Pasta Primavera

When you’re craving pasta in the summer, but don’t want to deal with a hot kitchen and a heavy pasta dish (we’re looking at you, penne alla vodka), pasta primavera is the way to go. This is especially true if you have an abundance of farmers market vegetables on your hands. Primavera stands for “fresh” in Italian, after all, so this is just the dish to put those farmstead veggies to work!

This foolproof pasta primavera recipe, featuring a wonderful blend of crisp, colorful vegetables and a creamy Parmesan cheese sauce, works for al fresco dinner parties, quick weeknight meals and those 80-plus-degree nights when you need something simple, yet want something satisfying. The fact that it goes from prep to plate in 30 minutes is another reason to keep it on regular rotation during the summer.

Ingredients for Pasta Primavera

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• Pasta: The options are endless for what type of pasta you might use for primavera, but we like short-cut spiral noodles such as gemelli, rotini or cavatappi.
• Vegetables: This is where you can get creative and use whatever veggies you have on hand. We use fresh asparagus, carrots, cherry tomatoes and garlic in this recipe, but other A-plus primaveras include bell peppers, snap peas, broccolini and zucchini.
• Parmesan cheese: Parmesan is essentially the star of the show here, for both the cheesy sauce and the garnish at the end. Vegan cheese can also be substituted, if that’s your preference.
• Whipping cream: Heavy whipping cream gives the sauce a silky creamy consistency that’s downright delicious. If you have a dairy aversion, you can whisk together soy milk and olive oil in a small bowl on the side, then add that to the primavera for a similar result.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the pasta

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Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Step 2: Saute the vegetables

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In a large skillet over medium-high heat, saute the asparagus and carrots (or any veggies you choose) in oil until they’re crisp-tender. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and minced garlic, then cook one minute longer.

Step 3: Finish the sauce

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Stir in the Parmesan cheese, cream and pepper. If you like your pasta primavera with a kick, now’s the time to add additional seasonings like red pepper flakes.

Step 4: Toss the pasta

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Drain the pasta, then toss it with the warm asparagus and sauce mixture. Before serving, sprinkle the dish with more cheese, if desired.

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Pasta Primavera Variations

• Make it meaty: This is a vegetarian-friendly dish, but you could add cubed chicken, flaked salmon or crumbled bacon for protein.
• Toss in some nuts: Toasted pine nuts would also be so good in this pasta primavera and provide an extra bit of crunch.
• Add more cheese: Baby mozzarella balls or torn burrata would take this light dish to a more decadent level for cheese lovers.

How to Store Pasta Primavera

Pasta primavera is one of those summertime pasta dishes that tastes just as great the next day—and doesn’t need to be reheated! Store any leftovers in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge, then take them out to come to room temperature a few hours before you’re ready for another helping.

Can you make primavera pasta ahead of time?

The sauce—absolutely! But we don’t recommend cooking your pasta until you’re ready to serve, so it doesn’t break and get soggy in the sauce. Also, prepping your veggies the night before will save you a ton of time when you go to assemble the dish.

Can you freeze pasta primavera?

If you have extra sauce left over, you can batch that up in sealed containers to freeze, but we don’t recommend freezing cooked pasta along with it, as it will just turn mushy once thawed.

Pasta Primavera Tips

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What is a primavera sauce made of?

Marinara is a red sauce made of tomatoes, and primavera is a white pasta sauce made with olive oil or butter, cream and Parmesan cheese. Since the dish is also loaded with fresh or frozen veggies, it sneaks in some added vitamins too.

How can I make this recipe for pasta primavera better?

We didn’t go overboard with spices or fresh herbs, since most pasta primaveras don’t, but you certainly can! Try adding dried spices like oregano, red pepper flakes or garlic powder. Or fresh herbs like basil or tarragon leaves. You could even add a squeeze of lemon for a citrusy finish.

How can I make pasta primavera healthier? 

Using a small amount of a rich ingredient, like heavy cream, is a smart way to keep a dish tasting indulgent while keeping the calories in check.