One Pot Spring Vegetable Pasta (Print)

Tender pasta with fresh spring vegetables, cooked in one pot for minimal cleanup

# What You Need:

→ Pasta & Broth

01 - 12 oz penne or fusilli pasta
02 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
03 - 1 cup water

→ Spring Vegetables

04 - 1 cup asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
05 - 1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed
06 - 1 cup zucchini, halved and sliced
07 - 1 cup baby spinach
08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - 1 small leek, white and light green part, sliced
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Flavorings

11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1 tsp lemon zest
13 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
14 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced leek and minced garlic, sautéing until softened, approximately 2 minutes.
02 - Add pasta, vegetable broth, and water to the skillet. Bring to a boil while stirring, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
03 - Stir in asparagus pieces, sugar snap peas, and sliced zucchini. Continue cooking for 7 additional minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta reaches al dente texture and vegetables are tender. Most liquid should be absorbed.
04 - Add baby spinach, halved cherry tomatoes, lemon zest, lemon juice, and grated Parmesan. Cook for 2 minutes until spinach wilts completely and tomatoes are heated through.
05 - Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Remove from heat immediately. Sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs and additional Parmesan cheese as desired.
06 - Transfer to serving plates or bowls while hot. Garnish with extra fresh herbs and lemon wedges if preferred. Serve immediately as a main course.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pasta cooks right in the broth, creating its own creamy sauce without any heavy cream
  • Every vegetable stays bright and tender because they're added at just the right moment
  • One pot means dinner is ready in 35 minutes with almost zero cleanup
02 -
  • The liquid will look worryingly abundant at first, but trust the process as it absorbs
  • Stir more frequently toward the end to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom
03 -
  • Add a handful of frozen peas in the last minute for extra sweetness and color
  • Save some pasta water before it fully reduces, in case you need to loosen the sauce later

Go Back