23 Easy Spring Pasta Dishes For Busy Weeknights
These pasta dinner recipes are bursting with the fresh flavors of spring.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Clair Spollen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Who wants to spend hours in the kitchen when the weather is so lovely? Springtime calls for quick and easy pasta recipes and long dinners spent outside in the crisp, breezy spring air. These spring pasta dishes are just what the season ordered, and they're simple to boot. They use bright seasonal produce, and they're quick to prepare, meaning you have more time to spend with family and friends. So stop by the farmers' market for fresh and local ingredients, and try a few of these spring pasta dinner recipes this week.
Related: 65 Spring Vegetable Recipes That Will Brighten Up Your Plate
Spinach-And-Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
While fresh tomatoes might be best in the summer, sun-dried tomatoes make a delicious and bright pasta sauce perfect for warm spring weather.
Lemon Chicken Pasta
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Creamy, tangy, and rich, this pasta has it all. Topped with freshly fried chicken cutlets, there won't be any leftovers, we promise.
Lemon-Pepper Shrimp Scampi Pasta
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Shrimp scampi is a classic pasta dish and for good reason, but our version, made with lemon pepper, is a fun twist on the original.
BLT Pasta Salad
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Take all the elements of a classic BLT sandwich and transform them into a vibrant pasta salad that balances sweet tomatoes, salty bacon, and a creamy mayo dressing.
Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Sneak extra broccoli into dinner with this pesto pasta that blends the veggie into both the sauce and tosses it into the finished dish too.
Creamy Kale And Pasta Bake
Pasta bakes are a go-to dinner dish because they're easy to prepare and always a crowd-pleaser. They're also a foolproof way to sneak veggies into a weeknight meal.
Orzo Salad With Shrimp And Lemon Dressing
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Clair Spollen; Food Stylist : Chelsea Zimmer
Delicious served warm or chilled, this shrimp pasta loaded with fresh spring herbs, is perfect for warm-weather entertaining.
Shrimp And Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta
When left to simmer and slowly burst in a saucepan, cherry tomatoes make an easy, but also bright and sweet pasta sauce that perfectly compliments the natural sweetness of shrimp.
Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad
Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
This hybrid dish is a fantastic combination of broccoli and pasta salad. You'll find something new in each bite, from pecans and bacon to grapes and onion.
Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad With Field Peas
ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: CLAIRE SPOLLEN; FOOD STYLING: RISHON HANNERS
This dish is so easy to prepare, you'll find yourself whipping it up for weekday lunches and springtime parties alike. Field peas are a lively addition to this simple pasta, which you can also make up to three days in advance of serving.
Chicken Tortellini Salad
Tortellini is a favorite spring pasta because it's hearty, but not overwhelming. This Italian-inspired dish showcases fresh tomatoes and arugula and will charm guests with its unexpected, incredibly fresh flavors.
Pasta Primavera With Shrimp
Broccoli, pecorino, and bell peppers infuse this one-pot pasta with tons of flavor and color, for an anything-but-boring dinner.
Mac And Cheese With Ham
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss
For an indulgent and cheesy dinner, complete with protein, try this crave-worthy mac and cheese dish. Add a vegetable side for a well-rounded meal.
Creamy Pesto-And-Shrimp Penne With Peas
In just 25 minutes, this creamy pesto dish can be ready and on the table. It's so simple and requires just a handful of ingredients to ensure a speedy weeknight meal.
Skillet Pasta Primavera
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
This pasta dish is full of veggies, like asparagus and peas, to ensure you get all the nutrients you need come dinner time. Feel free to swap the bowtie pasta for any you have on hand or prefer.
Shrimp Alfredo
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Skip the can of alfredo and make an easy sauce that will have a restaurant-like quality. Cooked shrimp adds lots of juicy flavor and protein. Serve with garlic bread for an indulgent meal.
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad
JENNIFER CAUSEY; FOOD STYLING: MELISSA GRAY
For a fresh pasta salad worth photographing, try this 30-minute dish. Bowtie or farfalle pasta are the perfect options for this meal, as they hold onto the sauce well.
Seafood Pasta Salad
Photographer and Props: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
If you don't live by the beach, this simple seafood pasta salad will help you pretend. A little Tabasco sauce adds a tasty kick to the bowl.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
We use store-bought rotisserie chicken to simplify this pasta salad. Penne noodles hold the creamy sauce allowing for a burst of flavor in each bite. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Creamy Turkey Pasta Bake
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner
If you're looking to serve a crowd and need a quick pasta dish, this creamy turkey pasta bake recipe will come in handy. Serve with a quick salad and some crusty bread to complete the meal.
Kale Pasta
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Sausage adds lots of savory flavor to this hearty pasta dish. Top each bowl with pine nuts for a little added crunch. If you have leftovers, don't fear: You can store them in the fridge for up to four days.
Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole
Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
There's nothing quite like the trio of chicken, bacon, and ranchโthat is until it's all combined into a creamy pasta casserole. It's mouthwatering and comforting and just might make a name for itself in your weekly rotation.
Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Clair Spollen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
If pickled shrimp is one of your favorite Southern dishes, then this is the pasta dish for you. Seasoned with Old Bay, fresh herbs, and the heat of crushed red pepper flakes, it's packed with flavor in every bite.
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