51 summer pasta recipes

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.

Bow tie pasta with a chunky eggplant-tomato sauce simmered with basil, oregano, and cayenne in vegetable broth. A low-fat, oil-free vegan pasta that's full of flavor.

Pasta e fagioli simmers tender navy beans, canned tomatoes, and macaroni in a basil-and-oregano broth, with onions sautéed in balsamic instead of oil. A naturally lean Italian peasant soup.

Pepper pasta sauce with julienned red and yellow bell peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni, fresh tomatoes, and a dash of hot sauce, simmered 45 minutes over your favorite pasta.

Low-sodium pasta sauce simmered with tomato puree, white wine, garlic, shallots, and a pinch of nutmeg. A fresh, herb-bright marinara for weeknight pasta without the salt.

Rotini pasta with a chunky eggplant and three-pepper sauce simmered in white wine with garlic, basil, and plum tomatoes. Oil-free vegetarian pasta dinner built on Mediterranean vegetables.

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.

Vegan Sicilian lentil pasta sauce simmered with mushrooms, garlic, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Low-fat, high-protein, and hearty enough to replace any meat sauce over pasta or rice.

Pasta with sake clam sauce puts a Japanese twist on classic linguine alle vongole. Clams simmer with sake, garlic, and briny capers, then get tossed with pasta until every strand soaks up the sauce.

Low-fat linguine with greens, potato, garlic, hot pepper, and tomatoes simmered in vegetable stock. An Italian-inspired pasta loaded with wilted greens and tender new potatoes, no added oil.

Spaghetti with pork chops simmered in tomato soup sauce with onion and green bell pepper. A retro weeknight pasta with pantry-staple ingredients.

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.

Eggplant, tomato, and red pepper sauce simmered with garlic, tomato paste, and honey. A versatile, low-fat sauce for pasta, grilled fish, or chicken.

Pasta shells tossed in a carrot sauce made by simmering chopped carrots, celery, garlic, and thyme in vegetable stock until reduced by half. Vegan, light, and naturally sweet with a red pepper flake kick.

Mexican-style lentils simmer with tomato sauce, sweet corn, onion, and bold spices into a hearty, plant-based base for rice or pasta. Cheap, filling, and weeknight-friendly.

Chunky marinara sauce loaded with zucchini, mushrooms, celery, and red onion sauteed in balsamic vinegar. A no-oil vegetable-packed pasta sauce simmered in 40 minutes.