Pasta Primavera Recipe

This creamy Pasta Primavera Recipe is a light pasta dish highlighted with fresh spring veggies!

This simple dish is perfect for warm weather dining without being too heavy! Lightly sautéed veggies come out crisp and delicious in a simple Alfredo sauce. This dish is the perfect way to get kids to eat their veggies, but it’s elegant enough for company, too. Plus it’s super easy to make as a totally vegetarian entrée. What’s not to love about that?

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Creamy Pasta Primavera

Who doesn’t love pasta? This quick dish is perfect for last-minute guests or parties and potlucks, and it’s ready in minutes!
Easy to make in just 4 steps and is great served as an entrée either hot or cold!
An affordable way to use up leftover veggies!
Make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth—easy peasy!

What Is Pasta Primavera?

Primavera means “spring” in Italian, and it’s the perfect name for this entrée because it features the first tender vegetables of spring served in a “barely there” Alfredo sauce made with stock and a handful of simple seasonings. Serve it with a side of easy-to-make cheesy breadsticks and a refreshing broccoli salad. Add a refreshing glass of lemonade to go with supper!

Ingredients & Variations

PASTA: Any kind of pasta works in a primavera! Capellini, penne, rotini, bow tie, even smaller shells will work.

VEGETABLES: Pieces of tender zucchini, asparagus, red pepper, and peas are the basics of this recipe. Feel free to add other veggies like sliced mushrooms, broccoli florets, and grape tomatoes. Some sliced black olives add even more color and texture!

SAUCE: A jar of store-bought Alfredo sauce is the real timesaver shortcut here! Or use a marinara for a heartier pasta. If there’s time make your own double batch of tomato cream sauce for use in multiple recipes all week! It’s also a great dipper for breadsticks!

How To Make Pasta Primavera

It doesn’t get any easier than this colorful and cheesy dish!

Prepare & drain pasta. Set aside.
Sauté garlic in butter until fragrant. Add all vegetables except petite peas & snow peas.
Stir in chicken stock (or vegetable stock for a vegetarian version) and bring to simmer. Stir in peas & sauce, simmer.
Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese and cooked pasta. Mix everything until fully combined.

Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and chopped basil or parsley before serving.

Pasta Recipe Tips

Cook pasta al dente, since it will cook a little bit more when it’s added in Step 5.
Save a little bit of the pasta water (about a half cup) and stir in with Step 3 for a thicker sauce.
Use tri-color pasta for an even more colorful dish, or go for gluten-free pasta or red lentil pasta for a higher protein count.

Time Savers!

A mixed bag of frozen vegetables can be used if time is short, just sauté them a little bit longer in Step 3.
Pasta Primavera can be made in the Crockpot or the Instant Pot, just adjust cooking times and be sure not to add the vegetables in at the beginning of cooking, so that they stay fresh, colorful, and crisp.
This is a great dish for make-ahead lunches. Simply pack into pre-portioned containers or your fave bento box and take it to work all week long.

Other Easy Pasta Dishes To Try!

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Pasta Primavera Recipe

Creamy pasta primavera is loaded with healthy vegetables and hearty pasta. It’s perfect for lunch or dinner.

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Servings servings

Author Holly

Ingredients

1 jar Alfredo sauce
8 oz pasta
3 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon garlic minced
1 cup zucchini sliced
½ cup asparagus trimmed
½ cup red pepper diced
½ cup chicken stock
½ cup petite peas
½ cup snow peas
½ cup parmesan cheese shredded

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions and set aside.
Add butter to a skillet and melt over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for a minute.
Add all vegetables except for peas. Stir in chicken stock and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
When veggies are cooked and tender, but still crisp, Stir in Alfredo sauce and peas, let simmer for 2 minutes.
Sprinkle in parmesan cheese and add pasta. Mix until fully coated and heated through – about 2 minutes.