that is the dish I flip to. There may be a lot to like concerning the crunchy arugula and bacon combo, which highlights the lemon’s candy citrus taste.
Inexperienced Goddess Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is vegan, stuffed with veggies, and completely scrumptious. It’s the best strategy to get your day by day dose of greens whereas having fun with a flavorful lunch or dinner that you just’ll stroll away from feeling refreshed. Signal me up.
Garlicky Mushroom Pasta with Sausage & Arugula
This recipe solely makes use of a small quantity of Italian sausage to mainly mimic a sausage and mushroom pizza (yum), and the sauce is just lemon zest and juice, arugula, parmesan, and somewhat butter. I’m declaring it “light” as a result of you’ll be able to eat it for lunch with out dragging by way of the remainder of your day or get pleasure from it at dinner with out feeling overly full. No additional questions, please.
Vegan Purple Pepper Pasta with Charred Corn
This vegan principal is straightforward to make gluten-free and excellent for summer time. Roasted purple peppers make an excellent creamy sauce base and with the addition of charred corn, sautéed summer time squash, and plenty of recent basil, it’s a creamy-dreamy pasta that makes use of up your farmer’s market goodies.
This recipe continues to search out its manner into my rotation, and I’m amazed by its taste each time I make it. The walnut sauce is to die for, the just-burst tomatoes are unparalleled, and the entire dish comes collectively in about quarter-hour. Too good to be true? Make it for your self and discover out.
One-Pot Pasta Primavera with Summer time Veggies & Ricotta
Extra veggies! Critically, I can’t get sufficient of those summer time pasta recipes that commemorate the season’s produce. On this case, it’s all about asparagus, broccolini (a private favourite), peas, and cherry tomatoes. All of them come collectively to supply a positively palatable pasta primavera.
Inexperienced Sauce Pasta
All of the veggies your day by day, dietary wants ask for in a single scrumptious dish? Signal me up. Whereas I like a superb salad, I’m additionally right here for something that masks spinach’s oftentimes bitter taste with parmesan, olive oil, lemon, and butter. As soon as your youngsters get previous the truth that this dish is a vibrant, verdant inexperienced, they’ll be obsessive about every silky, noodle-y chunk.
Pesto Pasta Primavera
This recent summer time pasta by no means fails to fulfill my carb cravings, whereas filling my plate with a great deal of veggies that may be assorted primarily based on what’s in my fridge. Even higher? It comes collectively in a single pan, that means much less time scrubbing dishes and extra time absorbing these lengthy summer time nights.
Rigatoni With Brussels Sprouts, Kale Pesto, and Lemon
Packing within the greens, this kale pesto, Brussels sprouts-studded pasta is loaded with taste and good-for-you substances. Assume walnuts, olives, and plenty of veggies. All coming collectively to ship one heavenly-tasting pasta.
Creamy Lemon Pasta
Creamy is probably not on the high of your summer time meals vocabulary, however this pasta defies the principles and brings a recent strategy to indulgence. Sure, butter and cream are the muse of its sauce (that’s significantly adequate to drink), however the addition of lemon lightens issues up and makes it appropriate for summer time.
Lemony Pasta Carbonara with Peas & Zucchini
This carbonara is somewhat lighter than your conventional pancetta-laden dish, which we’re all about this time of yr. Changing salty meats with peas and zucchini, this creamy vegetarian model is greatest loved al fresco.
For a extra substantial, protein-oriented pasta, look no additional than this garlic shrimp spaghetti. It’s impressed by the Mediterranean weight loss plan and introduces a number of wholesome veggies into the combo. Excellent for a satisfying summer time lunch or dinner that can fill you up with out weighing you down.
This put up was final up to date on Might 31, 2025 to incorporate new insights.
