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    Home » Pasta

    18 Simple Pasta Dishes That Keep Summer Dinners Easy

    Published: Jun 11, 2026 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    As the weather warms up, lighter pasta dishes become a go-to for spring evenings. These 18 recipes are fresh, vibrant, and perfect for enjoying the season's flavors. From zesty lemon and asparagus to colorful vegetable medleys, these meals are easy to prepare and sure to please.

    Lemony Olive Oil Tortellini

    Lemony Olive Oil Tortellini on a plate.
    Photo Credit: Masala Herb.

    This tortellini dish is easy to prepare and packed with flavor. It's tossed in a skillet with lemon, garlic, basil, and olive oil for a fresh and satisfying meal.

    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, perfect for any weeknight dinner. Using fresh or frozen salmon, it offers a light and refreshing dish that you can enjoy all year long.

    Get the recipe

    Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

    Olive Garden Chicken Scampi.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This chicken scampi is a light and tasty option for a quick weeknight dinner. With tender chicken cooked in garlic, butter, and lemon, then mixed with pasta and fresh herbs, it's a simple meal that feels special.

    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

    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

    Chicken, Spinach & Tomato One-Pot Pasta

    Close-up of Quick Chicken Spinach & Tomato One-Pot Pasta.
    Photo Credit: A Red Spatula.

    One-pot chicken pasta with fresh spinach is a quick meal that you can whip up in just 30 minutes. With its creamy texture from half and half and the added flavor of canned diced tomatoes, this dish is perfect for dinner any night.

    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

    Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta

    Cherry tomato pasta.
    Photo credit: It's Not Complicated Recipes.

    This Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta is full of fresh flavors and is easy to make. It combines perfectly cooked pasta with roasted tomatoes for a tasty meal that doesn't require much work.

    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 meal you'll want to make again and again.

    Get the recipe

    Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

    A close-up of 15-Minute Spaghetti Aglio e Olio.
    Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud.

    This quick pasta dish is made with just a few healthy ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes. It's perfect on its own or can be paired with your favorite protein or vegetables.

    Get the recipe

    Halloumi Pasta Primavera

    Halloumi pasta primavera.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This vegetarian halloumi pasta is packed with fresh veggies and can be ready in just 20 minutes, including prep time. It's a light and refreshing dish that's perfect for a spring dinner, allowing the flavors of the vegetables to really stand out.

    Get the recipe

    Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

    Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta.
    Photo credit: I Heart Nap Time.

    This creamy bang bang shrimp pasta is a delicious mix of sweet and spicy flavors that you'll want to have again. Made with perfectly cooked fettuccine and shrimp in a rich sriracha sauce, it's a great choice for dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Greek Pasta

    Greek Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Greek Pasta combines perfectly cooked noodles with fresh Mediterranean vegetables, all mixed together in a creamy feta and herb sauce. This dish is a great choice for a spring dinner.

    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

    One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    A plate of pasta with ricotta and lemon.
    Photo Credit: J Cooking Odyssey.

    One Pot Ricotta Lemon Pasta is quick to prepare and a hit with the whole family on busy nights. It features pasta mixed with a creamy ricotta lemon sauce, garlic, and vegetarian Parmesan cheese.

    Get the recipe

    Salmon Asparagus Pasta Salad

    SALMON ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD.
    Photo credit: Maple + Mango.

    Loaded with fresh asparagus, canned salmon (or fresh!), hard-boiled eggs, and pasta, all tossed together in a creamy lemon dill dressing. This recipe is absolutely delicious, easy to make and sure to become a new spring/summer fave!

    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 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.

    Get the recipe

    Pistachio Pesto Pasta

    A plate of pistachio pesto pasta.
    Photo Credit: Naturallie Plant Based.

    Pistachio Pesto Pasta features soft pasta coated in a flavorful homemade pistachio pesto, paired with sweet tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and fresh greens. It's a delightful dish that's perfect for a spring dinner.

    Get the recipe

    More Pasta

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      7 Carbonara Twists Worth Trying at Least Once
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      22 Pasta Dishes That Will Have You Hoping for Seconds
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      18 Quick & Easy Pasta Dinners to Kick Off Summer
    • 32 Filling Ground Beef Pasta Recipes Built for Hungry Households
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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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