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et’s be actual—summer season doesn’t all the time include construction. Sooner or later, you’re on a productiveness kick; the subsequent, you’re absolutely in leisure mode. And on these slower days, dinner won’t be prime of thoughts. That’s the place these summer season pasta recipes are available. They’re contemporary, straightforward to throw collectively, and ideal 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 mild and vibrant. Assume citrusy dressings, herbaceous toppings, and easy olive oil sauces. These summer season pasta recipes are scrumptious on their very own or paired along with your favourite protein for a extra filling meal. Nonetheless you serve them, they’ll change into your go-to for straightforward summer season eating.
18 Summer time Pasta Recipes to Brighten Up Your Desk
Currently, 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 pals—they will simply slip away. And for me, one of many easiest methods to savor the second is with a gorgeous bowl of pasta. These summer season pasta recipes have a good time the season’s contemporary flavors and embrace a slower, extra intentional tempo.
Burst Tomato Pasta
With solely 5 components, it’s stunning in its elegant simplicity. That is all the time the dish I flip to once I do not know what to make for a cocktail party (and my company are solely minutes away). It’s really a lifesaver and a pasta dish I’ll have on repeat all through the summer season and past.
Ratatouille-Fashion Roasted Vegetable Pasta
This roasted vegetable pasta is impressed by ratatouille. Eggplant, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, and garlic prepare 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 primary taste elements on this 5-ingredient dish. Roast them slowly in tons of olive oil. The tomatoes will change into succulent and gentle whereas the garlic will get caramelized and candy. In different phrases, completely addicting.
Easy Zucchini Rigatoni
Aka “what to do along with your farmer’s market haul.” Candy caramelized squash, aromatic herbs, and nutty parmesan make this straightforward summer season pasta completely addictive.
Spaghetti alla Nerano
When you study something from Stanley Tucci on Trying to find Italy, it’s that the emphasis on easy components 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 need to have available all summer season, and it’s a common crowd-pleaser at barbecues. It’s additionally full of protein, complicated carbohydrates, fiber, and wholesome fat. A win on all fronts.
Lemon is the unsung taste of the summer season, and once I need 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 simplest strategy to get your every day dose of greens whereas having fun with a flavorful lunch or dinner that you simply’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 slightly butter. I’m declaring it “mild” 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 Crimson Pepper Pasta with Charred Corn
This vegan fundamental is straightforward to make gluten-free and ideal for summer season. Roasted pink peppers make an excellent creamy sauce base and with the addition of charred corn, sautéed summer season squash, and many contemporary basil, it’s a creamy-dreamy pasta that makes use of up your farmer’s market goodies.
This recipe continues to search out its method 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 season pasta recipes that remember 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 provide a positively palatable pasta primavera.
Inexperienced Sauce Pasta
All of the veggies your every day, dietary wants ask for in a single scrumptious dish? Signal me up. Whereas I really like a great 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 children get previous the truth that this dish is a vibrant, verdant inexperienced, they’ll be obsessive about every silky, noodle-y chew.
Pesto Pasta Primavera
This contemporary summer season pasta by no means fails to fulfill my carb cravings, whereas filling my plate with a great deal of veggies that may be diversified primarily based on what’s in my fridge. Even higher? It comes collectively in a single pan, which means much less time scrubbing dishes and extra time absorbing these lengthy summer season 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 components. Assume walnuts, olives, and many veggies. All coming collectively to ship one heavenly-tasting pasta.
Creamy Lemon Pasta
Creamy is probably not on the prime of your summer season meals vocabulary, however this pasta defies the principles and brings a contemporary method to indulgence. Sure, butter and cream are the muse of its sauce (that’s critically adequate to drink), however the addition of lemon lightens issues up and makes it appropriate for summer season.
Lemony Pasta Carbonara with Peas & Zucchini
This carbonara is slightly 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-reduction plan and introduces a number of wholesome veggies into the combo. Good for a satisfying summer season lunch or dinner that can fill you up with out weighing you down.
This submit was final up to date on Could 31, 2025 to incorporate new insights.