41 summer pasta recipes

Salmon and pasta stuffed tomatoes: chilled macaroni salad with canned salmon, yogurt, dill, cucumber, and carrot, spooned into fresh tomato cups. A no-cook summer lunch.

Wine-poached chicken tossed with rigatoni, fresh basil, sweet red peppers, and olives in a bright garlic-lemon dressing. A chilled Italian pasta salad built for hot summer nights.

Italian no-cook tomato cucumber summer salad with red onion, basil, parsley, and a touch of red pepper flakes. Italian-style topping for bruschetta or tossed cold with pasta.

This summer lasagna swaps pasta noodles for tender zucchini strips layered with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, fresh tomatoes, and herb-seasoned tomato sauce. Low-carb, veggie-loaded, and ready in about an hour.

Homemade marinara sauce with pureed Italian plum tomatoes, garlic, and fresh parsley simmered with bay leaves. A simple meatless pasta sauce ready in about 30 minutes.

Mexican fideo is the classic toasted-noodle soup-pasta: thin vermicelli coils browned in oil, then simmered in tomato sauce and water with onion and garlic. Comforting 30-minute Mexican kitchen staple.

Boiled spaghetti squash for a low-carb pasta substitute. Cut, simmer 30 minutes, scrape out the noodle-like strands. Diabetic-friendly side or pasta swap.

Hearty Tuscan bean soup with pancetta, sage, and ditalini pasta simmered in chicken broth. This rustic Italian pasta e fagioli feeds a crowd with creamy cannellini beans and sharp Romano cheese.

Crawfish tails simmered in a creamy shrimp soup sauce with sauteed onions, garlic, bell pepper, celery, and white wine. Ladle this Cajun-style goodness over rice or pasta.

Garden ratatouille baked with zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, mushrooms, and Parmesan. Sauteed vegetables simmered in pasta sauce, then baked until bubbly and golden.

Chicken livers browned in bacon drippings, simmered in dry sherry and tomato sauce with mushrooms, onions, and herbs. Served over rice, polenta, or pasta with grated Parmesan. Ready in 20 minutes.

Orzo with vegetables, a one-pot Mediterranean pasta with zucchini, carrots, onion, and eggplant simmered in vegetable broth. A light, vegetarian weeknight dinner in 30 minutes.

A quick one-pot soup with crispy bacon, shredded cabbage, pasta, and vegetables simmered in beef broth. Warm, filling comfort food ready in 30 minutes.

Vegetarian eggplant tomato pasta sauce with dry sherry, red bell pepper, nutmeg, and fresh basil. A chunky, low-calorie sauce that simmers in under 30 minutes.

Garlic prawns sauteed in butter with shallots, then simmered in champagne and fresh lemon juice with dill. An elegant 20-minute seafood dinner served over rice or pasta.

Hearty Italian wedding soup simmered for hours with beef shanks, tiny meatballs, vegetables, tomatoes, and small pasta shells. Topped with grated Parmesan for a soul-warming bowl.