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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Summer Recipes

    Easy Summer Pasta (use up those garden veggies!)

    Updated: Aug 27, 2024 ยท Published: Aug 11, 2022 by Sam Merritt ยท 24 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    collage of easy summer pasta, top image is a close up of pasta in metal pan, bottom image same, photographed further away

    This Summer Pasta with basil and cherry tomatoes is bursting with fresh-from-the-garden flavor! It’s a quick and easy dinner that’s light, but still satisfying. Recipe includes a how-to video!

    summer pasta with fresh cherry tomatoes and basil served in a stainless steel skillet

    An Effortless Summer Dinner

    Looking for a way to use up garden veggies? I have the tastiest solution for you! This recipe is super easy and *perfect* for using up fresh produce (especially cherry tomatoes!). It comes together quickly on the stove and is ideal for hot summer nights when you’re craving pasta but don’t want to feel weighed down after eating.

    You’ll love how the cherry tomato sauce has a light texture and bright flavor. It’s not at all like a heavy marinara sauce; instead, it’s a thin and sheer olive oil-based sauce that’s extremely fresh and bursting with Italian-inspired ingredients. Serve it up with some crusty bread, bruschetta, or breadsticks and a salad for a vibrant and satisfying summer dinner!

    You’ll love this summer pasta because it’s:

    • Filling, but not heavy or rich.
    • Great for using up summer garden veggies like cherry tomatoes, sweet onions, and basil!
    • Quick; it comes together in under an hour.
    • Easily customized for any diet; top with your choice of meat, use a gluten-free pasta, substitute vegan cheese, etc.

    What You Need

    overhead view of ingredients including linguine pasta, cherry tomatoes, basil, and more

    This summer pasta is so simple, yet the flavors are incredibly vibrant. Here are the key ingredients:

    • Cherry tomatoes. If you have tomatoes growing in your own garden or can find some locally at a farmer’s market–use them! These will have the best flavor compared to grocery store tomatoes. Other varieties will work, but cherry tomatoes are really the best choice for their thin skin and sweet, juicy interiors.
    • Fresh basil. Fresh basil adds a slightly sweet and peppery flavor. It’s an absolute must for this dish and helps to make it a true summer pasta!
    • Extra virgin olive oil. I really recommend splurging for extra virgin olive oil for this recipe; it adds a beautiful depth of flavor to the pasta.
    • Sugar. I like to add a pinch (ok more than a pinch) of sugar to neutralize any acidity from the tomatoes and enhance the flavors of the dish even more. You can always leave it out though!

    SAM’S TIP: Remember to save your pasta water! The starches from the pasta tie everything together to create a silky, light sauce. Plain water just won’t work the same.

    Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

    How to Make Easy Summer Pasta

    collage of two photos showing pasta being cooked and pasta water being reserved for later use
    1. Cook your pasta according to package directions.
    2. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta and setting it aside.
    collage of four photos showing onions and garlic being cooked with cherry tomatoes and basil
    1. Cook the chopped onion in olive oil until it softens.
    2. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
    3. Add the tomatoes, sugar, and spices and cook until the tomatoes soften.
    4. Add the chopped basil and stir until incorporated.
    collage of two photos showing pasta being tossed with pasta water and sauce
    1. Add the pasta and a few splashes of pasta water until the sauce coats the noodles.
    2. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the parmesan cheese, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

    SAM’S TIP: I like to add some additional fresh basil leaves on top for a pretty appearance, since the basil stirred into the dish wilts. This is totally optional, but it does look nice when serving!

    overhead view of a stainless steel skillet of linguine pasta with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is this summer pasta vegetarian?

    Yes, it is! If you’d like to make a vegan version, feel free to use a vegan pasta and a vegan parmesan substitute. For another indulgent, vegetarian pasta dish, check out my penne alla vodka!

    Can I serve this summer pasta with chicken?

    Absolutely! Top your pasta with some seared or grilled chicken for a heartier, more filling meal (a bit lighter than my creamy chicken pasta). You can also serve this summer pasta with shrimp!

    What pasta should I use?

    I prefer to serve this pasta with a longer noodle, like linguine, spaghetti, or capellini. You can really use whatever you have on hand or prefer. Bucatini would be great too!

    tongs tossing linguine pasta with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil in a stainless steel skillet

    If your summer garden also includes zucchini, give my zucchini bread a try!

    Enjoy!

    Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook

    summer pasta with fresh cherry tomatoes and basil served in a skillet

    Easy Summer Pasta (use up those garden veggies)

    This summer pasta with basil and cherry tomatoes is bursting with fresh-from-the-garden flavor! It's a quick and easy dinner that's light, but still satisfying.
    Recipe includes a how-to video!
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 422kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 8 oz (226 g) linguine pasta or preferred noodle pasta, uncooked
    • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 cup (110 g) finely chopped onion sweet, yellow, or white onion, I like sweet (about ½ large onion)
    • 6 large cloves garlic thinly sliced
    • 24 oz (680 g) cherry tomatoes about 6 cups
    • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon table salt plus additional for cooking pasta and to taste/as needed
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ¼ heaping teaspoon dried thyme
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
    • 1 oz (28 g) fresh basil leaves shredded or cut into ribbons (about โ…“ cup)
    • ⅓ cup freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese plus more for topping

    Recommended Equipment

    • Large skillet
    • Medium-sized pot

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta in well-salted water according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve ยฝ cup of pasta water and set aside.
      8 oz (226 g) linguine pasta
    • Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat until shimmering.
      ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
    • Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, then add garlic and cook about 30-60 seconds longer, until fragrant.
      1 cup (110 g) finely chopped onion, 6 large cloves garlic
    • Add tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, thyme, and red pepper and cook, stirring frequently until tomatoes soften and burst. Once tomatoes are soft enough you can use a wooden spoon or spatula to squish them as you stir.
      24 oz (680 g) cherry tomatoes, ½ teaspoon granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon table salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ heaping teaspoon dried thyme, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
    • Add basil and stir.
      1 oz (28 g) fresh basil leaves
    • Add warm cooked, drained linguine and stir well. Add splashes of pasta water as needed to make a thin sauce, you basically want to ensure the pasta is not dry and the noodles are coated with a thin layer of the sauce. I typically need to add about ¼ cup of the pasta water.
    • Remove from heat, add parmesan and stir well. Taste-test and add additional salt or pepper as needed, then serve warm topped with additional parmesan as desired with a side salad or side of crusty bread.
      ⅓ cup freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 422kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 464mg | Potassium: 615mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1319IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Debra

      July 13, 2024 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      This is so easy for a week night dinner. I added some precooked chicken to it for protein.

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        July 15, 2024 at 11:44 am

        Love that idea! Thanks for giving it a try, Debra ๐Ÿ˜Š

        Reply
    2. Ann

      June 17, 2024 at 1:18 am

      5 stars
      Didnโ€™t change a thing about this recipe. Really loved it and so easy!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        June 17, 2024 at 8:57 am

        Thanks for trusting our recipe, Ann! We’re so happy it was a hit for you ๐Ÿฅฐ

        Reply
    3. Laura

      June 11, 2024 at 2:07 am

      5 stars
      Delicious and very easy! I added spinach to the sauce for some extra vitamins, and i tossed the pasta in some cottage cheese for some protein. Soooo tasty! I love that I didn’t have to cut the cherry tomatoes at all. AND I love that the instructions also list the ingredient portions!!

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 11, 2024 at 3:57 pm

        Thank you so much for the review and feedback, Laura, I’m so happy you enjoyed so much!! Thank you for trying my recipe! <3

        Reply
    4. Nicole

      May 05, 2024 at 9:27 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight and it was so easy (I hate cooking) everyone loved it and went back for seconds.

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 05, 2024 at 10:00 pm

        I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Nicole! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5. Louise

      August 20, 2023 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      This was such an easy, healthy, and tasty recipe. I made this last night because we had to use up our garden tomatoes, and my family loved it. I added a half of a cut-up roasted chicken breast into the tomatoes to heat it up several minutes before I mixed it all together. THANK YOU, SAM!!!

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 20, 2023 at 10:44 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Louise! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. Laura

      August 15, 2023 at 12:50 pm

      5 stars
      This was so simple and delicious! Hubby and I both loved it, will definitely make again.

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 16, 2023 at 10:00 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Laura! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    7. Donna

      July 14, 2023 at 11:43 am

      You said “use up those summer veggies” but you only used two. Add some zucchini and squash. Really use up those veggies.

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 14, 2023 at 2:32 pm

        You can definitely add those! Enjoy!

        Reply
    8. Jessica

      July 10, 2023 at 12:21 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for dinner last night to use up a bunch of basil from my garden, and it was amazing delicious and simple. Thanks for another great recipe!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        July 10, 2023 at 2:40 pm

        We are so happy you enjoyed the pasta, Jessica โค๏ธ

        Reply
    9. Rose

      June 16, 2023 at 8:56 pm

      Yum! I’ve made a variation of this for most of my adult life, using capellini, cherry tomatoes, garlic, feta and the spices in your recipe. I love feta!

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 18, 2023 at 10:27 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Rose! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    10. Carol Bergesen

      April 03, 2023 at 2:06 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this dish several times since last summer and it has become one of our favorite dishes. Very easy to make and flavorful.

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        April 03, 2023 at 5:10 pm

        We’re so happy to hear it, Carol! Thanks for trying our recipe โ˜บ๏ธ

        Reply
    11. Lindsay

      August 15, 2022 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      This was so good! I used more garlic and olive oil than the recipe called for and also added some Italian seasoning. Will definitely be making this again!

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 15, 2022 at 2:38 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Lindsay! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    12. Katie

      August 14, 2022 at 10:41 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing and delicious!!! I don’t usually eat tomatoes, but this recipe was very tasty and flavorful. I will definitely be making this again! Thanks for the recipe! ๐Ÿ

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 15, 2022 at 10:06 am

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Katie! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5 from 15 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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