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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    16 Deliciously Simple Spring Pasta Ideas for Busy Weeknights

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on April 24, 2025, updated March 26, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Spring is the perfect time to enjoy fresh ingredients and light meals, and pasta is a great way to bring those flavors to your table. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a variety of pasta dishes that are quick to prepare and full of seasonal goodness. Here are 16 easy pasta ideas that will make your busy weeknights a little brighter.

    Spinach Lemon Orzo

    Spinach Lemon Orzo.
    Photo credit: Barley and Sage.

    One-pan creamy spinach lemon orzo is quick to prepare, taking only 20 minutes. With fresh spinach, lemon zest, and basil in a creamy sauce, it’s perfect as a light dinner or a simple side dish.

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    Salmon Crème Fraîche Pasta

    Salmon Crème Fraîche Pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salmon pasta with crème fraîche, lemon, and chives is quick to prepare and packed with flavor, perfect for any weeknight dinner. Whether you use fresh or frozen salmon, this dish offers a light and refreshing taste that you can enjoy all year long.

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    Halloumi Pasta Primavera

    Halloumi pasta primavera.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    In just 20 minutes, including prep time, you can whip up this tasty vegetarian halloumi pasta packed with fresh vegetables. This light and summery dish skips the cream, allowing the flavors of the veggies to really stand out.

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    Sardine Pasta Bolognese

    Sardine Pasta Bolognese.
    Photo credit: Krumpli.

    Sardine pasta combines the flavors of a hearty Bolognese sauce with red wine, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh tomatoes, all while using affordable canned fish. This dish is perfect for a satisfying meal that doesn't require much effort.

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    Creamy Lemon Pesto Pasta

    Creamy lemon pesto pasta on a white plate.
    Photo Credit: Home Cooking Collective.

    This creamy lemon pesto pasta is quick and simple, using a sauce made from fresh lemon zest, lemon juice, pine nuts, herbs, and lots of cheese. It's a great dinner option that you can whip up in about 30 minutes.

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    Cherry Caprese Pasta Salad

    Cherry Caprese Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This pasta salad is a great option for your summer dinners. It's vegetarian and can easily be made vegan, perfect as a side dish or a main meal.

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    Chopped Italian Pasta Salad

    Chopped Italian Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This pasta salad is great for summer gatherings, picnics, and barbecues. It's packed with fresh vegetables and beans, making it a colorful and satisfying dish.

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    Red Pesto Pasta Salad with Veggies

    Red pesto pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This red pesto pasta is quick to prepare, taking less than 30 minutes with only 15 minutes of actual cooking time. It's loaded with veggies and flavor, and you can use either homemade or store-bought pesto, enjoying it just as much hot or cold.

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    Orzo Pesto Salad

    Orzo pesto salad.
    Photo credit: Healthfull Blondie.

     

    This orzo pesto salad is loaded with vegetables and fresh mozzarella, all mixed together with a tasty nut-free basil pesto. It's perfect for lunch, dinner, or as a side dish at a spring or summer gathering.

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    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

    Garlic butter shrimp pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is a quick and tasty dish that combines juicy shrimp with perfectly cooked pasta in a rich garlic butter sauce. This is a great meal for busy nights when you want something delicious without a lot of work.

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    Smoked Salmon & Spinach Pasta

    Salmon spinach pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta dish is quick to prepare and packed with the fresh flavors of smoked salmon and lemon. It's a recipe you'll want to make again and again.

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    Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts

    15-Minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts
    Photo credit: always use butter

    This 15-minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts is a quick and easy dish that packs a lot of flavor. It's great on its own, but adding some mozzarella or burrata cheese takes it to the next level.

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    Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Lemon ricotta pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta dish is incredibly easy to prepare. It's perfect for a quick meal during the spring season.

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    Creamy Broccoli Pasta

    Broccoli pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta is packed with fresh vegetables, making it a healthy option you'll enjoy. It's a simple and delicious meal perfect for spring.

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    Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad

    Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Piping Pot Curry.

    Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad is a bright and fresh dish featuring orzo pasta, grape tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. It's a simple salad that's quick to prepare, making it a great choice for picnics or gatherings.

    Get the recipe

    Shrimp Ceviche Pasta Salad

    Shrimp Ceviche Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: The Foodolic.

    Shrimp Pasta Salad features shrimp marinated in lemon, mixed with peppers, onions, and a bit of hot pepper, all served on quinoa pasta. It's topped off with fresh cilantro for a bright finish.

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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