28 Spring Pastas to Make the Most of the Season
April showers mean spring pastas. After months of boozy braises and cheesy casseroles, it’s time for crisp produce and fresh herbs (and, yeah, your umbrella). Our best spring pasta ideas will help you take advantage of whatever the farmers market has to offer. Lucky enough to score some ramps? Put them toward spaghetti with Parmesan and lemon. Have a tote full of fennel? Melt it down with a few anchovy fillets and toss with fusilli. Want to eat asparagus every night of the week? These twirly noodles with smashed garlic and crushed chile flakes will help. We even have a tomato sauce that’s boosted with ripe strawberries. And for all you tiny pasta fans—we see you, we are you—we have spring pasta dishes with shapes like orzo and ditalini. Without further ado, here are our favorite spring pastas.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime1/28Lemony Asparagus Pasta
A good asparagus pasta recipe needs little more than asparagus and pasta. This is a perfect weeknight dinner, or follow in the footsteps of this smart reader: “I was channeling Stanley Tucci and made this for breakfast.”
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime3/28Tagliatelle With Prosciutto and Peas
Fresh peas are glorious in this simple spring pasta from chef Evan Funke, but if you can’t find them, frozen peas work too. Serve with a greens salad and you’ve got a date-night winner.
Ted Cavanaugh4/28Spaghetti With Ramps
If you blink, you miss ramp season. So if you stumble upon these darlings, seize them. After you make this lovely spring pasta, try these other ramp recipes.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott6/28Spaghetti with Strawberry-Tomato Sauce
Strawberries? In tomato sauce? Both red, both fruits, these ingredients get along swimmingly, especially in this jammy pasta dinner.
Photograph by Isa Zapata7/28Spring Orzotto
This pasta spin on risotto is swift and sprightly. Store-bought pesto makes it doable for a hectic night, but if you have time, homemade pesto gives the dish an even fresher taste.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Nicole Louie8/28Broken Lasagna Pasta Salad
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Heather Greene9/28Brothy Meatballs with Peas, Fennel, and Tiny Pasta
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime10/28Rigatoni With Fennel and Anchovies
Three large fennel bulbs for four servings? That’s right. Anchovies add salty umami, while mint leaves keep things bright and cheerful.
Gentl & Hyers11/28Pappardelle with Chicken Ragù, Fennel, and Peas
Fresh and dried pappardelle both work in this spring pasta from Andy Baraghani. Plus, you can make the ragù a couple days in advance (i.e., it’s great for meal prep or hosting a spring dinner party).
Gentl & Hyers13/28Bucatini With Swiss Chard and Garlicky Breadcrumbs
If swiss chard isn’t at your farmers market, swap in whatever leafy greens catch your eye. With bucatini and breadcrumbs, what could go wrong?
Photography by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen14/28Melted Fennel Pasta
