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et’s be actual—summer season doesn’t all the time include construction. In the future, you’re on a productiveness kick; the following, you’re absolutely in leisure mode. And on these slower days, dinner may not be prime of thoughts. That’s the place these summer season 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 shiny. 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. Nevertheless you serve them, they’ll develop into your go-to for straightforward summer season eating.
18 Summer season Pasta Recipes to Brighten Up Your Desk
Recently, 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’ll 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 rejoice the season’s recent 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 after I do not know what to make for a cocktail party (and my visitors 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-Type 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 principle taste elements on this 5-ingredient dish. Roast them slowly in heaps of olive oil. The tomatoes will develop into succulent and comfortable 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 season pasta completely addictive.
Spaghetti alla Nerano
Should you study something from Stanley Tucci on Looking for Italy, it’s that the emphasis on easy components handled effectively make for magical experiences—aka, this pasta.
Summer season Pasta Salad
Caramelized grilled veggies meet swirly pasta. That is the kind of pasta salad you’ll wish to have available all summer season, and it’s a common crowd-pleaser at barbecues. It’s additionally filled with protein, complicated carbohydrates, fiber, and wholesome fat. A win on all fronts.
Lemon is the unsung taste of the summer season, and after I wish to incorporate its zesty tang right into a meal, that is the dish I flip to. There’s 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 option to get your each 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 principally mimic a sausage and mushroom pizza (yum), and the sauce is simply 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 the remainder of your day or take pleasure in it at dinner with out feeling overly full. No additional questions, please.
Vegan Pink Pepper Pasta with Charred Corn
This vegan fundamental is straightforward to make gluten-free and excellent for summer season. Roasted crimson peppers make a brilliant creamy sauce base and with the addition of charred corn, sautéed summer season squash, and many recent basil, it’s a creamy-dreamy pasta that makes use of up your farmer’s market goodies.
This recipe continues to seek out its approach 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 season Veggies & Ricotta
Extra veggies! Significantly, 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 supply a positively palatable pasta primavera.
Inexperienced Sauce Pasta
All of the veggies your each day, dietary wants ask for in a single scrumptious dish? Signal me up. Whereas I really like a very good 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 season 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, 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 foundations and brings a recent strategy to indulgence. Sure, butter and cream are the inspiration 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 somewhat lighter than your conventional pancetta-laden dish, which we’re all about this time of 12 months. 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. Good for a satisfying summer season lunch or dinner that may fill you up with out weighing you down.
This put up was final up to date on Could 31, 2025 to incorporate new insights.
