Creamy Pasta Primavera

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The combination of fresh veggies and Parmesan cheese in this Creamy Pasta Primavera is incredible. This comforting pasta dish will become a family favorite. It’s healthy and delicious!

Pasta Primavera

Before I describe how heavenly this Creamy Pasta Primavera is, I have a little story to tell. One hundred years ago I was a vegetarian. 😉 Well, it feels like one hundred years ago, but it was more like 18 years ago.

When I was in my early twenties I read the book “Diet for a New America” by Jon Robbins. His family owned the famous ice cream shop Baskin & Robbins. The book went into great detail about animal cruelty in slaughter houses and what these owners do to fatten up the animals to sell more meat. It was the most awful and eye opening book I’ve ever read.

After reading only two chapters I swore off meat completely and vowed to never eat it again.

Meat-free is how I ate for well over a year. I researched vegetarianism and taught myself how to get enough protein in my diet with vegetables, beans and rice. That entire year I lived a super healthy lifestyle until in the end it turned in to a bit too much.

Pasta Primavera

I started exercising twice a day where it got to the point it was obsessive and I lost a lot of weight. My menstrual cycle even stopped. Honestly, I was really unhappy in the relationship I was in and this was a way to “control” what I couldn’t in the relationship. (I’m not sure why I am going so deep into this, but I guess I’ll keep going.)

Slowly I began to realize it was becoming a problem. I cut down on the exercise and added animal-based protein in my diet. I started with only organic meats like chicken and it was amazing how much better I felt.

Now I am NOT knocking anyone on a vegetarian diet. This is just my story. If anything, I praise you if it works for you! For me it didn’t, but I will say I do like to make meatless meals for my family. I actually think it would be good for everyone to eat a meat-free meal more often. 

Adding lots of veggies to a dish can make it so amazing. This CREAMY PASTA PRIMAVERA is just that and more. It has become a favorite in my home! The combo of the veggies and fresh Parmesan cheese alone makes this dish super comforting AND healthy.

Love pasta? Try these amazing pasta dishes:

California Pasta Salad

Chicken Ranch Pasta Bake

Chicken Strawberry Pasta Salad and

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Pasta Primavera
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5 from 9 votes

Creamy Pasta Primavera

Course Main Course
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Author Holly

Ingredients

  • 1 pound linguine pasta
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 large carrots diced in 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/2 head broccoli cut into small florets
  • 2 small zucchinis (or 1 large) cut in half lengthwise then cut into 1/4 inch slices.
  • 1 red bell pepper seeds removed then sliced into 1/4 inch strips
  • 1 green bell pepper seeds removed then sliced into 1/4 inch strips
  • 1 orange bell pepper seeds removed then sliced into 1/4 inch strips
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons basil paste or 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine pasta to water and cook until al dente, according to package directions.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add diced carrots to heated oil. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until carrots are softened. Add broccoli and zucchini to skillet. Stir and cook another 3 minutes. Then add all the bell peppers. Continue to cook and stir vegetables for another 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and basil paste (or fresh basil). Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper. Turn heat off and remove skillet from burner.
  • Drain water from linguine. Return linguine back to the pot and add the cooked vegetables, heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Carefully fold and stir to combine everything. Season again with salt and pepper. Serve warm with extra basil and Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

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Pasta Primavera
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Recipe Rating




11 thoughts on “Creamy Pasta Primavera

  1. 5 stars
    Loved this recipe!! Added pink Himalayan salt to the veggies while cooking. Excellent flavor; no meat needed in this recipe!

  2. 5 stars
    This was delicious. I doubled it (large family) and subbed some veggies for what we had in my garden. It still came out great!

  3. 5 stars
    This was very good! My husband and I loved the flavor. We also added grape tomatoes, sliced mushrooms and some frozen peas. Will definitely make again!

  4. 5 stars
    So easy to make, and my boys loved it for “meatless Monday. ” This is going to become a Monday night staple.

  5. 5 stars
    this recipe is fantastic. I had been really craving some linguine and had a ton of veggies on hand.
    I just want to add a tip. If you don’t feel like doing all the work of cooking the veggies On the stove, heat oven to 400 degrees. Line sheet pan with foil. Add olive oul and garlic and all your veggies. Add salt and pepper. I cooked mine for around 15 minutes.
    They were delicious with the sauce and linguine. If you want to thin out the sauce a bit, you can add some of the water from the pasta. This was so easy to make and so delicious!! Thank you!

    1. 5 stars
      Thank you Elaine for your tip on baking the veggies. I will definitely try it. We used to go to an italian restaraunt in little italy in cleveland and they had the best chicken pasta primavera. I tried to make it once and it didn’t turn our very good. I will definitely try this.

      Coleen

  6. 5 stars
    This was DELICIOUS and SO easy to make. Had broccoli, sweet onions, kale, red peppers AND it all came together!
    Delicious a real keeper!
    Oh, added hot pepper flakes for a little kick!

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