21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (2024)

Pasta dishes are an excellent way to showcase seasonal produce; in the springtime, this means asparagus, ramps, peas, artichokes, and more bright, fresh flavors. Of course, pasta primavera is the quintessential spring pasta permutation, and we've included recipes here for both classic and vegan versions. We've also got a seasonal twist on mac and cheese with leeks, mushroom ragù with dandelion greens, and sweet, velvety carrot ravioli. Read on for these and even more pasta recipes we're excited to make this spring.

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Spaghetti with Ramps, Chiles, and Two Cheeses

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (1)

Ramps, the ephemeral wild onions that chefs love and which appear only in the spring, give this pasta a lovely garlic flavor. When ramps aren't in season, chef Justin Smillie uses elephant garlic — the bulb, stem, and flowers. Scallions also make a good substitute.

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02of 21

Woven Lasagna with Prosciutto and Fresh Spinach Sauce

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (2)

Weaving the pasta sheets in this lasagna allows the outer pieces to bubble and crisp in the oven around the creamy, rustic prosciutto-ricotta filling. Don’t skip the fresh pasta sheets; their length and texture are key to successfully assembling the dish. Once the lasagna has chilled, it takes mere minutes to heat and serve this stunning, cover-worthy recipe, making it ideal for a dinner party.

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03of 21

Kale-Artichoke Stuffed Shells

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (3)

Cannellini beans add hearty creaminess to these stuffed shells, while mild heat from Calabrian chiles and earthy sweetness from fennel seeds amp up store-bought marinara sauce. We use jarred artichoke hearts here, which are available year-round, but their flavor brings a special springtime appeal to the dish.

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04of 21

Garganelli with Speck, Peas, and Scallion Cream

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (4)

Sweet spring peas and garlicky sauce flood tubular garganelli pasta in this recipe, making each bite a surprise. Substitute penne if you can't find garganelli, and don't skip the lemon and mint at the end, which bring balance to the dish.

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05of 21

Bucatini with Mushroom Ragù, Dandelion Greens, and Tarragon

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (5)

This meatless ragù gets rich flavor from dried morel mushrooms for a first-course pasta that's hearty without being filling. Save time by chopping the vegetables in a food processor; take care to not puree them.

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06of 21

Pasta Primavera

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (6)

This Pasta Primavera is buttery and rich but still feels light from the lemon zest and fresh herbs — it’s the perfect dish to make after a visit to your local farmers market. The colorful play of spring vegetables makes it as pleasing to the eyes as it is to your palate; if you’re lucky enough to find beautiful red or purple carrots, add them after cooking to keep from giving your pasta dish a blushing hue.

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07of 21

Herbed Fazzoletti with Asparagus and Burrata

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (7)

Parsley, chives, tarragon, and chervil are pureed and tossed with pasta, asparagus, cheese, and pine nuts for this elegant dish. It pairs wonderfully with a cold glass of white wine, such as steely Italian Pinot Grigio.

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08of 21

Mafaldine with Pea Shoot—Meyer Lemon Pesto

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (8)

Fresh pea shoots, parsley, and dill make a verdant pesto balanced with salty ricotta salata cheese and nutty roasted sunflower seed kernels. The bright sauce clings beautifully to ruffled mafaldine pasta, but any textured pasta shape will work well.

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One-Pot White Wine Pasta with Mushrooms and Leeks

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (9)

This creamy, savory one-pot pasta dish comes together without the need to boil the pasta separately. Savory sautéed mushrooms and gently sweet leeks combine with cream, lemon juice, and white wine to create a rich sauce. Feel free to switch up the flavor by adding tarragon instead of dill.

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10of 21

Creamy Vegan Pasta Primavera

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (10)

A few smart swaps transform your favorite creamy spring pasta into a vegan-friendly sensation. Umami-rich nutritional yeast shoulders the duties of Parmesan, while buttery macadamia nut milk stands in for heavy cream.

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Creamy Spaghetti Carbonara with Peas and Ham

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (11)

This modern take on a classic Italian pasta dish relies on ham instead of traditional pancetta for a dose of smoky flavor and richness. Perfecting a luscious carbonara depends on treating the eggs just right. First, be sure to toss the cooked pasta with the sauce off the heat so that the eggs will cook evenly once they return to the heat. Second, since the sauce will continue to cook after it leaves the skillet, pull the carbonara off the heat a little sooner than you think you should so it’ll hit the table saucy and creamy.

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12of 21

Thin Spaghetti with Crab and Asparagus

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (12)

At Josephine Estelle in New Orleans, chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman serve this sublime, buttery crab pasta with homemade tajarin, a ribbon-type noodle. Thin spaghetti works nicely, too.

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Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (13)

Pasta salad reaches a new level with sweet grilled corn, zucchini, and a creamy lime dressing spiked with chile powder. Fresh cilantro adds brightness, then the whole salad gets topped with tangy slivers of fresh goat cheese.

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Penne with Asparagus, Peas, Mushrooms, and Cream

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (14)

This simple vegetarian pasta combines the flavors of spring — mushrooms, peas, and asparagus — in a creamy, luscious sauce.

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Spicy Sausage Pasta with Tomatoes and Squash

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (15)

Most fresh tomatoes are lacking in the spring, but cherry tomatoes are consistently delicious all year, making this recipe a great choice if you're craving something tomato-y before summer's bounty. Added just minutes before serving, thinly sliced squash melts into the pasta without losing its shape and texture. Use a mandoline to achieve wafer-thin slices.

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Leek Mac and Cheese

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (16)

Cooks usually reserve dark, tough leek greens for stock. Here, we sauté them until they're soft and supple, then fold them into a luscious macaroni and cheese made with nutty Manchego.

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Carrot-Potato Gnocchi

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (17)

American chefs are busy riffing on this Italian classic. Here, former F&W editor Grace Parisi shares her own tasty variation on the traditional potato gnocchi. Serve it with Brown Butter and Sage or a creamy white sauce.

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Carrot and Ricotta Ravioli

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (18)

We love this sweet and creamy filling in our Easy Ravioli recipe.

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Rigatoni with Asparagus-Pistachio Pesto

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (19)

This light and flavorful pasta from chef Andrew Zimmern is a F&W favorite, especially when topped with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

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Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables, Parsley, and Feta

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (20)

This pasta salad comes together in 25 minutes showcasing fresh spring asparagus with zucchini and eggplant.

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus

21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (21)

Ready to go at a moment's notice, this asparagus-embellished classic is not only creamy, quick, and delicious, but it dirties only one pot.

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21 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make homemade pasta taste better? ›

Salt your cooking water generously to amplify your pasta's flavor, especially if your dough recipe doesn't call for salt. Serve it immediately.

What can I add to pasta to make it better? ›

1–6. Veggies
  1. Broccoli. Broccoli is a nutritious and versatile vegetable that makes a great addition to any pasta dish. ...
  2. Mushrooms. Mushrooms can bring a creamy taste and texture to pasta dishes, along with a host of health benefits. ...
  3. Peas. ...
  4. Spinach. ...
  5. Tomatoes. ...
  6. Asparagus.
Apr 11, 2022

What is the secret of making pasta? ›

Shilpa explains that making fresh pasta all comes down to knowing one ratio of flour to water, specifically two parts flour to one part water by weight. For you bread heads out there, yes, that means 50% hydration, or 100 grams of flour to 50 grams of water.

What can I put on pasta without sauce? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

What is the best flour for pasta? ›

Pasta dough also needs some plasticity for it to be moulded into all of those wonderful shapes. All-purpose flour does what it says on the tin, so it's perfectly fine to use for making pasta. However, most pasta recipes will recommend either semola or “00” flour.

What gives pasta more flavor? ›

Fresh basil is the natural choice with simple pasta sauces like marinara, but parsley, cilantro, and even mint can also give pasta dishes a burst of fragrant flavor when they're sprinkled on just before serving.

What not to do when making pasta? ›

Cooking pasta: 5 mistakes
  1. Toss the pasta when the water is cold. This is probably the most common and also the most serious mistake you can make in cooking pasta. ...
  2. Using the wrong measure of salt. ...
  3. Cooking pasta in a small pot. ...
  4. Overcooking the pasta. ...
  5. Drain the pasta too much.
Sep 14, 2023

How to make pasta sauce taste amazing? ›

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

What is the golden rule for pasta? ›

To be sure that your pasta is cooked correctly, it is enough to follow a few, simple rules. To begin with, you should keep in mind the right quantities. In Italy, the golden rule for cooking pasta is 1, 10, 100 or 1 liter of water, 10 grams of salt for every 100 grams of pasta.

What 3 basic ingredients are used in the production of pasta? ›

Pasta products contain milled wheat, water, and occasionally eggs and/or optional ingredients. Pasta manufacturers typically use milled durum wheat (semolina, durum granulars, and durum flour) in pasta production, although farina and flour from common wheat are occasionally used.

What can I put on pasta instead of tomato sauce? ›

Some options include:
  • **Pesto Sauce:** A flavorful blend of basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
  • **Alfredo Sauce:** A creamy sauce made with butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese.
  • **Olive Oil and Garlic Sauce:** Sauté garlic in olive oil for a simple, aromatic alternative.
Jan 26, 2023

What can I add to plain pasta? ›

Pasta dish ideas including Lemon, Basil and Mascarpone, Quick Chicken Alfredo, White Wine, Mushroom and Cream, White Bean Sauce, Bacon and Scallions, Tuna and Capers, Lemon Artichoke Pesto, Smoked Salmon And Capers, and Caprese.

What can I use instead of tomatoes in pasta? ›

What can I substitute for tomato sauce?
  1. Tomato paste. “I think of tomato paste as the garlic powder equivalent to fresh garlic,” Xie said, noting that it's highly concentrated and very dehydrated. ...
  2. Canned tomatoes. ...
  3. Tomato soup. ...
  4. Ketchup. ...
  5. Fresh tomato. ...
  6. Sun-dried tomatoes.
Mar 24, 2022

How do you add flavor to bland pasta? ›

How To Make Bland Pasta Better
  1. Add salt. Well, duh. ...
  2. Grate lots of Parmesan or Pecorino into a bowl. I say into a bowl because if you do it directly over the pasta, it'll quickly melt and you'll forget how much you added. ...
  3. Grind some pepper over it.
  4. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes over it.
  5. Give it a drizzle of olive oil.
Jul 23, 2007

How do you flavor bland pasta? ›

Herbs and Spices: Add a variety of herbs and spices to enhance flavor. Common choices include basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. Fresh herbs can bring a burst of freshness to the sauce. Tomato Paste: Stir in a tablespoon or two of tomato.

Does making your own pasta taste better? ›

Fresh pasta is said to have better taste and better texture. In our opinion, the labor and time it takes to make fresh pasta is a fair trade for the perfect Italian dish.

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