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Shrimp and Avocado-Cream Pasta

These pasta recipes are perfect for spring and have the added bonus of being on the table in three steps or less. With vibrant, bright flavors like lemon and basil pesto and spring vegetables like asparagus and arugula, these pasta dinners are sure to be your favorite meal of the spring season. Recipes like our Spinach, Lima Bean & Crispy Pancetta Pasta and Mushroom Orzo with Lemon & Parmesan will make dinner easy and delicious.

01of 16Spinach, Lima Bean & Crispy Pancetta PastaView RecipeWe opt for fresh spinach pasta here–it cooks quickly and adds a pop of color. Cooking lima beans in pancetta drippings infuses them with flavor.

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Spinach, Lima Bean & Crispy Pancetta Pasta

View Recipe

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We opt for fresh spinach pasta here–it cooks quickly and adds a pop of color. Cooking lima beans in pancetta drippings infuses them with flavor.

02of 16One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with ParmesanView RecipeThis hearty pasta dish with bright, fresh flavor is ideal for busy weeknights. The Parmesan adds welcome saltiness and notes of umami and you get added texture from the slight crunch of broccoli and whole-wheat noodles. Add some shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp or crispy chickpeas to punch up the protein.

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One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan

overhead shot of brown bowl filled with rotini pasta, broccoli, parmesan and lemon slices

This hearty pasta dish with bright, fresh flavor is ideal for busy weeknights. The Parmesan adds welcome saltiness and notes of umami and you get added texture from the slight crunch of broccoli and whole-wheat noodles. Add some shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp or crispy chickpeas to punch up the protein.

03of 16Mushroom Orzo with Lemon & ParmesanView RecipePhotographer / Fred Hardy, Food Stylist / Ruth BlackburnThis mushroom orzo with lemon and Parmesan is a creamy dish rich with flavor thanks to mushrooms and a velvety smooth sauce. Enjoy this cozy pasta dish with a glass of wine.

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Mushroom Orzo with Lemon & Parmesan

Photographer / Fred Hardy, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn

Mushroom Orzo with Lemon & Parmesan

This mushroom orzo with lemon and Parmesan is a creamy dish rich with flavor thanks to mushrooms and a velvety smooth sauce. Enjoy this cozy pasta dish with a glass of wine.

04of 16Garlic-Anchovy Pasta with BroccoliniView RecipeJacob FoxHere, we sprinkle the final pasta dish with crumbled goat cheese for nice tangy bites throughout. But if you prefer a creamy sauce, stir the cheese into the pasta in Step 3 along with the reserved cooking water.

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Garlic-Anchovy Pasta with Broccolini

Jacob Fox

Garlic-Anchovy Pasta with Broccolini

Here, we sprinkle the final pasta dish with crumbled goat cheese for nice tangy bites throughout. But if you prefer a creamy sauce, stir the cheese into the pasta in Step 3 along with the reserved cooking water.

05of 16Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & ParmesanView RecipeThis one-pan chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal that’s garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it “Mom’s Skillet Pasta” and she called it “Devon’s Favorite Pasta.” Either way it’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It’s a simple dinner the whole family will love.

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Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

This one-pan chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal that’s garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it “Mom’s Skillet Pasta” and she called it “Devon’s Favorite Pasta.” Either way it’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It’s a simple dinner the whole family will love.

06of 16Lemon Crab PastaView RecipePhotographer / Jen Causey, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Chelsea ZimmerEarthy, savory miso complements the flavor of the sweet crab perfectly in this quick and easy lemon crab pasta dish. A punch of garlic adds depth, and lemon adds some sunshine, while parsley refreshes and brings a pop of color. While you could substitute whole-wheat pasta for added fiber, regular pasta allows the flavors of the crab and lemon to shine.

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Lemon Crab Pasta

Photographer / Jen Causey, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Chelsea Zimmer

Lemon Crab Pasta

Earthy, savory miso complements the flavor of the sweet crab perfectly in this quick and easy lemon crab pasta dish. A punch of garlic adds depth, and lemon adds some sunshine, while parsley refreshes and brings a pop of color. While you could substitute whole-wheat pasta for added fiber, regular pasta allows the flavors of the crab and lemon to shine.

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Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach & Feta Penne Pasta

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08of 16One-Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta with ZucchiniView RecipeDiana ChistrugaThis one-pot creamy chicken with zucchini is comfort food at its best. Here, we take advantage of fresh summer zucchini, which lightens up the dish. This easy dinner is made all in one pot on the stovetop, so you can give your oven a rest on a warm day and enjoy an easy cleanup.

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One-Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta with Zucchini

Diana Chistruga

One-Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta with Zucchini

This one-pot creamy chicken with zucchini is comfort food at its best. Here, we take advantage of fresh summer zucchini, which lightens up the dish. This easy dinner is made all in one pot on the stovetop, so you can give your oven a rest on a warm day and enjoy an easy cleanup.

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Spinach & Mushroom Tortellini Bake

Spinach & Mushroom Tortellini Bake

10of 16Bruschetta Chicken PastaView RecipeThis healthy chicken pasta recipe is jazzed up with traditional bruschetta toppers, including cherry tomatoes, garlic and basil. Multicolored cherry tomatoes look pretty, but you can use all one color of tomato too. Either way, you’ve got an easy weeknight dinner that’s ready in 25 minutes. We’ve called for spaghettini (thin spaghetti) in this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite shape of pasta.Linguine with Creamy White Clam Sauce

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Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

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This healthy chicken pasta recipe is jazzed up with traditional bruschetta toppers, including cherry tomatoes, garlic and basil. Multicolored cherry tomatoes look pretty, but you can use all one color of tomato too. Either way, you’ve got an easy weeknight dinner that’s ready in 25 minutes. We’ve called for spaghettini (thin spaghetti) in this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite shape of pasta.

Linguine with Creamy White Clam Sauce

11of 163-Ingredient One-Pot Lemon Pasta with Rotisserie ChickenView RecipeCarolyn HodgesThis satisfying one-pot pasta cooks with just the right amount of water so you’re left with perfectly cooked noodles and enough starchy liquid to act as a sauce. Stir in lemon juice and zest at the end for a bright finish.

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3-Ingredient One-Pot Lemon Pasta with Rotisserie Chicken

Carolyn Hodges

3-Ingredient One Pot Lemon Chicken Pasta

This satisfying one-pot pasta cooks with just the right amount of water so you’re left with perfectly cooked noodles and enough starchy liquid to act as a sauce. Stir in lemon juice and zest at the end for a bright finish.

12of 16Linguine with Creamy White Clam SauceView RecipeRipe tomato and fresh basil give this quick recipe tons of flavor. Serve this healthy pasta dinner with crusty garlic bread and steamed green beans.

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Ripe tomato and fresh basil give this quick recipe tons of flavor. Serve this healthy pasta dinner with crusty garlic bread and steamed green beans.

13of 16White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato GnocchiView RecipeJacob FoxSun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe— providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.

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White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi

White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi

Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe— providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.

14of 16Tortellini PrimaveraView RecipeDiana ChistrugaThis creamy tortellini and vegetable pasta is a real crowd pleaser. To make it even quicker, use frozen chopped vegetables instead of fresh. Serve with a green salad and whole-grain baguette.

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Tortellini Primavera

Tortellini Primavera

This creamy tortellini and vegetable pasta is a real crowd pleaser. To make it even quicker, use frozen chopped vegetables instead of fresh. Serve with a green salad and whole-grain baguette.

15of 16Baked Tomato, Mushroom & Goat Cheese PastaView RecipeJason DonnellyCherry tomatoes and mushrooms bake along with goat cheese to form the base of the sauce that cooks the pasta right in the baking dish—no stovetop required.

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Baked Tomato, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pasta

Jason Donnelly

Baked Tomato, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pasta

Cherry tomatoes and mushrooms bake along with goat cheese to form the base of the sauce that cooks the pasta right in the baking dish—no stovetop required.

16of 16One-Pot Lemon Asparagus Pasta with ShrimpView RecipeBrie PassanoThis quick one-pot shrimp and pasta dinner is cooked with asparagus in a lemony sauce. Feta cheese sprinkled over the top adds another savory layer, but feel free to skip it and add additional fresh herbs and a lemon slice instead.

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One-Pot Lemon Asparagus Pasta with Shrimp

Brie Passano

One-Pot Lemon-Asparagus Pasta with Shrimp

This quick one-pot shrimp and pasta dinner is cooked with asparagus in a lemony sauce. Feta cheese sprinkled over the top adds another savory layer, but feel free to skip it and add additional fresh herbs and a lemon slice instead.

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