Just because the weather is warmer, you don’t have to give up pasta for dinner. It is for so much more than pasta salad in the summer. Skip the heavy cream and cheesy sauces. Instead, fill your dish with summer produce (like tomatoes, zucchini, and summer squash), fresh herbs, and proteins such as grilled chicken or shrimp. Light and simple, these 13 summery pasta dinners are perfect summer meals.
Chicken and Pasta With Summer Vegetables
“I had a recipe similar to this and lost it. So, I created this one which I think is even better! My husband and friends love it.” – Marcia
Summer Spaghetti Salad
“This is one of my favorite summer dishes!” – Rhonda
Lemon Ricotta Zucchini Pasta
“A quick and easy, summery lemon ricotta and zucchini pasta with plenty of fresh basil!” – Kevin
Grilled Chicken and Tortellini Salad
“This is a great chicken pasta meal. It can also be prepared without the chicken, and other vegetables – artichoke hearts are popular with this dish.” – Peggy
Tomato and Summer Squash Sauce on Pasta
“My counter was covered with some tomatoes and squash that I needed to do something with and this is what I came up with. You can substitute with zucchini if you like. It is also good poured into a baking dish and topped with mozzarella cheese and baked for 15-20 minutes!” – Millie
Shrimp and Pasta – Connie’s
“Our family has enjoyed this light yummy dish for a long time. We live in Florida where shrimp is readily available. This recipe is easy to prepare. You can use any type of pasta, we prefer angel hair.” – Connie
Spaghetti Salad with Balsamic and Basil Dressing
“Basil is plentiful in the garden now and I love the way it pairs with the pungent-sweet flavor of balsamic vinegar. This is very good with grilled chicken but delicious all by itself. You could make this with any pasta that you have on hand.” – Gretchen
Vegetarian Squash Saute Pasta Dish
“This is something new I decided to try. My family loves squash. I combined the recipe with pasta, so I kinda made it a vegetable pasta dish. It is bursting with flavor.” – Rebecca
Chicken With Zucchini and Pesto Over Angel Hair Pasta
“I made this one day because I had these ingredients on hand. My husband took the leftovers to work the next day and heated it up in the microwave. Everyone in the office called and asked me for the recipe.” – Linda
Gnocchi With Artichokes, Tomatoes, and Mushrooms
“Gnocchi are so cute and I love finding ways to eat them. Plus, I was looking for a way to use up some ingredients that I had. Although it’s meatless, the beans provide protein.” – Carolyn
Easy Angel Hair Pasta With Veggies
“I love Pasta Primavera but sometimes I find it a little too plain. This combination of veggies with angel hair and good pasta sauce is MANGIA good! You can use any pasta sauce you like or omit it and just toss the veggies and shaved cheese with the angel hair if you prefer. It is a tasty meatless yet filling meal.” – Lori
Pasta Primavera
“This springtime pasta just oozes fresh and crispy vegetables and herbs. I like to add peas and spinach along with lots of parsley and mint, but you can use any fresh vegetables and herbs.” – Shika
Stovetop Sun Dried Tomato Broccoli Pesto Pasta
“Full of flavor, 20 Minute Stovetop Sun Dried Tomato Broccoli Pesto Pasta is an easy stovetop recipe that’s ready in less than 20 minutes making a fantastic weeknight meal.” – Paula