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You are here: Home / Pasta / Easy Summer Zucchini Pasta

Easy Summer Zucchini Pasta

August 1, 2018 By Spices in My DNA 19 Comments

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This Easy Summer Zucchini Pasta is one of my go-to’s for a simple summer meal, or a busy weeknight! It’s filled with so much flavor, and only requires 7 ingredients! Thinly sliced garlic, good quality olive oil, pasta, zucchini, yellow squash, parmesan, and fresh basil are all you need!

Overhead shot of a bowl of bow tie pasta with zucchini, summer squash, basil, and parmesan, with a gold fork resting in the bowl

This incredibly easy pasta dish is all I want to eat right now! I’m almost slightly embarrassed to be sharing it because it’s SO EASY. But incredibly delicious too. Don’t you love when that happens?!

Overhead shot of a bowl of diced zucchini and yellow squash with bow tie pasta scattered in the bottom right, parmesan and a grater in the top left, and a small white bowl of sliced garlic in the top right

It’s only 7 ingredients, and those 7 simple ingredients are seriously magical together. It’s such a no-brainer, and I’ve been eating this combination for years and years. When I made it recently, I knew I had to share it on the blog!

Overhead close up shot of a bowl of pasta with zucchini, summer squash, basil, parmesan, and a gold fork sticking out of the bowl

All you need is your favorite pasta (I love bowties!), good quality extra virgin olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper, zucchini and/or yellow squash, parm cheese, and fresh basil. And salt and pepper but those don’t count!

Magic I tell ya.

Overhead shot of a pot filled with bow tie pasta with zucchini, summer squash, and basil with a wooden spoon in the pot

Easy pasta dishes like these are what I grew up on. My dad is Italian and he passed the pasta loving gene onto me, and when I say I ate it every day growing up, I ate it every day. Sometimes just for a snack, sometimes for lunch, and sometimes for dinner.

There was never a time where I didn’t want to consume pasta in mass quantities.

And not much has changed as an adult! These days I try not to eat it quiiiite as often, because I’d be in a carb coma every day, but when I do, I like to pack it with tons of veggies.

Close up shot of a bowl of bow tie pasta with zucchini, yellow squash, basil, and parmesan

This dish is absolutely perfect for using up all of your extra zucchini from the garden, or for when you’ve made too many zucchini baked goods in the past few weeks (that would be me), and you just want a big ‘ol bowl of pasta (also me).

Overhead shot of a bowl of bow tie pasta with zucchini, summer squash, basil, and parmesan, with a gold fork resting in the bowl

What MAKES this pasta for me is the thinly sliced garlic that cooks in the olive oil just barely. The garlic oil infuses into the squash and pasta, and it’s amazing and everything I want in a bowl of carbs. Loads and loads of garlic!

The parm and fresh basil are also highlights, and the crushed red pepper gives it a little kick! Which is totally optional, but delicious with the sweetness of the squash and the basil.

Overhead close up shot of a bowl of bow tie pasta with zucchini, yellow squash, basil, and parmesan

Craving this for dinner tonight!

5 from 2 votes
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This Easy Summer Zucchini Pasta

This Easy Summer Zucchini Pasta is one of my go-to's for a simple summer meal, or a busy weeknight! It's filled with so much flavor, and only requires 7 ingredients! Thinly sliced garlic, good quality olive oil, pasta, zucchini, yellow squash, parmesan, and fresh basil are all you need!

Course Main Course, Pasta, Side Dish
Cuisine Easy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Author Molly | Spices in my DNA

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of your favorite short-cut pasta (I used farfalle/bowties)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 6 cups diced zucchini and/or yellow squash*
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus extra for serving

Instructions

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Generously salt the water. (It gives your pasta a ton of flavor!) 

  2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until fragrant. (You don't want the garlic to brown at all). Add the zucchini and squash and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Season with salt and pepper. (Cook pasta until al dente if you haven't done so at this point).

  3. Once pasta is cooked, drain thoroughly and add back into the pot. Add the zucchini mixture to the pasta and toss until coated. Add the parmesan and toss, as well as the chopped basil. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Serve with extra parmesan and fresh basil!

Recipe Notes

*I used half zucchini and half yellow squash, but you can use all of one or the other!

Overhead shot of a bowl of pasta with zucchini, summer squash, basil, parmesan, and a gold fork sticking out of the bowl

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Filed Under: Pasta Tagged With: 20 minute meal, 7 ingredient, dinner, easy, pasta, summer recipe, yellow squash, zucchini

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karly

    August 1, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    Delish! I want this right know! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      August 1, 2018 at 4:22 pm

      Thanks Karly! It’s so delicious and simple!

      Reply
  2. Kristina

    August 28, 2018 at 10:06 pm

    5 stars
    I made this the other night it was delish I added onions and peppers
    used only yellow squash. next time I will use both kinds.

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      August 29, 2018 at 10:06 am

      Ooh yum I bet it was amazing with peppers and onions!! Thanks so much Kristina!!

      Reply
  3. Allison

    March 25, 2019 at 10:03 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight. It was delicious! My toddler loves it too. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      March 26, 2019 at 10:16 am

      Thank you so much Allison!! So happy to hear that!

      Reply
  4. Donna

    July 14, 2019 at 3:15 pm

    I’m assuming you always serve this as a hot dish? Ever tried it chilled?

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      July 15, 2019 at 12:09 pm

      I always serve it hot, but I’m sure it would be delicious cold, too. Let me know if you try it!!

      Reply
    • S

      May 9, 2022 at 5:48 pm

      Very good cold!!

      Reply
  5. Christine Canella

    July 15, 2019 at 8:17 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight & had some very hungry family stop by unexpectedly. The daughter & grandson who are Sicilian (part) raved about it & consumed it all. Daughter is getting an exchange student in a couple of weeks & she wants this again & again!

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      July 16, 2019 at 12:31 pm

      Yay! This makes me so happy. Thank you so much Christine!!

      Reply
  6. Christine

    July 15, 2019 at 8:20 pm

    5 stars
    Loved it! Will make it again & again 😋😋😋

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      July 16, 2019 at 12:31 pm

      I’m so happy to hear that!! Thanks Christine!!

      Reply
  7. Heather

    August 16, 2020 at 8:10 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious and so easy! Love this recipe!

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      August 29, 2020 at 8:55 am

      Thank you so much Heather!! I’m so happy you love it!

      Reply
  8. Linda

    June 7, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    5 stars
    So good and so easy! I added chopped chicken and squeeze of lemon. Will be a lunch staple!

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      June 20, 2021 at 1:04 pm

      Thank you so much Linda! Love the addition of chicken and lemon!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 30 Tasty and Easy Yellow Squash Noodle Recipes - Lifesoever says:
    July 23, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    […] Summer Zucchini Pasta by Molly | Spices in My DNA […]

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  2. 32 Best Summer Pasta Recipes To Savor In Your Garden 2022 says:
    July 9, 2022 at 4:45 am

    […] 3. Summer Zucchini Pasta […]

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Welcome! I'm so happy you're here. This is the space where I share healthy recipes with a sprinkle of indulgence mixed in! I’m wildly passionate about food, and I grew up in a family of foodies. I was surrounded by it from an early age and immediately fell in love. I love to share super flavorful, unique, and healthy recipes, as well as indulgent, comforting meals we all need from time to time!

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