30 Easy Pasta Dinners for Breezy Spring Nights
Make the most of in-season veggies!
As satisfying as they are, pasta dishes tend to have heavy ingredients and rich sauces that aren’t exactly what you’d imagine for your spring dinner. When the daylight lasts a little longer and the temperature feels a bit warmer, you probably don’t have a craving for cheesy baked lasagna at the end of the day. (If you do, though, no judgment!) But springtime doesn’t mean you have to forgo pasta altogether! By loading this starchy staple with seasonal produce, fresh herbs, and lighter sauces, you can turn it into a dreamy spring dish—think: pasta salads and lemony dinners in lieu of pasta bakes.
If you’re in need of inspiration, we’ve rounded up these spring pasta recipes that are perfect for the season. Naturally, most of these dishes spotlight spring vegetables, whether they’re added straight to the pan with a splash of lemon or blended into a pesto, and most classify as quick 30-minute meals.
Obviously, Ree Drummond’s take on pasta primavera (which literally translates to “springtime” in Italian) is a no-brainer, but there are plenty of other refreshing picks brimming with peas, carrots, spinach, asparagus, and other seasonal staples. Looking for an easy family dinner? Try lemon ricotta pasta with prosciutto or shrimp scampi with fresh basil, each of which are ready in 20 minutes or less. Hosting an outdoor get-together like a picnic or backyard barbecue? A pasta salad coated in pea pesto or packed with tortellini and spring produce is a cold, refreshing side to serve up. Whatever you go with, it’s sure to add a burst of color and flavor to your table.
Pasta Primavera
Ree’s version is loaded with seasonal staples like carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, and peas. To finish it off, a creamy cheese sauce coats every vegetable and clings to every noodle—without weighing the dish down.
Get Ree’s Pasta Primavera recipe.
Cheesy Vegetable Spaghetti Casserole
Spaghetti casserole might sound a bit heavy for a balmy spring evening, but this vegetarian take is brimming with spinach, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and bell peppers. Although it’s filled with fresh flavor, fear not: This dish doesn’t hold back on cheesy comfort!
Get Ree’s Cheesy Vegetable Spaghetti Casserole recipe.
Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Prosciutto
This spring pasta recipe is the perfect mix of light and satisfying: The sweet peas and lemony burst give the silky sauce and savory prosciutto some levity. The best part? This dish comes together in 20 minutes!
Get Ree’s Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Prosciutto recipe.
Corn and Zucchini Pasta
The perfect late-spring meal, Ree’s corn and zucchini pasta has it all: sweetness from the corn, freshness from the zucchini, and comfort from the duo of cheeses. Whip it up on a busy weeknight, and you’ll have dinner on the table just 35 minutes later!
Get Ree’s Corn and Zucchini Pasta recipe.
Cherry Tomato Pasta
You might typically associate tomato-based pastas with winter, but cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy ricotta keep this variation light and bright. What’s more, this dish is an easy 30-minute meal that the whole family will love.
Get the Cherry Tomato Pasta recipe.
Chicken Carbonara
If you’re looking for a spring pasta recipe that’s filling yet seasonal, try Ree’s 25-minute chicken carbonara. It has crispy bacon, juicy chicken, and a velvety parmesan sauce that’ll satisfy your taste buds, yet it’s packed with a heaping of peas (frozen for convenience!).
Get Ree’s Chicken Carbonara recipe.
Chicken Tetrazzini
Add this comforting casserole to your spring dinner rotation! It’s creamy, cheesy, and chock full of green peas, mushrooms, and parsley for added freshness.
Get Ree's Chicken Tetrazzini recipe.
Pasta with Shrimp and Pistachio Pesto
Pesto is one of Ree's go-to ingredients—and it's surprisingly simple to make at home! Plus, it's a great way to put that fresh basil and baby spinach from your garden to good use.
Get Ree's Pasta with Shrimp and Pistachio Pesto recipe.
Linguine with Clam Sauce
If you think you don't like clams, this recipe (which was the first Ree ever made for Ladd) will change your mind! Combined with fresh lemon juice, fragrant garlic, heavy cream, and parmesan, this linguini dish is bright and delightfully decadent.
Get Ree's Linguine with Clam Sauce recipe.
Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Ham and cheese lovers will get a kick out of this make-ahead pasta recipe! Between the "butterfly" pasta, fresh green onions, and peas, it practically screams spring.
Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.
Spring Pea Pesto Pasta Salad
Attention pesto fans! This pasta salad features a homemade pesto blended with green peas for an extra burst of spring flavor. It’s perfectly complemented by peppery arugula, crispy prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and a sprinkle of lemon-parmesan breadcrumbs.
Get Ree's Spring Pea Pesto Pasta Salad recipe.
Lemon Pasta
Brighten up your night in under 30 minutes with this simple lemon pasta dish. It’s a taste of spring break in Italy, no passport needed.
Get the Lemon Pasta recipe.
Pasta with Peas
This creamy, cheesy pasta is both comforting and fresh at the same time. The pops of bright green peas along with basil or mint pair so well with the smokiness from the pancetta.
Get the Pasta with Peas recipe.
Gnocchi Primavera
Here's a fun twist on a springtime primavera—the pasta of choice is a pillowy, fluffy gnocchi that you can find in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores. Paired with green veggies and lots of parmesan cheese, it's one dish you'll never forget.
Get Ree's Gnocchi Primavera recipe.
Tortellini Pasta Salad
Take your pasta salad to the next level by loading it up with deli meats, fresh veggies, and cheese-filled tortellini. The whole thing comes together with a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette.
Get the Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe.
Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Shells
These cheese, spinach, and mushroom stuffed shells are smothered in a creamy white wine and lemon sauce. They're perfect for serving alongside a fresh spring salad.
Get Ree's Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Shells recipe.
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ready in under 30 minutes, Ree's Cajun chicken pasta is a family dinner you'll make over and over again. It has a spicy kick!
Get Ree's Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe.
Asparagus Pasta
Elegant enough for company but easy enough for a quick weeknight meal, this 30-minute dinner has smoky bacon, tender asparagus, and a lemony, cheesy sauce.
Get the Asparagus Pasta recipe.
Spinach Artichoke Pasta
Spinach artichoke dip fans, this pasta recipe will become your newest obsession. It has everything you love about the dip, all tossed with penne pasta.
Get Ree's Spinach Artichoke Pasta recipe.
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Dinners don't get any more luxurious than this jazzed up mac and cheese. Tender lobster, a dreamy cheese sauce, and a sprinkle of seasoned breadcrumbs on top makes this a special occasion meal.
Get the Lobster Mac and Cheese recipe.
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