Summer pasta is a delightful dish that captures the essence of the season with its vibrant colors and fresh flavors. To create this culinary masterpiece, start by selecting your favorite pasta, such as penne or fusilli, which provide the perfect base to soak up the savory juices. Next, choose a variety of seasonal vegetables like zucchini, yellow squash, and cherry tomatoes. These veggies not only add a splash of color but also infuse the dish with nutritional goodness. For the meat component, grilled chicken or ground turkey makes an excellent choice, bringing a smoky, savory depth to the dish. Toss everything together with a touch of butter and olive oil, followed by a splash of balsamic vinegar. The result is a rich and satisfying meal perfect for warm summer days, capturing the taste and feel of the season in every bite.
Summer pasta is a favorite in our house. You get protein, carbs, and veggies all in one dish. Roasting the veggies makes them extra flavorful and they retain their nutrition that way. Adding lean meat like ground turkey or grilled chicken breasts helps to balance all the cheese in the dish. You can certainly use whole grain pasta in this dish and it is delicious, feel free to use any shape of short-cut pasta you like.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spray a 9×13 glass dish and a sheet pan with nonstick spray. Drizzle a little of the olive oil on each, saving the other half for the top of the veggies.
Vegetables
Pour the tomatoes into the glass baking dish. Add garlic and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, till they have popped open.
Place zucchini and squash on sheet pan. Drizzle remaining olive oil on top and sprinkle with Monterey steak seasoning. Place in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, till they have browned some.
Pasta
Fill a large pot with water. Cook till boiling. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions to al dente. Set aside in a extra-large bowl.
Meat
While the vegetables are cooking, and the pasta water is coming up to a boil let’s start the meat. To a large skillet add olive oil. Add ground turkey and seasonings. Cook over medium-high heat until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once cooked, add to the noodles.
Assemble
Once the vegetables and tomatoes are done, add them to the noodle and meat mixture. Add a splash of balsamic vinegar, a drizzle of olive oil, a tbs butter, and parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Stir to mix everything together.
*You can add grilled or baked chicken instead of the turkey if you wish. I also add some shaved asiago cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze to mine when plating.
Summer Pasta
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 2 lbs grape tomatoes
- 2 medium zucchinis
- 2 medium yellow squash
- 5 cloves garlic
- 6 tbs olive oil
- 2 tbs Montreal steak seasoning
Pasta
- 16 oz uncooked short cut pasta
Meat
- 2.5 lbs ground turkey
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 3 tbs Montreal steak seasoning
Toppings
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbs balsamic vinegar
- 16 oz fresh mozzarella, cubed
- 1 tbs butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spray a 9×13 glass baking dish and a sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Drizzle a quarter of the olive oil into each pan.
Vegetables
- Pour the tomatoes into the glass baking dish. Add garlic and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, till they have popped open.
- Place zucchini and squash on sheet pan. Drizzle remaining olive oil on top and sprinkle with Montreal steak seasoning. Place in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, till they have browned some.
Pasta
- Fill a large pot with water. Cook till boiling. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions to al dente. Set aside in a extra-large bowl.
Meat
- While the vegetables are cooking, and the pasta water is coming up to a boil let’s start the meat. To a large skillet add olive oil. Add ground turkey and seasonings. Cook over medium-high heat until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once cooked, add to the noodles.
Assemble
- Once the vegetables and tomatoes are done, add them to the noodle and meat mixture. Add a splash of balsamic vinegar, a drizzle of olive oil, a tbs butter, and parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Stir to mix everything together.
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