Pasta Primavera is an easy, classic pasta recipe packed with fresh vegetables and tender penne pasta, tossed in creamy Parmesan herb sauce.
Like Chicken Parmesan and Baked Ziti, this veggie pasta is considered a classic Italian Recipes but it is actually an American dish. No matter where it originated, it is a well-loved recipe packed with the flavors of Italy!
Sabrina’s Pasta Primavera Recipe
When it comes to healthy pasta recipes, it doesn’t get any better than Pasta Primavera. A simple vegetarian dish of tender penne and fresh veggies tossed in a light sauce, finished with fresh grated Parmesan. It’s an easy to make pasta recipe that cooks quickly so it’s perfect for those busy weeknights. The light sauce and abundance of veggies makes it hearty enough for dinner but it also goes great as a side for baked or grilled meat dishes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 red onion , thinly sliced
- 1 carrot , thinly sliced
- 1 zucchini , cut into half moons 1/4" thick
- 1 yellow squash , cut into half moons 1/4" thick
- 1 red bell pepper , thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes , halved
- 1 head broccoli , cut into small florets
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup parsley , minced
Instructions
- To a pot of salted boiling water add the pasta and cook 1 minute shy of the instructions on the box.
- Drain, but reserve 1 cup of water.
- To a large heavy skillet (that you have a lid for) add the olive oil on medium heat.
- Add in red onion and carrots and stir to coat, cooking for 4-5 minutes until onions have softened.
- Add in zucchini, squash, bell peppers and garlic, stirring to coat.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add in the cooked pasta, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and toss to coat.
- Add in pasta water, tomatoes and broccoli, cover and cook for 3 minutes, steaming the broccoli and tomatoes.
- Add in Parmesan cheese stir to combine and garnish with parsley.
Notes
- To keep the cooking time at around 20 minutes, I cook the pasta in a separate pot while I’m cooking the veggies.
Nutrition
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