Bring the spring season and all the fresh spring veggies together for this classic pasta primavera recipe!
Made in one pot using ready-made vegetables and a jar of creamy Alfredo sauce means this delish dish is on the table in minutes!
Pasta primavera is a delightful and vibrant dish that is so satisfying and flavorful.
What is Pasta Primavera?
In Italian, “primavera” means spring–as in the first vegetables of the season that are bursting with flavor and ready to be enjoyed in a light cream sauce.
Easy Pasta Recipe
- This recipe for pasta primavera is easy enough for busy weeknights, and is also elegant enough to offer to guests, especially with a crisp, green salad or a refreshing broccoli salad, along with some cheesy breadsticks on the side!
- Healthy, colorful, and flavorful, primavera pasta is the perfect, meatless entree and one of the best ways to use up leftover veggies or last-minute additions fresh from the garden!
- It’s economical! Stock up on bags of mixed frozen vegetables when they’re on sale and pop them straight into the pan for a super quick variation.
Ingredients and Variations
Vegetables – Asparagus, peppers, zucchini, and two kinds of peas add color, crunch, and flavor to pasta primavera. Other vegetables to add are corn kernels, spinach, tomatoes, or diced kale.
Pasta – Use light pastas like angel hair, small macaroni or shells, or small rotini, or for a cold pasta primavera, bow-tie pasta is perfect! Cook al dente since it will continue to cook when it’s added back to the pan in Step 5.
Sauce – Alfredo sauce provides a light flavor to the vegetables without overwhelming their delicate flavors. Buy it, or make this homemade Alfredo sauce to use in future recipes. For variation, make a tomato cream sauce and add a few red pepper flakes for a pop of color and a little heat, if you like!
Pro Tip
Always cut veggies in uniform sizes so they sauté at the same rate and avoid overcooking them to keep them firm.
How to Make Primavera Pasta
- Cook pasta and set aside.
- Saute garlic in butter and add all vegetables and chicken stock except peas.
- Cook 3-4 minutes. Stir in Alfredo sauce and peas, then simmer 2 minutes.
- Add cheese and pasta and cook until sauce is thickened.
- Serve with extra parmesan or some chopped parsley, if desired.
Pro Tip
Reserve a little pasta water to thicken the sauce, if needed.
Serving and Storing
- Add light proteins like diced ham, bay shrimp, or flakes of tuna fish or smoked salmon for a heartier dish. Or top pasta primavera with baked chicken thighs to serve as a main dish. Delicious with a refreshing glass of lemonade.
- Keep leftover pasta primavera in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat on the stove with a little milk or water to loosen the Alfredo sauce.
- Pasta primavera can be frozen without the pasta for up to 1 month in zippered bags. Frozen pasta is not firm once it’s thawed, so better to make pot of fresh pasta!
Other Easy Pasta Recipes!
Pasta Primavera Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces 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
- 1 jar Alfredo sauce
- 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 tender-crisp, stir in the Alfredo sauce and peas. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle in parmesan cheese and add pasta. Mix until fully coated and heated through – about 2 minutes.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat leftovers on the stove or the microwave.
- Freeze primavera without the pasta for up to 1 month in a zippered bag.
- Frozen pasta is not firm once it’s thawed, so make pot of fresh pasta and serve with reheated veggies and sauce
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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