Homemade Penne Pesto Primavera is the most delicious and the easiest Italian pasta recipe! This pesto pasta dish is full of flavors, filling and satisfying, and sure to become a family favorite.
Al dente pasta, delightful pesto sauce and nutrients rich vegetables is all you need to make this restaurant quality pasta dinner at home. And it is fast and easy !
As rich and divine this pasta looks, all it needs is simple ingredients and easy cooking technique to bring it to table.
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Pasta is my all time favorite comfort food. Some days you need a simple meal that soothes and satisfies. This 20 minutes Vegetable Pasta fits that motto perfectly.
This recipe is one of our favorite pasta dishes for those days when deciding what’s for dinner is a dilemma. The whole family loves pasta and the pesto sauce. So cooking this dish makes everyone happy.
Penne Pesto Primavera is the ultimate comfort meal. You can make this incredible delicious pasta recipe in under 30 minutes.
This pesto pasta recipe is kids approved and makes budget friendly restaurant quality meal at home. Vegan and gluten free weeknight pasta dinner made easy.
Noodles and Things Copycat
Pesto Cavatappi and Penne Rosa are our favorites to order at Noodles and Things. This recipe makes copycat version just with different types of pasta.
You will love how easy it is to make this recipe to your liking. You can change the shape of pasta. Veggies can be changed as well to your liking.
What makes this recipe work?
- Easy to make.
- Short ingredients list.
- Easy ingredients that you can find in any pantry.
- Versatile and easy to customize
- Suitable for vegan, gluten free, soy free and dairy free
Make it your Liking
Shape of pasta – any type and shape of pasta works including spaghetti, fettuccine, rigatoni, or any other you like. Ravioli or gnocchi also works.
Pasta Sauce – We love pesto but if you prefer you can change it up to any other pasta sauces like alfredo, marinara, arabiata or al vodka.
Veggies – I am using easy to find veggies like mushrooms and broccoli to bulk it up and amp the health quotient. You can choose any vegetables you have in hand or like. Zucchini, red peppers, green beans, potatoes, cauliflower are all great options.
Adding protein – You can add a can of garbanzo beans to make a filling plant based protein rich meal. Similarly, for meat eaters, any grilled meat will be a good addition.
What is Primavera?
Primavera means Spring. So the food that is light and fresh is classified as Primavera. Typically Primavera is sautéed seasonal vegetables. They are paired with different pasta dishes.
Pasta Primavera thus uses seasonal produce. It can be any vegetables that are in season. Often these veggies are cooked along with pasta to make them tender or you can do a simple sauté or quick stir fry and mix it along with the sauce separately.
Can I double this recipe?
Besides weeknight dinners, this carbo-licious Penne Pesto Primavera pasta recipe is perfect for special occasions or just for when company comes over. Afterall, who doesn’t like pasta, right?
With the amount of ingredients listed below, this recipe makes 6 generous servings.
You can however easily double or triple the amount to serve larger group. It stores well as well.
Inexpensive / Budget Friendly Pasta Dinner
Since pasta is really inexpensive food, you can feed a large crowd or hungry team without breaking your bank. We love budget friendly, healthy filling meals and this one is a star amongst them !
How to Make Pesto Sauce At Home:
Making pesto sauce at home is very easy. We love this Pesto recipe without pine nuts .
Towards the end of summer season, there is usually an abundant supply of basil from the garden. I often make big batch of pesto and freeze them in ice cube sizes.
That makes it easy to defrost in each serving portion . They almost last till next season and taste amazing.
Serving Suggestions
This is a recipe you can serve hot or cold. A great side-dish or can be a full meal. My kids love this when I pack it for school lunch in warm thermos . It’s always a hit in any potluck style gatherings too.
Pair it with warm crusty bread or garlic toast along with a cup of Creamy Tomato Soup or Curried Butternut Squash Soup for a classic café style meal. You can also have a simple salad to add a pop of freshness.
Ingredients:
Exact ingredients and measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here is what you need
Pasta – I am using gluten free penne. You can use any variety of pasta
Pesto Sauce – Make it homemade or use store brought
Vegetables – Mushrooms for that perfect meaty umami, broccoli florets and baby spinach for superfood quality nutrients and freshness. Feel free to swap for your favorites.
Garnishes : Fresh chopped basil, salt , ground black pepper and red chili flakes.
My Top Picks of ingredients to make this Penne Pesto Primavera ( Amazon Affiliate Links not sponsored)
Gluten free Pasta : I like Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Penne the most. Barilla Gluten Free Pasta is also a great Choice.
Pesto Sauce : I am sharing how to make pesto sauce at home. However premade store bought pesto also works. Rao’s Pesto Sauce and Delallo Pesto for classic Italian taste. For vegan pesto, I love Mantova Basil Pesto and ROI Vegan Pesto.
How To Make :
- The Primavera vegetables: Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a Sauté Pan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms. Sprinkle some salt. Sauté and cook till they start to release the water. (2-4 minutes )
Add the broccoli and minced garlic; cover and cook for another 3-4 minutes until broccoli is tender. Add baby spinach and mix it well. Spinach wilts quickly. Turn off the heat and remove the vegetables from the skillet and set aside. - To Make Pasta : Make the pasta according to the package directions and cooking time. In the boiling water, I add tablespoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of salt so pasta gets the taste and doesn’t stick together.
Reserve ½ cup of cooked water and drain the pasta completely in the colander. Rinse it with cold water to prevent it from further cooking. Let water drain out completely. - Bring it All Together : Add drained pasta in the pasta bowl. Mix it with the pesto sauce . Add the cooked vegetables along with the fresh basil; stir and toss well to combine. If the pasta looks too dry, splash in a small amount of reserved cooking water.
Serve it in bowls. Sprinkle with extra basil, and serve with grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast and freshly ground black pepper and chili flakes. Bon Appetit!
Check these meatless pasta recipes that work great as main dishes or as side dishes. Let us know when you make them !
- Lemon Basil Pasta
- Creamy Mushroom Pasta
- Makhani Masala Pasta
- Blushing Beets Pesto Pasta
- Gnocchi Sheet Pan Dinner
- Greek Fresh Pasta Salad
- Easy Stuffed Pasta Shells
- Italian Summer Pasta Salad
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Penne Pesto Primavera
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Pasta – I used gluten free penne
- 4 Tablespoons Pesto sauce
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3-4 cloves Garlic Minced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup mushrooms cleaned and quartered
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ¼ cup Fresh basil leaves for garnish optional
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt & ground Black Pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon Red chilli flakes for extra spice boost optional
- ¼ cups finely grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
Instructions
Make the vegetables
- Heat olive oil in a Sauté Pan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms. Sprinkle some salt. Sauté and cook till they start to release the water. (2-4 minutes )
- Add the broccoli and minced garlic; cover and cook for another 3-4 minutes until broccoli is tender. Add baby spinach and mix it well. Spinach wilts quickly. Turn off the heat and remove the vegetables from the skillet and set aside.
To Make Pasta
- Make the pasta according to the package directions and cooking time. In the boiling water, I add tablespoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of salt so pasta gets the taste and doesn't stick together.
- Reserve ½ cup of cooked water and drain the pasta completely in the colander. Rinse it with cold water to prevent it from further cooking. Let water drain out completely.
Mix It All Up
- Add drained pasta in the pasta bowl. Mix it with the pesto sauce . Add the cooked vegetables along with the fresh basil; stir and toss well to combine. If the sauce needs a little more liquid, splash in a small amount of reserved cooking water.
- Serve it in bowls. Sprinkle with extra basil, and serve with grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast and freshly ground black pepper and chili flakes. Bon Appetit!
Instant Pot Instructions
- Start the Instant Pot on SAUTE mode and add the oil. Once oil is heated, add mushrooms, broccoli and garlic. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and let them cook until mushrooms start to release the water. (3-5 minutes)
- Once mushrooms have browned, add baby spinach and mix well. Cancel SAUTE. Remove cookedvegetables and set them aside.
- Add water and deglaze the pot by scrapping the bits stuck at the bottom. Make sure nothing is stuck at the base. Add pasta, enough
water to cover the pasta (about 2 cups..do NOT push the pasta down under water) - Add some salt and remaining olive oil. Close the lid. Valve at SEALING.
- Check the cooking time mentioned on the pasta box. Now press MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK and choose half of the cooking time suggested on the box. (usually 4-5 minutes)
- Once Instant Pot finishes cooking and goes to KEEP WARM timer, wait for 5 minutes and then release the leftover pressure by moving the valve from SEALING to VENTING. After the silver pin drops, open the lid.
- Stir in sautéed vegetables and pesto sauce. Add salt and pepper. Gently mix everything well together. Garnish with fresh chopped basil, red chili flakes and black pepper and nutritional yeast (or parmesan if using) and serve. Bon Appetit !
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in July , 2018. It has been modified on February 2021 with process shot, ingredients and other photos as well as Instant Pot cooking instructions.
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