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20 Fresh Summer Pasta Recipes


These summer pasta recipes are packed with peak-season produce like tomatoes, basil, and zucchini. Try one for a fresh, easy weeknight dinner!





I’ve written a LOT of summer pasta recipes over the years. The reason is simple: anytime I come home from the farmers market with a pile of the season’s best produce and no plan for how to use it, a pasta dish feels like the perfect solution.

This delicious Italian carb can pair with any vegetable, and it cooks in a matter of minutes. So if I want to get a veggie-packed summer dinner on the table quickly, pasta always does the trick.

I’m sharing 20 of my best summer pasta recipes below. If you could use some new ideas for your weeknight rotation, or if you’re looking for ways to make the most of summer produce, check them out. They’re all super simple and fresh—just what I enjoy at this time of year. I think you’ll love them too!

Green-on-Green Summer Pasta Recipes


Zucchini pasta recipe


Zucchini Pasta

Got too much zucchini on your hands? This zesty summer pasta will help you use it up! 2 full pounds of grated squash cook down into a lightly silky sauce for the pasta.


Pesto gnocchi


Pesto Gnocchi

Basil pesto and bursty cherry tomatoes pack this 20-minute dinner with fresh summer flavor.

Pesto pasta recipe

Pesto Pasta

I can’t get enough basil pesto in the summertime. When I’m not making the gnocchi above, I toss it with spaghetti, bucatini, or linguine for a quick, elegant summer pasta!

Bright & Zesty Pastas


Summer pasta recipes - Lemon pasta


Lemon Pasta

This bright, creamy pasta comes together in 20 minutes with 6 basic ingredients! Pair it with lemon green beans or a green salad for a fresh summer meal.


Summer pasta recipes - Spaghetti aglio e olio


Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

I add lemon juice, lemon zest, and a full bunch of kale to this brighter, fresher take on Italian spaghetti aglio e olio.


Summer pasta dishes - Lemon Linguine Pasta


Linguine with Tomatoes and Lemon

This recipe only calls for a few basic ingredients, but each one is a heavy hitter. Burrata adds creamy richness, roasted tomatoes add savory flavor, and finely chopped roasted lemons sneak in bursts of brightness. It’s a super simple, yet impressive, summer meal.


Summer pasta recipes - artichoke pasta


Artichoke Pasta

My 5-ingredient lemon butter sauce is the secret to this pasta’s rich, zesty flavor. It’s fantastic with roasted baby artichokes, but if you can’t find them, feel free to substitute another vegetable. Blanched green beans, broccolini, or even canned artichokes would be great.

Fresh Vegetable Pastas


Pasta primavera


Pasta Primavera

This colorful summer meal is essentially half veggie, half pasta! All the veggies cook together in a single skillet, so it’s super simple to toss together.


Cherry tomato bucatini


Cherry Tomato Bucatini Pasta

When I buy too many cherry tomatoes at the farmers market (aka every single week), I make this easy summer pasta to use them up. Half the tomatoes cook down into a sweet and tangy sauce, while the rest stay intact, adding juicy, bursty texture.


Summer pasta recipes - Roasted Vegetable Pasta


Roasted Vegetable Pasta

This easy pasta is one of my favorite ways to use up a variety of summer veggies. Just roast all the veggies until they’re tender and caramelized, then toss them with pasta, feta, and a quick lemon vinaigrette. Tip: Not feeling feta? Parmesan cheese would be great here too.

Creamy Summer Pasta Dishes


Summer pasta recipes - red pepper and sun-dried tomato pasta


Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Tired of regular old marinara sauce? This creamy roasted red pepper and sun-dried tomato sauce is an easy, delicious summer swap!


Creamy corn pasta


Creamy Corn Pasta

Hands down one of my favorite summer pasta recipes! With a creamy blended corn sauce and more corn kernels for crunch, it’s a sweet corn celebration.


Summer pasta recipes - creamy pasta pomodoro


Creamy Pasta Pomodoro

No heavy cream here! Blended cashews give this creamy plant-based tomato sauce its comforting texture.

Summer Pasta Salad Recipes


Summer pasta salad recipe


Easy Pasta Salad

With over 500 5-star reviews, this herb-packed pasta salad is one of our most popular summer pasta recipes!


pesto pasta salad


Pesto Pasta Salad

Like any pasta salad, this recipe is a great cookout side dish. But I love it for dinner too. On a hot summer night, this cool, refreshing pasta hits the spot.


Summer pasta recipes - Italian pasta salad


Italian Pasta Salad

My homemade Italian dressing, olives, and pepperoncini pack this pasta salad with bold, zesty flavor.


Orzo salad


Orzo Salad

If you love a classic Greek salad, you’ll love this orzo salad too. It stars tangy feta, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, fresh mint, and my easy Greek salad dressing.


Caprese pasta salad


Caprese Pasta Salad

This quick and easy pasta salad is practically summer in a bowl! It takes the key ingredients from a classic Caprese salad and transforms them into a packable picnic side dish.


Summer pasta recipes - Tortellini salad


Tortellini Salad

If you’ve never made a tortellini pasta salad, you’re missing out! The chewy, cheesy tortellini make it super filling and fun to eat.


Summer pasta recipes - BLT Pasta Salad


BLT Pasta Salad

All the flavors of your favorite summer sandwich, now in pasta salad form! Instead of using actual bacon, I sub smoky tempeh bacon to make this recipe meat-free.

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