For those of you who have been following along for a while, you know I love a good pasta dish. From restaurant-inspired dishes like my Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta to dreamy vegetarian dishes like my Baked Roasted Vegetable Ziti, I’ve done a whole lot of experimenting in my kitchen.

Through all of my experimenting, I have discovered that pasta is easily one of the most versatile foods on the planet. It’s no wonder why we all love it so darn much! When I’m trying to find a fun way to incorporate veggies into my kids’ meals, pasta is one of my favorite go-to choices. This dish is the perfect example of that.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe, this delectable Pasta Primavera is a perfect choice. Between the flavorful vegetables, creamy sauce, and fresh basil, this dish seriously knocks it out of the park. The best part? It can be on the dinner table in under 20 minutes.

Not only is this vegetable pasta dish beyond easy to make and absolutely delicious, but it’s incredibly versatile. This dish is the perfect way to use up all those veggies in the fridge that you had no idea how to use. I can’t tell you how many times this recipe has gotten me out of a jam when I had a fridge full of veggies that were on their way out.

This dish is the ideal healthy main course for any occasion, from weeknight meals with the family to dinner parties with friends. I like to serve it with a simple side salad and crusty bread for a complete meal, but you can serve this tasty pasta dish with any sides you like. It’s quick, easy, wholesome, and child-approved. You’re going to love it!

Key Ingredients and Easy swaps

To make this healthy pasta recipe, you will need the following key ingredients:

• Penne pasta: You can use any pasta shape you like, but my favorite shape to use in this dish is penne.
• Vegetables: This recipe calls for shallots, carrots, broccoli, red bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and garlic. You can swap in other veggies you have on hand, just look for things that cook in a similar amount of time.
• Lemon: Both the juice and zest of a lemon are used here to add brightness and acidity that enhances all the flavors of our dish.
• Italian seasoning: You can use a store-bought spice blend or make your own with oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary.
• Parmesan cheese: When mixed with pasta water, this forms a light and creamy sauce that is absolutely delicious.

Recipe Variations and Ideas for Pasta Primavera

There are plenty of ways to adapt this recipe to suit your needs, whatever they may be. Here are some of my top recommendations for variations of this tasty dish:

• Add some protein.:If you’re looking to beef up this dish (no pun intended), try adding a healthy protein source like chicken, shrimp, or a lean cut of steak.
• Spice it up: Hoping for a little heat? Feel free to add finely chopped red chilies to the vegetable mixture or top the dish with some crushed red pepper just before serving.
• Switch up the vegetables: You can use any kind of veggies you like in this dish, so feel free to change up the combination depending on what you have at home. Great options include asparagus, peas, green beans, summer squash, and spinach.
• Use a different pasta shape: No penne? No problem. You can use any pasta shape; short, long, skinny, wide, depending on what you like best. Some of my favorite choices include spaghetti, bowtie, and casarecce.
• Make it vegan: This vegetarian dish can easily be made vegan by swapping out the parmesan cheese for a dairy-free alternative.