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Zucchini pesto pasta in a yellow bowl
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5 from 30 votes

Zucchini Pesto Pasta

Zucchini Pesto Pasta has become our family favorite quick and easy dinner recipe. It is made with whole wheat pasta, garden fresh basil pesto and roasted / grilled onions and zucchini.
Prep Time9 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time29 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 616kcal
Author: Sandhya Ramakrishnan

Equipment

  • Cast iron skillet
  • Pot

Ingredients

  • 12 oz Whole grain pasta I used Penne
  • 1 cup Pesto I used Basil and pecan pesto
  • 1 Zucchini sliced (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 1 Onion sliced (about 1 cup)
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese Add more or less based on your preference
  • 1 tablespoon Crushed red pepper adjust based on spice preference
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil Divided
  • to taste Salt

Instructions

  • Heat a heavy bottom pan or a cast iron pan and add 1 /2 tablespoon of olive oil. Add sliced onions and caramelize it. Add salt and pepper when cooking the onions.
  • Remove the cooked onions in a bowl.
  • In the same pan, add the remaining oil and cook the sliced zucchini. Add salt and pepper when cooking and remove it along with the onions.
  • Boil the pasta based on the package instructions. Add salt when boiling the pasta. Drain it and keep it aside.
  • Once the pasta is cooked, return it to the same pot and add the pesto sauce. Mix well to coat the pasta with sauce.
  • Add the onions and zucchini to the pasta and gently combine.
  • Add cheese and adjust the salt and pepper, if needed.
  • Serve hot!

Notes

Expert Tips and FAQ's
  • Cook the pasta adding adequate salt and cook till only till al dente. Don't over cook the pasta.
  • Mix the onion and zucchini at the end to keep the texture of the vegetables intact.
  • Cheese is optional, but I would highly recommend using it. Cheese makes everything tastes better.
  • We can add more vegetables like bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and so on.

Nutrition

Calories: 616kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 725mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1990IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 229mg | Iron: 4mg