One-Pot Creamy Pasta Primavera (Printable Version)

Creamy pasta with fresh zucchini, bell peppers, and tomatoes in a rich Parmesan sauce, all cooked together in one pot.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or fusilli pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 cup snap peas, trimmed and halved
07 - 1 medium carrot, thinly sliced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 3 cups vegetable broth
11 - 1 cup heavy cream
12 - 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
16 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese, optional

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic, zucchini, bell peppers, carrot, and snap peas. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables are slightly softened.
02 - Add pasta, cherry tomatoes, and vegetable broth to the pot. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
03 - Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and Italian herbs. Simmer uncovered for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and coats the pasta and vegetables evenly.
04 - Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in fresh basil. Serve hot, garnished with additional Parmesan and basil if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pasta absorbs all the vegetable flavors as it cooks, creating layers of taste you cannot get any other way
  • Cleanup takes literally two minutes because everything happens in one pot
  • You get a complete meal with vegetables, protein from cheese, and satisfying carbs without any complicated techniques
02 -
  • The pasta continues cooking in the hot sauce even after you turn off the heat, so remove it from the stove while it still has a tiny bit of bite
  • Stir frequently during the final minutes because the heavy cream can separate if it gets too hot or sits too long
03 -
  • Cut vegetables into similar sizes so they cook evenly and no single piece overwhelms the others
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of pre-grated because it melts into the sauce much better
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