Bright colors and contrasting flavors make pasta primavera a fun, tasty dish for all occasions! From the crunch of the vegetables to the silkiness of the pasta primavera sauce - you won't believe just how easy it is to make! Full of freshness and super delicious, this pasta primavera recipe will quickly become a favorite in your household.
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What Is Pasta Primavera?
If you have never heard of this dish, you’re likely wondering what is pasta primavera. Originating from the 1970s, this American pasta dish combines cooked pasta, vegetables, parmesan cheese, and a creamy sauce. There are a few variations of pasta primavera, with some using cream and stock to create the pasta primavera sauce and others using either butter or olive oil.
In this pasta primavera recipe, I use the delicious combination of cream and stock (either chicken or vegetable), with the option to add some white wine to 'deglaze' the pan. Yes, it sounds a little fancy, but all deglazing means is adding some liquid to release any flavor stuck to the pan - cooking up a delicious sauce. If you don't cook with wine, you can totally substitute it for either chicken or vegetable stock!
The word 'primavera' actually means 'spring' in Italian, so pasta primavera is the perfect springtime treat! You can easily customize it to suit different tastes, too - for example, swap out the peppers for a mix of mushrooms and olives for a burst of umami flavor.
Plus, because primavera pasta is so versatile, it is ideal for using up seasonal produce. When adding your veggies to the dish, be sure to do it according to how long they cook. Any soft vegetables should go in last, such as tomatoes, while the crunchy ones, like carrots and onions, go in first!
Why You'll Love This Pasta Primavera Recipe
- Completely customizable. Aside from using any veggies you want, you can also switch up the type of pasta! I have used spaghetti here, but any pasta shape you have to hand will work well.
- Easier than it looks! For a dish that looks so impressive, this recipe for pasta primavera is surprisingly simple - and doesn't require hours of cooking.
- It tastes amazing. With all the complementary flavors of the vegetables, pasta primavera sauce, and salty parmesan cheese - this recipe is sure to be a hit!
Ingredients For Pasta Primavera
- Pasta
- Butter
- Onion
- Carrots
- Asparagus
- Bell pepper
- Garlic
- Tomato
- White wine or broth (chicken or vegetable)
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- Heavy cream
- Salt and pepper
- Parmesan cheese
- Basil
- Parsley
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
Instructions For Primavera Pasta
- Bring pasta water to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente while you prepare the vegetables and sauce.
- In a large saucepan, heat butter on medium heat until melted.
- Add carrots and onions and saute until slightly softened about 4 minutes.
- Add the asparagus and peppers. Saute until slightly softened about more 3 minutes.
- Add the garlic and tomatoes, salt and pepper and saute an additional minute.
- Turn heat to medium-high and add white wine, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Cook until the wine is reduced and almost all gone about 3 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth and cream and simmer 6-8 minutes, until reduced and thickened.
- Add the pasta and toss to combine with the sauce and vegetables.
- Top with grated or shaved parmesan and chopped fresh parsley and basil (optional).
The beauty of this recipe for pasta primavera is that you can use any vegetables you want! Whether you want to make the most of your vegetable patch or use some wilting veggies in the fridge, you can use any vegetables you have to hand.
Carrots, asparagus (check out my tutorial on cutting and storing asparagus!), onions, bell peppers, peas, and even leftover vegetables, like roasted zucchini, are all ideas to add to your primavera pasta. You could also use roasted garlic instead of fresh to add an extra depth of flavor.
The mix of vegetables, spaghetti, and yummy pasta primavera sauce makes a filling meal as it is. But if you want to go the extra mile, why not try serving this pasta primavera recipe with a side of cheesy garlic bread, easy homemade focaccia, or a simple green salad?
Once cooled, place any primavera pasta leftovers in an air-tight container and store them in your refrigerator. This recipe for pasta primavera will keep for up to 4 days when stored correctly. You can reheat your primavera pasta before eating, either on the stovetop or in the microwave - depending on how long you want to wait!
Pasta primavera is typically a vegetarian dish, but you can add some protein if you want! My recipes for honey garlic shrimp and grilled chicken thighs would work great, or a vegetarian alternative, such as tofu, works too. This pasta primavera recipe really is versatile, so get creative and experiment!
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Pasta Primavera Recipe
Equipment
- Chef's Knife + Pairing Knife
- Knife Sharpener
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta (any kind you like)
- 3 tablespoons butter (salted or unsalted)
- ½ cup onion (diced, yellow or white)
- ¾ cup tomato (diced)
- ½ cup pepper (yellow, red, or orange)
- ¾ cup asparagus
- ¾ cup peas (frozen )
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup white wine (or broth (chicken or vegetable))
- 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese (shaved or grated)
- 1 tablespoon basil (fresh, chopped, optional)
- 1 tablespoon parsley (fresh, chopped, optional)
Instructions
- Bring pasta water to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente while you prepare the vegetables and sauce.
- In a large saucepan, heat butter on medium heat until melted.
- Add onions and saute until slightly softened about 4 minutes.
- Add the peppers and tomatoes. Saute until slightly softened about more 3 minutes.
- Add the garlic, peas, asparagus, salt and pepper.
- Turn heat to medium-high and add white wine, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Cook until the wine is reduced and almost all gone about 3 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth and cream and simmer 6-8 minutes, until reduced and thickened.
- Add the pasta and toss to combine with the sauce and vegetables.
- Top with grated or shaved parmesan and chopped fresh parsley and basil (optional).
Notes
Nutrition
Looking for more easy pasta recipes?
- Slow Cooker Marinara
- Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
- Sausage Pasta Bake
- Quick Alfredo Pasta Recipe
- Cheesy Alfredo Pasta Bake
- Homemade Chicken Alfredo Recipe
- Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
- Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- Pasta Primavera
- Pasta with Lemon Cream Sauce
- Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
- Instant Pot Marinara
Maddison
This pasta is so delicious, flavorful, and filling! I love it.
Alli
I'm so glad you like it, Maddi! Thank you for the review!
Alli
Love the veggies in this recipe!