275 summer pasta recipes

Fajita-style orzo tossed with grilled red peppers, charred red onion, a fresh jalapeno-lime salsa and a dollop of sour cream. Tex-Mex flavors in a pasta bowl, perfect for summer grilling.

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.

Chicken pasta salad with fusilli, steamed zucchini, tomatoes, Greek olives, and pine nuts, all tossed in a garlicky basil vinaigrette. A bright, hearty summer dish ready in 30 minutes.

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.

Chilled shrimp and pasta salad loaded with fresh mango, papaya, pineapple, and mandarin oranges, tossed in a creamy coconut-ginger-lime dressing. A bright, crowd-pleasing summer dish for 6.

Fresh tomato sauce with green beans, 6 cloves of garlic, and half a cup of basil tossed over spaghetti. A simple vegetable-forward pasta sauce made from ripe summer tomatoes.

Fresh garden vegetable pasta tosses spaghetti with a chunky sauce of tomatoes, carrots, celery, and onion, simmered with basil and garlic. A naturally vegan, low-fat dinner that lets summer vegetables shine.

Pasta alla carrettiera is a no-cook Italian sauce of raw tomato, garlic, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes pounded into a rough paste with olive oil, then tossed with hot spaghetti. Bright, raw, summer-perfect.

Penne with fresh tomato basil sauce simmers chunky ripe tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil in olive oil for a quick pasta sauce. Summer Italian classic finished with Parmesan and torn basil leaves.

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.

Summer tortellini salad tosses cheese tortellini with shredded chicken, green and black olives, red bell pepper, sweet Vidalia onion, and a herbes de Provence vinaigrette. A picnic-ready pasta salad for four.

Chilled fresh tomato salsa over hot angel hair pasta with Roma tomatoes, red and yellow peppers, basil, and extra-virgin olive oil. A no-cook summer sauce with Romano cheese on the side.

Chilled tomato salsa over hot angel hair pasta with red and yellow peppers, basil, garlic, and a hit of romano. Italian summer technique that needs zero cooking for the sauce. Ready in 20 minutes.

Garden-loaded ratatouille sauce with eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and sweet potato tossed with ziti and showered in fresh basil and mint. A vibrant, plant-based pasta that eats like a celebration of summer produce.

This deliciousness came about when my neighbor Johnny brought over a ton of veggies from his garden one summer. This is a light but flavorful dish that is probably one of 6 year olds favorite meals. I serve it over rice but I'm sure it would taste great with a pasta too. As far as measurements, I'm terrible at measuring and usually just throw in as I go, so use as a guide and get creative while cooking!

Pasta with meatballs in a tomato sauce deepened with bacon and Marsala, the tender bread-bound meatballs simmered right in. The pasta is tossed in butter and sauce, then showered with parmesan.