In this post: Easy sauteed pasta with vegetables tastes like a restaurant meal without the big bill! Plus it’s super easy to make, even on a weeknight!
When I was in college, there was a great pasta bar in the cafeteria with an assortment of vegetables and noodles. And at the end of the long tables, there were servers with saute pans ready to cook up the pasta and veggies for you. You and I likely don’t have bowls of already chopped veggies – or servers to cook them up for us! But we can make this delicious vegan pasta primavera recipe instead.
Table of Contents
What is Pasta Primavera?
Pasta primavera is simply sauteed pasta and plenty of vegetables. The pasta and veggies are often sauteed in either a creamy sauce or plain oil. The recipe can be very different depending on who’s cooking and what veggies, pasta, and sauces they use! The great thing about this homemade recipe is it gives you the chance to design your own dream pasta primavera.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This vegan pasta primavera recipe:
- is quick and easy to make
- doesn’t require fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients
- is adaptable to any dietary restrictions or allergies
Vegan Pasta Primavera Ingredients
- Pasta: I like to use gluten-free pasta but you can use any pasta you want!
- Vegetables of choice: choose whatever sounds good (ideas below).
- Olive oil: you can use almost any vegetable oil, but olive oil works best with this recipe.
- Sea salt: classic spices for pasta primavera include salt, pepper, and basil.
Ingredient Variations
- Pasta: you can use rice, wheat, corn, quinoa, chickpea, or any other pasta you have on hand!
- Vegetables: ideas include spinach, mushrooms, yellow bell pepper, frozen peas, asparagus, carrots, red onion, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and summer squash.
- Oil: olive oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, safflower oil, and canola oil are all great options.
- Spices: black pepper, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, chives, oregano, fresh basil, and fresh parsley are just some ideas to choose from!
How to Make Pasta Primavera Step-By-Step
- Boil water in a large pot. Cook pasta according to the package instructions.
- Heat the oil up in a large skillet/saute pan on medium heat.
- Saute vegetables until somewhat soft. Start with the onions and then harder veggies (like carrots, zucchini, broccoli, etc.). Finish off with soft veggies like tomatoes and spinach.
- Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pan with the veggies. Saute for a few minutes.
- Serve warm!
What to Eat Pasta Primavera With
On its own, this vegan pasta primavera is a nutritionally balanced meal with great flavor! But if you want, you can pair it with side dishes like:
- crunchy broccoli salad
- rolls
- air fryer broccoli or cauliflower
- dairy-free caesar salad
Meal Prep and Storage
This pasta dish is perfect for meal prep! All you have to do is make the recipe and store it. You can keep the leftovers in the fridge for 5 days and in the freezer for much longer! Not to mention this recipe is great reheated and cold.
FAQs
Can I use other vegetables?
Use whatever vegetables you like! The best thing about this recipe is that you can change whatever you want (veggies, spices, pasta, etc.) to fit your preferences better.
What’s the best type of pasta to use?
I love to use rice pasta because it’s a great gluten-free option for my family! However, you can use whatever pasta you like or have on hand; wheat, corn, quinoa, chickpea, etc.
How long will this pasta primavera keep?
This pasta primavera will last about 5 days in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer – perfect for meal prep!
Can I add chicken or shrimp to this recipe?
For sure! Adding chicken or shrimp is a great way to add extra protein to your diet. Sauteed shrimp and grilled or roasted chicken would taste SO good in this recipe!
What is the primavera sauce made of?
Traditionally primavera sauce is made with cheese, cream, broth, and spices (pepper, basil, etc.). This recipe is less creamy because I used oil instead of cream and cheese, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add those things if you want creamy pasta!
What wine pairs with vegan pasta primavera?
Vegan pasta primavera pairs especially great with sparkling wine and light white wines like Pinot Grigio, Riesling, and Arneis.
Could I use frozen vegetables in pasta primavera?
Yes, you can use frozen veggies in this dish! Just keep in mind they may turn out a touch mushier than fresh veggies would.
More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
Vegan Pasta Primavera
Easy pasta primavera that tastes like a restaurant meal without the big bill!
Ingredients
- 455 g package of rice pasta
- 1-3 cups vegetables of choice
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Boil water in a large pot. Cook pasta according to the package instructions.
- Heat the oil up in a large skillet/saute pan on medium heat.
- Saute vegetables until somewhat soft. Start with the onions and then harder veggies (like carrots, zucchini, broccoli, etc.). Finish off with soft veggies like tomatoes and spinach.
- Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pan with the veggies. Saute for a few minutes.
- Serve warm!
Notes
- Veggie ideas: spinach, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, or zucchini.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 305Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 198mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 8gSugar: 4gProtein: 8g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily via Nutrifox.
What other veggies would you include? Do you cook with canned food?
