• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Air Fryer Mom
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Pasta

    16 Perfect Pasta Recipes for Busy Spring Days

    Published: May 10, 2026 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

    • Facebook
    • Email

    Spring is the perfect time to enjoy fresh and vibrant pasta dishes that celebrate the season's bounty. With an array of colorful vegetables and lighter sauces, these 15 pasta recipes are sure to bring a burst of flavor to your table. Whether you're looking for a quick weeknight meal or something special for a gathering, these dishes will inspire you to embrace the joys of spring cooking.

    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

    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 with fresh cilantro for a bright finish.

    Get the recipe

    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, making it a great choice for any weeknight dinner. Whether you use fresh or frozen salmon, this dish offers a light and refreshing taste that you'll enjoy all year long.

    Get the recipe

    French Onion Pasta

    French Onion Pasta with wooden spoon.
    Photo Credit: Sunglow Kitchen.

    This pasta dish combines sweet caramelized onions, fresh thyme, and Gruyere cheese, all cooked together in one pot for a creamy finish. It's a fancy-tasting meal that's simple enough for a weeknight dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Tortellini with Ham and Peas

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

    Tortellini with ham and peas is a favorite pasta dish in Italy. It's simple to prepare and enjoyed by both kids and adults, making it great for after-school meals and family lunches.

    Get the recipe

     

    Smoked Salmon & Spinach Pasta

    Salmon spinach pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

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

    Get the recipe

     

    Creamy Salmon Pasta

    A serving of creamy salmon pasta.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Roasted salmon is flaky and tender, and it goes great with linguini and a light herb lemon cream sauce. This dish is perfect for a fresh spring meal.

    Get the recipe

    Pesto Cavatappi

    Pesto Cavatappi.
    Photo credit: The Belly Rules the Mind.

    Pesto Cavatappi is a delicious version of the popular dish from Noodles & Company. With fresh homemade basil pesto, it's sure to be a hit with everyone at the table!

    Get the recipe

     

    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 hot or cold.

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Curry Pasta

    Creamy Curry Pasta.
    Photo credit: Plantbased on a Budget.

    This creamy curry pasta is an easy 35-minute fusion dinner loaded with flavor. It's so satisfying and easily customizable with your favorite protein and veggies, and a great go-to for busy weeknights!

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Pesto Pasta

    Creamy pesto pasta topped with cherry tomatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This creamy pesto pasta is quick to make with just three ingredients and takes only 10 minutes to prepare. The bright pesto sauce combined with Greek yogurt creates a simple and satisfying meal that you'll want to have regularly.

    Get the recipe

     

    Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

    Chicken broccoli alfredo with wooden spoon.
    Photo Credit: Get Inspired Everyday.

    This one-pot Chicken Broccoli Alfredo is simple to prepare and great for family dinners. With chicken and broccoli, this pasta dish is a complete meal.

    Get the recipe

     

    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 great option for a quick meal. It's tasty on its own, but adding some mozzarella or burrata cheese takes it to the next level.

    Get the recipe

    Homemade Penne Arrabbiata

    Homemade penne arrabbiata served on a plate.
    Photo Credit: Christina's Cucina.

    This is a quick and spicy Italian pasta dish that you can whip up in under 20 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner, it brings a burst of flavor to your table.

    Get the recipe

     

    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.

    Get the recipe

    Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    lemon ricotta pasta.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

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

    Get the recipe

    More Pasta

    • Salmon spinach pasta.
      21 Pasta Dinners You'll Make on Constant Repeat
    • Macaroni salad.
      19 Light Pasta Dishes Perfect for Warmer Days
    • Mac and cheese.
      26 Rich Pasta Recipes Perfect for This Week's Menu
    • Texas pasta.
      19 Easy Pasta Recipes With Minimal Ingredients
    • Facebook
    • Email

    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.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Readers Love These Recipes

    • Chicken and rice soup.
      22 Revolutionary Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners
    • Cauliflower beef taco skillet.
      17 Quick and Elegant Ground Beef Meals You Need to Try
    • Chicken adobo.
      23 Deliciously Simple Crockpot Meals for Stress-Free Cooking
    • Crockpot lasagna.
      14 Crockpot Dinners That Will Change Your Weeknight Routine

    Latest Articles

    • tater tot shepherd's pie.
      27 Reliable Casseroles for Every Situation
    • Chipotle chicken meatballs.
      23 Crockpot Chicken Recipes That Make You Look Like a Pro
    • French onion chicken.
      32 Dump-and-Cook Recipes Perfect for Family Gatherings
    • Greek salmon.
      24 Impressive Dinners Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosure
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • [email protected]
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden

    Copyright © 2026 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB