Simple, fresh ingredients make this Summer Pasta Recipe an easy favorite for family dinners.
Believe it or not, you don’t need a ton of time in the kitchen to throw together a delicious pasta dinner for the family. With just a few fresh ingredients, you can create a dish that feels both light and indulgent, perfect for those long, lazy days when you’d rather be outside enjoying the sunshine than chained to the kitchen. This summer pasta is one of those recipes that comes together in no time, but tastes like you’ve put in way more effort.
One of the best things about this dish is how it brings back memories of summers spent at my grandmother’s house. She had a knack for making even the simplest dinners feel so special. Especially in the summertime – these meals felt so relaxed and laid back, but always with full plates and full hearts. After a day of swimming and running around the yard, we’d gather at her kitchen table. We were sun-kissed and starving, ready to devour whatever she had whipped up. It was usually something simple like this, a dish made with fresh ingredients from her garden and effortlessly tossed together. The smell of garlic and olive oil still brings me back to those days as a kid, when I knew delicious food and fun times around the table were the only items on the day’s agenda.
The perfectly cooked al dente pasta, tossed in a simple sauce of fresh ingredients, brings that same kind of easy charm to this dish. With juicy cherry tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a touch of heat from red pepper flakes, each bite is a burst of bright, summery flavor. Toss it all together in a light coating of olive oil and Parmesan, and you’ve got the kind of meal you’ll want to make all season long. Pair it with a glass of chilled white wine and a seat on the patio, and you’ve got yourself the perfect summer evening.
Fresh Ingredients Are The Foundation
What I love most about this recipe is how versatile it is. You can throw in some freshly grilled chicken or shrimp if you’re craving something heartier, or add a handful of arugula or baby spinach for an extra pop of greens. But in all honesty, the beauty of this pasta dish is in its simplicity. It is quick, delicious, and makes the most of fresh summer ingredients when they’re at their peak. It can be served warm for dinner, or even enjoyed chilled as a pasta salad the next day. No matter how you decide to serve it, it’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- 8 oz linguine pasta
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
How to Make Summer Pasta
Step 1: Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain.
Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with tomatoes. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to create a light sauce. Stir in basil and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
FAQs & Tips
How Should I Store Leftovers?
This pasta dish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days. You can enjoy it chilled straight from the fridge, but it can be reheated if you prefer. To reheat, add the pasta to a microwave-safe dish, adding a splash of water or broth and heating until it’s warmed through. You can also reheat in a nonstick skillet, being sure again to add some water or broth to reconstitute the sauce.
Can I Add Protein To This Dish?
Absolutely! Tossing in slices of grilled chicken or Sautéed Shrimp would be a great way to add protein to this dish. You can also serve this pasta as a side dish to complement a main entree, like an easy Baked Salmon.
Can This Dish Be Made Gluten-Free?
It sure can! Just swap out the pasta for your favorite gluten-free brand, and you’ll still be able to enjoy the deliciously fresh sauce it’s tossed in.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many pasta options to add to your summertime menu, this dish is really just the beginning. If you’re looking for other recipes that spotlight fresh ingredients and full flavor, then consider trying this Lemon Pasta Salad, a Caprese Pasta Salad, or another summertime classic: Pesto Pasta Salad.
You can round out your pasta dish with some greens, like this delicious Arugula Caprese Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing that everyone will be sure to love. Or you can start the meal with a fun appetizer, like these easy Antipasto Skewers. And why not finish it all off with another easy summertime dessert, like No-Bake Strawberries and Custard Cream or Poached Peaches with Raspberries? Honestly, my mouth is watering just thinking about this summertime dinner spread that you and your family will reminisce on for years to come!
Summer Pasta Recipe
Ingredients Â
- 8 oz linguine pasta
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves chopped
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
InstructionsÂ
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with tomatoes. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to create a light sauce. Stir in basil and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
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