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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 subsequent, 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 contemporary, 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 mild and brilliant. Suppose 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. Nonetheless you serve them, they’ll turn into your go-to for simple summer time eating.
18 Summer time 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 mates—they will simply slip away. And for me, one of many easiest methods to savor the second is with a phenomenal bowl of pasta. These summer time pasta recipes have a good time the season’s contemporary 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 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 time and past.
Ratatouille-Model 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 heaps of olive oil. The tomatoes will turn 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 easy summer time pasta completely addictive.
Spaghetti alla Nerano
In the event you study something from Stanley Tucci on Trying to find 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 readily 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 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 principally mimic a sausage and mushroom pizza (yum), and the sauce is just lemon zest and juice, arugula, parmesan, and a bit of butter. I’m declaring it “light” as a result of you possibly can eat it for lunch with out dragging via 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 essential is straightforward to make gluten-free and excellent for summer time. Roasted crimson peppers make a brilliant creamy sauce base and with the addition of charred corn, sautéed summer time 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 seek out its means 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! Significantly, I can’t get sufficient of those summer time 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 every day, dietary wants ask for in a single scrumptious dish? Signal me up. Whereas I really like an excellent 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 contemporary 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. Suppose walnuts, olives, and many veggies. All coming collectively to ship one heavenly-tasting pasta.
Creamy Lemon Pasta
Creamy might not be on the high of your summer time meals vocabulary, however this pasta defies the foundations and brings a contemporary method 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 time.
Lemony Pasta Carbonara with Peas & Zucchini
This carbonara is a bit of 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 finest loved al fresco.
For a extra substantial, protein-oriented pasta, look no additional than this garlic shrimp spaghetti. It’s impressed by the Mediterranean eating regimen 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 submit was final up to date on Could 31, 2025 to incorporate new insights.
