Pasta Primavera is a restaurant-quality dish made with penne pasta, a rich herb cream sauce, and plenty of fresh vegetables. It’s colorful, flavorful, and the perfect way to enjoy a light yet satisfying meal. Every bite bursts with freshness and creamy goodness.
What makes this Pasta Primavera so special is how simple and wholesome it is. The combination of tender veggies and creamy sauce creates a comforting dish your whole family will love — and it’s a delicious way to get everyone to eat more veggies!
Prep Time
25 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes
Ingredients
Sauce:
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1 ¼ cups chicken broth
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1 ¼ cups half and half
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½ chicken bouillon cube
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1 teaspoon soy sauce
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1 teaspoon hot sauce
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¾ teaspoons EACH: dried parsley, basil, oregano, mustard powder
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1 pinch red pepper flakes
Vegetables and Pasta:
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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2 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
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½ cup carrots, julienned
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½ cup red onion, sliced
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1 cup red bell pepper, sliced
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½ zucchini, cut into chunks (equal to 1 ½ cups)
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½ cup frozen peas
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1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
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salt/pepper, to taste
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3 tablespoons butter
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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3 tablespoons flour
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1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
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½ lb. ziti
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2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
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Notes
Pro Tips:
- This recipe makes a lot of sauce, which is great for coating all of those vegetables as well. Feel free to use up to ¾ lb. pasta instead of ½ if preferred.
- This recipe uses 7 cups of vegetables, feel free to utilize whatever veggies you have on hand.
- Other vegetable options include: Squash, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Mushrooms, Spinach, Eggplant, Green Beans, and Corn.
- Pasta options include: Penne, Ziti, Farfalle, and Fusilli.
- Vegetable broth can be used instead of chicken broth to make this vegetarian.
- Grate the cheese from a block for the best consistency and taste. Packaged grated cheese contains cellulose, which prevents it from melting as well. I use Belgioioso Parmesan.
- Be sure to add the cheese and lemon juice over low heat. If the heat is too high, the dairy can separate and create a grainy consistency.
- The hot sauce in this recipe is a flavor enhancer that doesn't make it spicy. I use Frank's Hot Sauce.
Storage:
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave (I use "melt" mode which is lower power), or in a makeshift double boiler on the stovetop, which is an even better way to reheat.
- Cream sauces don't always reheat quite back to their original consistency, but this one comes close.
Let us know if you liked this recipe. Try the other recipe categories as well!
