Pasta recipes for summer dinners

Penne pasta with sun-dried tomato pesto sauce

For a savory, aromatic pesto, simply puree sun-dried tomatoes and a little oil from a jar in a food processor.

Recipe: Penne pasta with sun-dried tomato pesto sauce

Easy Garden Pasta Side Dish with Lemon Ricotta

Ricotta and pasta? Nothing new (though always delicious). But add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the ricotta, and you'll be craving this refreshing creamy cheese all summer long.

Recipe: Easy Garden Pasta Side Dish with Lemon Ricotta

Garlic Shrimp with Angel Hair Pasta

Pan-fry the shrimp until pink, then toss with garlic, lemon and superfine angel hair spaghetti.

Recipe: Garlic Shrimp with Angel Hair Pasta

Farfalle pasta in tomato sauce with roasted peppers

Rich, savory sun-dried tomatoes and a touch of balsamic vinegar give farfalle pasta a vibrant flavor.

Recipe: Farfalle pasta in tomato sauce with roasted peppers

Pasta shells with zucchini and bacon

Use fresh mint at the dinner table and you'll be surprised how well it pairs with pancetta and grated Parmesan in this easy pasta.

Recipe: Pasta shells with zucchini and bacon

Penne with shrimp and herb cream sauce

Shrimp and tomatoes add a pink tint to the creamy sauce, while fresh basil and parsley add a rich flavor.

Recipe: Penne with shrimp and herb cream sauce

Farfalle pasta with broccoli and potatoes

Farfalle pasta, potatoes and broccoli combine for a hearty weekday meal.

Recipe: Farfalle pasta with broccoli and potatoes

Spaghetti and scallops simmered in marinara sauce

Cook fresh scallops in a homemade tomato sauce with crushed red pepper.

Recipe: Spaghetti and scallops simmered in marinara sauce

Tagliatelle pasta with corn and cherry tomatoes

Give your pasta an unusual twist by adding corn kernels to the sauce at the last minute.

Recipe: Tagliatelle pasta with corn and cherry tomatoes

Pasta shells with sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and green salad

Cooking for one? Flavorful ingredients like goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes make for a delicious single-serving dish.

Recipe: Pasta shells with sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and green salad

Pasta with ground turkey and broccoli

Sausage and peppers are a great combination, especially when paired with tender broccoli.

Recipe: Pasta with ground turkey and broccoli

Tuscan-style chicken in a frying pan

No need to go to a cafe, because you can easily prepare tender chicken with cheese and fettuccine pasta at home, restaurant-style.

Recipe: Tuscan-style chicken in a frying pan

Capellini with tomatoes and basil

This dish cooks faster than water boils. The thin angel hair spaghetti cooks to al dente very quickly.

Recipe: Capellini with tomatoes and basil

Chickpea penne pasta with sausage and escarole

Pasta with chickpeas and herbs is a classic dish from Puglia, a region of Italy. In our interpretation, we added sausage to complement the flavor of the lettuce and pasta.

Recipe: Chickpea penne pasta with sausage and escarole

Fettuccine with salmon and sugar snap peas

Salmon cooks quickly and is a great source of protein for a quick dinner. And when the pasta includes seasonal sugar snap peas and fresh herbs, it's a sure-fire dish.

Recipe: Fettuccine with salmon and sugar snap peas

Summer pasta with roasted vegetables

Grill bell peppers, yellow squash, and zucchini to complement this hearty pasta with seasonal flavors. Add fresh basil and parsley to a can of tomatoes, and dinner will be ready in just 40 minutes.

Recipe: Summer pasta with roasted vegetables

Penne pasta with fried okra and green beans

A lemony panko topping adds a bright, crunchy note to a simple pasta dinner.

Recipe: Penne pasta with fried okra and green beans

Summer Minestrone Abruzzo

This soup combines everything you pick or buy in late summer: green beans, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, peppers, and basil. And the small pasta shells help make the dish more filling.

Recipe: Summer Minestrone Abruzzo

15-Minute Chicken Cutlets with Artichokes

This Italian dish typically takes quite a while to prepare, but our version will cook it in just 15 minutes. To speed up the process, we boil the water in a frying pan instead of a saucepan, and the thin spaghetti cooks in just minutes.

Recipe: 15-Minute Chicken Cutlets with Artichokes

Fettuccine with lemon and poppy seeds

After cooking the pasta, save a cup of the cooking water—the starchy liquid combines with lemon and Parmesan for a quick, delicious sauce.

Recipe: Fettuccine with lemon and poppy seeds

Creamy Lemon Pepper Orzo Pasta with Roasted Chicken

If you love risotto but are looking for a quicker dish, try orzo pasta: it takes half the time. Instead of full-fat cheese and cream, tangy Greek yogurt and goat cheese are used, creating the same creamy texture.

Recipe: Creamy Lemon Pepper Orzo Pasta with Roasted Chicken

Pasta alle vongole

You don't have to travel to Italy—or even your favorite Italian restaurant—to enjoy delicious pasta with clams. Thanks to Valerie Bertinelli's simple recipe, this delicacy can be prepared any day of the week.

Recipe: Pasta alle vongole

Spaghetti with tomatoes, olives and capers

Salty Kalamata olives and capers give bucatini pasta a rich flavor.

Recipe: Spaghetti with tomatoes, olives and capers

Quick Pasta Puttanesca

This dish, originally from Southern Italy, contains ingredients you probably already have—tomatoes, olives, and capers.

Recipe: Quick Pasta Puttanesca