Easy Pasta Primavera

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This Easy Pasta Primavera is a tasty vegetarian meal that’s so satisfying. Made with fresh vegetables, al dente pasta, and salty Parmesan, this pasta dish is light and delicious.

If you’re looking for more pasta inspiration, you should try this chicken bacon ranch pasta and garlic shrimp alfredo.

Vertical image of Pasta Primavera in a pan with a wooden spoon

Table Of Contents

Pasta Primavera Recipe Details
What you’ll need
How to Make Pasta Primavera
Recipe Tips
Add-ins and Substitutions
FAQs
Serving Suggestions
Make This Pasta Primavera in Advance
More Perfect Pasta Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions

Pasta Primavera Recipe Details

This easy Pasta Primavera is a vegetarian pasta that is as colorful and delicious as it is healthy. I love the way all the ingredients work together to make this dish a family favorite.

Taste- Bright and bursting with different flavors, the variety in this Pasta Primavera is delicious.
Texture- Al dente pasta tossed with various vegetables and melted Parmesan gives this dish so many layers of texture.
Ease- This Pasta Primavera recipe is easy to follow and uses simple ingredients for the best flavor.
Time- Besides being easy to make, this meatless pasta dish only takes about 20 minutes to prepare – perfect for busy nights!

What you’ll need

Pasta- Rotini
Vegetables- Garlic cloves, Red onion, Broccoli florets, Red bell pepper, Zucchini, and Yellow squash
Sauce- Olive oil, Salt (to taste), Black pepper, Parmesan cheese (grated), and reserved pasta water

Ingredients for Pasta Primavera, including rotini pasta, zucchini, yellow squash, red pepper, red onion, broccoli, olive oil, garlic cloves, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

How to Make Pasta Primavera

Cook the pasta. Cook the rotini pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Make sure to reserve at least 1/2 cup of pasta water for later.
Saute the garlic. Add olive oil to a pan over medium-high heat. Once it’s warm, add the minced garlic cloves and let them sizzle for a few seconds while stirring.
Add the onion. Now add the chopped onion and stir until the onion becomes tender.

Steps to make Pasta Primavera, including sauteing the onion and garlic.

Add in the broccoli and red pepper. Then add the broccoli florets and sliced red bell pepper. Saute them for a few minutes, until they become tender as well.
Now add the zucchini, squash, and seasonings. Saute the sliced zucchini and yellow squash with salt and pepper for about 2 minutes.

Steps to make Pasta Primavera, including sauteing the vegetables until tender.

Combine with pasta, cheese, and water. With the vegetables done, add the cooked rotini, grated Parmesan cheese, and reserved hot pasta water. Stir everything together until the cheese melts. Serve.

Steps to make Pasta Primavera, including adding in the pasta, pasta water, and Parmesan cheese and stirring everything together.

Recipe Tips

Pre-cut the vegetables– Because you will be sauteing your veggies one after another, there won’t be time to cut as you go. Prep them ahead so you can focus on stirring and tenderizing what’s in the pan.
Don’t skip the pasta water- Olive oil will slide right off your pasta without something to make it stick. That’s what the pasta water does, so don’t forget to reserve some after cooking.
Stir well when the Parmesan is added- Parmesan cheese is a dry cheese so it won’t melt as quickly as others. Keep stirring until it has melted and all the ingredients have been well combined.

Add-ins and Substitutions

Add meat- If you want to make this pasta with meat, you can add cubed chicken, steak, or chopped bacon. Just cook and cut the meat and add it in at the end of the cooking process.
Substitute different veggies- Use your favorite vegetables, including asparagus, Brussels sprouts, olives, etc. This dish is very versatile and works well with most veggies.
Use a different sauce- If you prefer a sauce with a tomato base, or maybe one that uses lemons and capers, then go ahead and substitute it.
Change up the pasta- If rotini isn’t your favorite or you have none on hand, you could also use other pasta types, like penne, linguine, or spaghetti.

Vertical image of a fork in Pasta Primavera

FAQs

What type of vegetables goes best in pasta primavera?

Red bell pepper, Zucchini, Yellow squash, Red onion, Garlic cloves, and Broccoli florets are what I use in my pasta primavera, but you could also add asparagus, cherry tomatoes, Olives, and more.

Why add pasta water to sauce?

Adding leftover water from cooking your pasta not only adds some salty flavor, but the starch in it also thickens your sauce and helps it stick to the pasta.

Serving Suggestions

This Pasta Primavera is so flavorful and goes well with lots of other dishes. Here are a few tasty serving ideas to try:

Meats: Air fryer chicken tenders, Crispy air fryer chicken wings, and Whole oven-roasted chicken. are some of our favorites to serve with this pasta.
Bread: I love this pasta with some Garlic cheese bread, Overnight rustic bread, or Easy focaccia bread.
Salad: Try serving Pasta Primavera with an Easy Antipasto Salad (low carb) to start.
Sides: Serve Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Sweet Potato Fries, or Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Oven Baked) alongside your pasta.

Make This Pasta Primavera in Advance

Make ahead: To prep this dish ahead, chop, grate, and mince the vegetables and cheese and store in the fridge until you are ready to saute. You can also cook the pasta and then store it as well.

Storing: Store this pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Freeze: Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and lay it flat in the freezer. Once frozen, store it vertically to save space. It will last for up to 3 months. To reheat, you can use the microwave or warm it in a pan on the stove top.

More Perfect Pasta Dishes!

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Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!