23 Fresh Spring Pasta Recipes
Make seasonal takes on gnocchi, spaghetti, lasagna, and more of your favorite pastas.
Pasta dishes are an excellent way to showcase seasonal produce; in the springtime, this means asparagus, ramps, peas, artichokes, and more bright, fresh flavors. Of course, pasta primavera is the quintessential spring pasta permutation, and we've included recipes here for both classic and vegan versions. We've also got a seasonal version of mac and cheese with leeks, mushroom ragù with dandelion greens, and sweet, velvety carrot ravioli. Read on for these and even more spring pasta recipes we're excited to make this season.
Feta Gnocchi with Lemony Yogurt and Spring Peas
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Risha Carnes
Topped with crunchy fresh sugar and snap peas as well as a generous serving of crushed red pepper and dill, chef Cassie Piuma's spring-ified gnocchi finds its home atop a bed of lemony, garlic-scented strained yogurt.
Spaghetti with Ramps, Chiles, and Two Cheeses
Ramps, the ephemeral wild onions that chefs love and which appear only in the spring, give this pasta a lovely garlic flavor. When ramps aren't in season, chef Justin Smillie uses elephant garlic — the bulb, stem, and flowers. Scallions also make a good substitute.
Spring Puttanesca Pasta
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
Classic puttanesca sauce is typically known for its punchy combination of salty anchovies and capers with acidic tomatoes. Here, Justin Chapple takes it up several notches by incorporating vegetables like arugula, parsley, fresh spring onions, spicy Calabrian chiles, and olives to create an exceptionally vibrant dish.
Woven Lasagna with Prosciutto and Fresh Spinach Sauce
Weaving the pasta sheets in this lasagna allows the outer pieces to bubble and crisp in the oven around the creamy, rustic prosciutto-ricotta filling. Don’t skip the fresh pasta sheets; their length and texture are key to successfully assembling the dish. Once the lasagna has chilled, it takes mere minutes to heat and serve this stunning, cover-worthy recipe, making it ideal for a dinner party.
Kale-Artichoke Stuffed Shells
Cannellini beans add hearty creaminess to these stuffed shells, while mild heat from Calabrian chiles and earthy sweetness from fennel seeds amp up store-bought marinara sauce. We use jarred artichoke hearts here, which are available year-round, but their flavor brings a special springtime appeal to the dish.
Bucatini with Mushroom Ragù, Dandelion Greens, and Tarragon
This meatless ragù gets rich flavor from dried morel mushrooms for a first-course pasta that's hearty without being filling. Save time by chopping the vegetables in a food processor; take care to not puree them.
Pasta Primavera
This Pasta Primavera is buttery and rich but still feels light from the lemon zest and fresh herbs — it’s the perfect dish to make after a visit to your local farmers market. The colorful play of spring vegetables makes it as pleasing to the eyes as it is to your palate.
Mafaldine with Pea Shoot—Meyer Lemon Pesto
Fresh pea shoots, parsley, and dill make a verdant pesto balanced with salty ricotta salata cheese and nutty roasted sunflower seed kernels. The bright sauce clings beautifully to ruffled mafaldine pasta.
One-Pot White Wine Pasta with Mushrooms and Leeks
This creamy, savory one-pot pasta dish comes together without the need to boil the pasta separately. Savory sautéed mushrooms and gently sweet leeks combine with cream, lemon juice, and white wine to create a rich sauce.
Creamy Vegan Pasta Primavera
A few smart swaps transform your favorite creamy spring pasta into a vegan-friendly sensation. Umami-rich nutritional yeast shoulders the duties of Parmesan, while buttery macadamia nut milk stands in for heavy cream.
Creamy Spaghetti Carbonara with Peas and Ham
This modern take on a classic Italian pasta dish relies on ham instead of traditional pancetta for a dose of smoky flavor and richness. Perfecting a luscious carbonara depends on treating the eggs just right.
Spicy Sausage Pasta with Tomatoes and Squash
Most fresh tomatoes are lacking in the spring, but cherry tomatoes are consistently delicious all year, making this recipe a great choice if you're craving something tomato-y before summer's bounty. Added just minutes before serving, thinly sliced squash melts into the pasta without losing its shape and texture.
Thin Spaghetti with Crab and Asparagus
At Josephine Estelle in New Orleans, chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman serve this sublime, buttery crab pasta with homemade tajarin, a ribbon-type noodle. Thin spaghetti works nicely, too.
Garganelli with Speck, Peas, and Scallion Cream
Sweet spring peas and garlicky sauce flood tubular garganelli pasta in this recipe, making each bite a surprise. Lemon and mint bring balance to the dish.
Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese
Pasta salad reaches a new level with sweet grilled corn, zucchini, and a creamy lime dressing spiked with chile powder. Fresh cilantro adds brightness, then the whole salad gets topped with tangy slivers of fresh goat cheese.
Herbed Fazzoletti with Asparagus and Burrata
Parsley, chives, tarragon, and chervil are pureed and tossed with pasta, asparagus, cheese, and pine nuts for this elegant dish. It pairs wonderfully with a cold glass of white wine, such as steely Italian Pinot Grigio.
Leek Mac and Cheese
Cooks usually reserve dark, tough leek greens for stock. Here, we sauté them until they're soft and supple, then fold them into a luscious macaroni and cheese made with nutty Manchego.
Rigatoni with Asparagus-Pistachio Pesto
This light and flavorful pasta from chef Andrew Zimmern is a F&W favorite, especially when topped with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables, Parsley, and Feta
This pasta salad comes together in 25 minutes showcasing fresh spring asparagus with zucchini and eggplant.
Carrot-Potato Gnocchi
American chefs are busy riffing on this Italian classic. Here, former F&W editor Grace Parisi shares her own tasty variation on the traditional potato gnocchi. Serve it with Brown Butter and Sage or a creamy white sauce.
Carrot and Ricotta Ravioli
We love this sweet and creamy filling in our Easy Ravioli recipe.
Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus
Ready to go at a moment's notice, this asparagus-embellished classic is not only creamy, quick, and delicious, but it dirties only one pot.
Penne with Asparagus, Peas, Mushrooms, and Cream
This simple vegetarian pasta combines the flavors of spring — mushrooms, peas, and asparagus — in a creamy, luscious sauce.
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