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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    20 Light and Zesty Pasta Recipes Made for Springtime

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on April 4, 2025, updated March 26, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Spring is the perfect time to enjoy light and zesty pasta dishes that celebrate fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors. With the season's bounty of vegetables and herbs, these 20 recipes offer a delightful mix of bright tastes and easy preparation, making them ideal for any spring gathering or a simple weeknight dinner. From lemony sauces to crisp veggies, these pasta dishes are sure to bring a refreshing twist to your table.

    Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

    Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta served on a skillet.
    Photo Credit: Savory Cipolla.

    This creamy vegetarian pasta is packed with the flavors of sun-dried tomato pesto, garlic, basil, and cheese. It's easy to customize with your favorite vegetables, making it a great choice for a simple meal.

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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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    15 Minute Creamy Tomato Pasta

    Pasta with creamy tomato sauce.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    A creamy sun-dried tomato sauce wraps around tender noodles and seasoned chickpeas, providing a satisfying meal. This dish is a great way to enjoy a hearty dinner while still getting some protein.

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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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    Cheese Ravioli with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce

    Sun-dried tomato ravioli with sauce.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This sun-dried tomato ravioli sauce adds a great flavor to store-bought cheese ravioli. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a delicious meal ready in 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or when you want something comforting.

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    Mexican Street Corn Mac and Cheese

    Mexican Street Corn Mac and Cheese
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    One Pot Mexican Street Corn Mac and Cheese is a quick dish that you can whip up in about 20 minutes using simple, real ingredients. This easy vegetarian meal is perfect for busy weeknights and is sure to be a hit with your family.

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    Pasta Fresca

    Pasta Fresca.
    Photo credit: Profusion Curry.

    This dish features perfectly cooked pasta tossed with fresh tomatoes, tender baby spinach, and flavorful mushrooms. The combination is brought together with a splash of balsamic vinegar and garlic for a delicious sauce.

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    Tortellini with Ham and Peas

    Tortellini with ham and peas on a plate.
    Photo Credit: The Pasta Project.

    This pasta dish is a favorite in Italy and is simple to prepare. It's perfect for lunch or a light dinner, and everyone in the family enjoys it.

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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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    Olive Oil Pasta

    Olive oil pasta on a plate.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This olive oil pasta is simple to make and takes only 15 minutes using a few basic ingredients you probably already have at home. It's a great option for a quick meal when you're short on time.

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    Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca

    Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This quick 15-minute pasta fresca is just like the popular dish from Noodles and Company, and you can whip it up at home. It's a simple and delicious meal perfect for any night.

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    Pasta Aglio e Olio

    Pasta aglio e oglio.
    Photo credit: The Gourmet Bon Vivant.

    This pasta with garlic and oil is a simple yet delicious dish that elevates plain noodles to something special. It's a great option for a quick meal that feels a bit fancy.

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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.

    Get the recipe

    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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    Coconut Lime Chicken Pasta

    Coconut Lime Chicken Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Craft Cookbook.

    Coconut Lime Chicken & Pasta is a fun dish that’s simple to make for family and friends. The zesty coconut lime sauce offers a refreshing twist on regular pasta, and you can have the whole meal ready in about thirty minutes.

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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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    Mediterranean Canned Mackerel Pasta

    Mediterranean Canned Mackerel Pasta.
    Photo credit: Walder Wellness.

    This simple canned mackerel pasta is full of healthy omega-3s, protein, and vitamins. It's nutritious, tasty, and can be on your table in just 30 minutes.

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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.

    Get the recipe

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    As the weather warms up, this pasta salad is a perfect option for lunch or dinner. It's delicious and simple enough to impress your guests.

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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.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Chicken enchilada casserole.
      24 Dump-And-Bake Dinners That Always Hit the Spot
    • Chicken noodle soup.
      19 Grandma Approved Pasta Dinners You Can Just Dump, Cook and Enjoy
    • Taco soup.
      24 Deliciously Lazy Beef Dinners Made for Your Spring Menu
    • Ground beef hot pot.
      16 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make Mom's Day Special

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of 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, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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