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Easy Summer Zucchini Pasta

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This Easy Summer Zucchini Pasta is one of my go-to’s for a simple summer meal, or a busy weeknight! It’s filled with so much flavor, and only requires 7 ingredients! Thinly sliced garlic, good quality olive oil, pasta, zucchini, yellow squash, parmesan, and fresh basil are all you need!

Overhead shot of a bowl of bow tie pasta with zucchini, summer squash, basil, and parmesan, with a gold fork resting in the bowl

This incredibly easy pasta dish is all I want to eat right now! I’m almost slightly embarrassed to be sharing it because it’s SO EASY. But incredibly delicious too. Don’t you love when that happens?!

Overhead shot of a bowl of diced zucchini and yellow squash with bow tie pasta scattered in the bottom right, parmesan and a grater in the top left, and a small white bowl of sliced garlic in the top right

It’s only 7 ingredients, and those 7 simple ingredients are seriously magical together. It’s such a no-brainer, and I’ve been eating this combination for years and years. When I made it recently, I knew I had to share it on the blog!

Overhead close up shot of a bowl of pasta with zucchini, summer squash, basil, parmesan, and a gold fork sticking out of the bowl

All you need is your favorite pasta (I love bowties!), good quality extra virgin olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper, zucchini and/or yellow squash, parm cheese, and fresh basil. And salt and pepper but those don’t count!

Magic I tell ya.

Overhead shot of a pot filled with bow tie pasta with zucchini, summer squash, and basil with a wooden spoon in the pot

Easy pasta dishes like these are what I grew up on. My dad is Italian and he passed the pasta loving gene onto me, and when I say I ate it every day growing up, I ate it every day. Sometimes just for a snack, sometimes for lunch, and sometimes for dinner.

There was never a time where I didn’t want to consume pasta in mass quantities.

And not much has changed as an adult! These days I try not to eat it quiiiite as often, because I’d be in a carb coma every day, but when I do, I like to pack it with tons of veggies.

Close up shot of a bowl of bow tie pasta with zucchini, yellow squash, basil, and parmesan

This dish is absolutely perfect for using up all of your extra zucchini from the garden, or for when you’ve made too many zucchini baked goods in the past few weeks (that would be me), and you just want a big ‘ol bowl of pasta (also me).

Overhead shot of a bowl of bow tie pasta with zucchini, summer squash, basil, and parmesan, with a gold fork resting in the bowl

What MAKES this pasta for me is the thinly sliced garlic that cooks in the olive oil just barely. The garlic oil infuses into the squash and pasta, and it’s amazing and everything I want in a bowl of carbs. Loads and loads of garlic!

The parm and fresh basil are also highlights, and the crushed red pepper gives it a little kick! Which is totally optional, but delicious with the sweetness of the squash and the basil.

Overhead close up shot of a bowl of bow tie pasta with zucchini, yellow squash, basil, and parmesan

Craving this for dinner tonight!

5 from 2 votes
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This Easy Summer Zucchini Pasta

This Easy Summer Zucchini Pasta is one of my go-to's for a simple summer meal, or a busy weeknight! It's filled with so much flavor, and only requires 7 ingredients! Thinly sliced garlic, good quality olive oil, pasta, zucchini, yellow squash, parmesan, and fresh basil are all you need!

Course Main Course, Pasta, Side Dish
Cuisine Easy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Author Molly | Spices in my DNA

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of your favorite short-cut pasta (I used farfalle/bowties)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 6 cups diced zucchini and/or yellow squash*
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus extra for serving

Instructions

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Generously salt the water. (It gives your pasta a ton of flavor!) 

  2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until fragrant. (You don't want the garlic to brown at all). Add the zucchini and squash and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Season with salt and pepper. (Cook pasta until al dente if you haven't done so at this point).

  3. Once pasta is cooked, drain thoroughly and add back into the pot. Add the zucchini mixture to the pasta and toss until coated. Add the parmesan and toss, as well as the chopped basil. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Serve with extra parmesan and fresh basil!

Recipe Notes

*I used half zucchini and half yellow squash, but you can use all of one or the other!

Overhead shot of a bowl of pasta with zucchini, summer squash, basil, parmesan, and a gold fork sticking out of the bowl

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Comments

  2. Kristina

    5 stars
    I made this the other night it was delish I added onions and peppers
    used only yellow squash. next time I will use both kinds.

    Reply

  5. Christine Canella

    5 stars
    Made this tonight & had some very hungry family stop by unexpectedly. The daughter & grandson who are Sicilian (part) raved about it & consumed it all. Daughter is getting an exchange student in a couple of weeks & she wants this again & again!

    Reply

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