Pasta With Zucchini And Tomatoes

This pasta with zucchini and tomatoes is fresh and flavorful, and it’s the perfect way to enjoy fresh produce. You’ll have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. 

Suitable for Vegetarian diets and gluten free. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Serving meatless meals is a great way to save money, and it’s something you can do at least once a week, even if you are meat lovers.

Pasta is incredibly filling, and when it’s paired with the seasonal bounty of fresh veggies, you won’t miss the meat at all. Just like this Ramen Noodles Stir Fry.

When in season, zucchini is prolific and inexpensive. Make friends with someone with a garden, and you will have more zucchini than you can use.

Better yet, it’s easy to grow your own, and the joy that comes from cooking what you harvest is unmatchable. 

This easy tomato zucchini pasta goes from fridge to table in under 30 minutes. It’s the perfect recipe for busy nights. Serve it with some bread and a side salad to make it a meal. 

Why Make This Recipe

• Meatless – Meatless recipes are good for you and save you money. 
• Economical – Make this recipe with affordable ingredients. 
• Fresh – Seasonal veggies that make their own sauce give this pasta a fresh flavor. 
• Quick – Zucchini and tomato pasta goes from fridge to table in under 30 minutes. 

Ingredient Notes

• Penne Pasta – Or use your favorite dried pasta. I used gluten-free pasta – but you can use regular pasta.
• Pasta Cooking Water – Use the flavorful starchy water to make your sauce.
• Butter – You can use margarine if you prefer. 
• Zucchini – Most common in the summer but available all year round. 
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is more flavorful than garlic in a jar. 
• Seasonings – We’re using Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
• Tomatoes – Cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half.
• Parmesan – Look for freshly grated parmesan in the refrigerated section. 

How To Make Pasta With Zucchini

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Cook pasta to al dente and reserve some of the cooking liquid before draining. 
2. Melt butter in a saucepan and cook zucchini until it begins to caramelize, then add the garlic and seasonings and stir until fragrant.
3. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes. 
4. Stir in the pasta, pasta water, and parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and everything is combined. 
5. Serve. 

Tips For Success

• Season your pasta water with salt for flavorful noodles and sauce. 
• Cook the pasta slightly less than usual as the pasta will continue to cook as you make the sauce. 
• Use a mug to scoop out some of the pasta water before draining. 
• If your sauce is too dry, add a little extra pasta water. 

Variations

• Swap/Add Veggies – Yellow squash and eggplant also work well in this dish.
• Add Fresh Herbs – Toss in some fresh basil or your favorite fresh herbs.
• Make it Spicy – Add some crushed red pepper flakes with the rest of the seasonings to give this recipe a spicy kick. 
• Add a Protein – Toss is sautéed chicken breast or cooked shrimp. 

Budget-Friendly Tips 

• Plant a Garden – Both zucchini and cherry tomatoes are easy to grow, and doing so can save you money. 
• Make Friends with a Gardener –  Gardeners are known to leave bags of zucchini and squash all over the place when their garden is producing. Make friends with a gardener so you can be the recipient of this wonderful gift. 
• Stock Up on Pasta – Pasta is shelf-stable, so buy in bulk or when it’s on sale. 
• Store Cheese in The Freezer – If you can’t use all of your parmesan cheese, store it in the freezer for later use. 

Make Ahead and Storage

Prep Ahead – Cook the pasta ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Mix the pasta with a bit of butter or oil to keep it from sticking together. 

Store – Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers on the stove or in the microwave. 

Freeze – Tomatoes and zucchini both tend to become watery and mushy when frozen, so we don’t recommend freezing this recipe. 

FAQs

Do I Have To Halve The Tomatoes?

Grape tomatoes are usually smaller than cherry tomatoes, and if they are small, you may not need to halve them. If you choose not to, be sure to cook them until their skins burst because they will help to create a flavorful sauce. 

What Other Kinds Of Pasta Can I Use?

Penne holds up well in this dish. Bucatini, spaghetti, linguine, angel hair, and fettuccine would all be delicious replacements. Use what you love and what you have on hand. 

More Recipes You May Like

• Ramen Noodles Stir Fry.
• Starwberry Avocado Pasta Salad.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 12 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Get The Zucchini With Pasta Recipe: