Easy Weeknight Alfredo Pasta
Some weeknights are such a whirlwind. Yesterday was Ms. Little A’s back to school parent teacher night. 5:30 – 7:30 PM – a whopping two hours taken out of the already crazy weekday evening schedule. Planning our week’s menu ahead on the weekend is a life saver in situations like this. We knew that back to school night would bring dinner challenges with it since mommy and daddy go to school and kids cannot come along. So there goes the option of going to eat out after the event. Since carry out was not an option (everyone voted against it), I jotted down pasta and garlic bread on the menu planner for this night. In my mind – “we shall see”. On the day of, I had some gorgeous fresh corn and zucchini from the farmer’s market sitting on the counter. And that is when the idea of this super easy weeknight alfredo pasta was born.
Fall has started knocking on our doors here in the Midwest. We have had lot of rains and the temps have started cooling down. I love love love fall but then I am not ready to bid goodbye to all the fresh vegetable (and corn) bounty that the hot and humid weather of summer brings with it. There is still abundant corn, zucchini, tomatoes, and herbs on the farm stands. Guess what? Each one of these made it to this easy weeknight Alfredo pasta dish.
Between coming home from work and leaving for the back to school night, I was able to talk Ms. A through some steps for getting dinner ready. I walked her through what she needed to do boil and keep the pasta and corn ready by the time we got home later. That would save me so much time later.
What Ms. Little A did:
So she was able to set a big pot 3/4 full of water on stove, salt it and wait for it to boil. After the water reached a “roaring boil”, carefully she added the whole wheat penne pasta to the pan and set the timer to 12 minutes. While she waited for the pasta to cook, she dehusked and silked two cobs of corn. At 12 minute mark she added the corn to boiling pasta and set the timer to 3 minutes. At which point, she was supposed to turn the heat off, carefully remove the corn with tongs and drain the pasta. I told her to return the pasta to same pot, add cold water to cover the pasta and drizzle some olive oil. Then she waited for me.
See, if a middle schooler can do this, so can you. Confidence!!
Use of whole wheat pasta and whole wheat flour while making the roux for the pasta makes this recipe healthier as it does not involve any all purpose flour. Use whatever veggie you have on hand. I kept it summer produce focused s used zucchini, cherry tomatoes, corn along with onions and spinach. Freshly grated parmesan is a must. I request you to not use the already grated powdered stuff that is full of unnecessary additives. Buy a block of Parmesan – it is economical, free of harmful chemicals and grating is oddly satisfying.
Recipe Run Down
Onions, garlic and zucchini get a saute in butter and olive oil. I then added the flour, roasted it fr a bit, followed by adding milk/cream, cream cheese to make a sauce. Then added the spinach and corn followed b halved cherry tomatoes. Seasonings go in next, followed b boiled pasta. Parmesan and lot of fresh basil finish the dish. Serve this up with garlic bread or this foccacia (recipe here) Find the recipe details below.
Easy Weeknight Alfredo Pasta with summer vegetables
This easy weeknight alfredo pasta is made with a healthier version of classic alfredo sauce and is full of summer vegetable goodness.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Whole wheat penne pasta
- 2 ears corn see notes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup chopped red onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 zucchini small cubed
- 2 tablespoon whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup heavy cream see notes
- 3/4 cup whole milk see notes
- 1 tablespoon herbed cream cheese
- 2 cups chopped spinach packed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved, see notes
- A pinch nutmeg optional
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil cut into ribbons
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
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Set a big pot 3/4 full of water on high heat to boil. Liberally salt this water
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Once the water comes to a boil, add pasta and cook according to package directions
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3 minutes before the pasta gets cooked, add the two ears of corn(husks and silks removed) into the pot too.
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While the pasta is cooking, set a wide, heavy bottomed pan on medium high heat. Add olive oil and butter to it and wait for the butter to melt.
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Now add the minced garlic, chopped onions and cubed zucchini to the melted butter+olive oil
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Cook for a minute or two and then sprinkle the two tablespoon of whole wheat flour. Cook the flour for two minutes or until it is lightly browned and the raw flour smell goes away. If the flour and veggies look too dry you can add some more butter/olive oil
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Now add the heavy cream and milk. Using a wooden spoon or a whisk, mix the liquid vigorously with the veggies and flour mixture until uniform.
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Once the sauce starts to thicken (after a couple minutes) add chopped spinach and tomatoes. Cook for two minutes or until the spinach is wilted. Turn the heat to low.
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If the pasta is cooked by now, take the corn out, save a cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.
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Use a very sharp knife to carefully cut the kernels off of the corn cob. Add it to the sauce.
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Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to sauce along with Parmesan cheese. Add drained pasta to the sauce and veggies mixture.
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Turn the heat up to medium high, add basil and toss everything around. If the sauce is too thick, adjust the consistency with pasta water.
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Adjust seasning if needed and serve the pasta hot with extra parmesan for garnish. This focaccia bread is an excellent accompaniment to this pasta.
Recipe Notes
1. You can also use frozen corn. About 2 cups.
2. If you do not want to use heavy cream, use 1 cup whole milk. The sauce might not turn out as thick and creamy.
3. If you do not have cherry tomatoes, use 1 cup chopped tomatoes.
I always like to add some more freshly cracked black pepper on the pasta. I hope you will give this pasta a try while all these summer veggies are still in season. If you do, please tag The Kitchen Docs and share on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook.
Love – Vaishali.
Tools Used:
Knives: 
Pasta Pot: 
Measuring Cups: 
Spatula:
ali ali
August 23, 2018 at 9:26 pmHi,
Very good article.thanks for sharing.
Keep up the good work
Arnab Majumdar
August 25, 2018 at 12:51 pmThis looks so delicious. I am definitely going to try this at my home. Thanks for the recipe.
mdaisi
August 25, 2018 at 12:56 pmLooks like an easy to follow recipe. I will try a vegan version this weekend. Thanks for sharing.
Monidipa
August 25, 2018 at 3:09 pmThis pasts looks very delicious, and it’s easy to make too. I would love to try this out any weekday, I totally love Pastas.
Scott Gombar
August 25, 2018 at 7:24 pmI love alfredo anything. This looks great. Thanks for sharing
Fran Jorgensen
August 26, 2018 at 2:39 amWhat a yummy recipe! I was just looking for something easy and this looks like the perfect combination of yummy and healthy.
Cheapcialis
August 26, 2018 at 5:36 amI do a very similar thing when making an alfredo or creamy sauce to go with chicken, or any meat really, where I very lightly saute onions & mushrooms. Then plate them up & pour the sauce over the lot. So yummy with some other steamed veg on the side, though really I end up dipping all my veg in any sauce on the plate lol http://wasabimon.com/
Juli
August 26, 2018 at 7:51 amTo me anything that corn is in will always be a winner for me.
Heather
August 26, 2018 at 8:20 amMy kids LOVE alfredo! I love that this one incorporates more veggies. I’ll have to try it!
alison netzer
August 26, 2018 at 8:57 amI was sold once I saw the corn in it. I love fresh ingredients and this past looks delicious while the weather is still warm. Thank you for sharing this recipe and I am on it!
Yunus Caner Güner
August 26, 2018 at 9:14 amGreat article, well done.
Melanie Frost
August 26, 2018 at 10:25 amThat looks really delicious. I love corn mixed with pasta. It tends to bring out a sweetness in the flavor that is just so yummy.
Vaishali
August 27, 2018 at 8:58 amThanks Melanie. That is so true…sweet corn adds a great flavor!
krish
August 26, 2018 at 10:47 amPasta.. specially whole wheat is always a great meal…recipe looks yummy..and you a nice style of narrating..make it all.look easy .
Regards
prabashi
August 26, 2018 at 11:57 amthis looks so craving to make. the pictures make me want to eat them,
Chai
August 26, 2018 at 12:30 pmReally looks like an easy alfredo pasta that me and my hubby can try.
Devyani Ray
August 26, 2018 at 1:48 pmI made it for lunch today and it turned out pretty good 🙂
Devyani Ray
August 26, 2018 at 1:48 pmI made it for lunch tody and it turned out pretty good!
Nina Nichols
August 26, 2018 at 6:19 pmThat’s the best looking Alfredo pasta I’ve ever seen! Definitely worth trying. 😀
Nina Nichols
August 26, 2018 at 6:27 pmThat’s the best looking Alfredo pasta I’ve ever seen! Definitely worth trying. 🙂
Jared
August 26, 2018 at 11:50 pmThanks for the recipe. Looks delicious. I love Alfredo.
Sreekar
August 27, 2018 at 1:11 amThats a great combination of yummy snack and heathy food! Moreover its pretty easy to make for kitchen newbies like me. So great recipe all in all!
holistic fish
August 27, 2018 at 5:35 amdon’t really eat pasta but love the sauce, so i will try on some of my pasta alternatives!
Ketki
August 27, 2018 at 7:28 amI love alfredo pasta so much that i can have it everyday. My recipe is similar to yours but doesn’t look as appealing. I will def. try and improvise 🙂
Dominique Brooks
August 27, 2018 at 1:00 pmThis looks really tasty! And it doesn’t look to difficult either. Thanks for sharing!
Vaishali
August 27, 2018 at 1:38 pmYup, not too hard…and very flexible based on what veggies you want to add.
Evelyn Hernandez
August 27, 2018 at 1:00 pmMy son loves alfredo sauce, we are always trying to create a healthier version for him.
Vaishali
August 27, 2018 at 1:39 pmYes. Adding whole wheat flour makes it healthier. You can also skip heavy cream. Thanks
Maysz
August 27, 2018 at 8:47 pmI never head about Alfredo Pasta before. This pasta is different from ordinary pasta recipes and looks yummy and healthy I like it!
The Beauty Flicks
August 28, 2018 at 12:45 amI love to eat pasta but never tried with whole wheat. Definitely going to try it now. Thanks for sharing…
Tiffany
August 28, 2018 at 4:28 amThis look so good and delish! Pasta is my fave. Thanks for sharing ♥️ ♥️ By any chance you are interested on doing collaborations, you can check out the collaborations portal of Phlanx.com and connect with amazing brands!
Xoxo,
Tiffany
Vaishali
August 28, 2018 at 10:16 amThanks Tiffany. I will check out phlanx.com.
Neil Alvin Nicerio
August 28, 2018 at 7:15 amYummy. I juat had pasta today. Would love to try one of those.
angie
August 28, 2018 at 10:09 amwe are definitely a pasta loving family, thanks for sharing this recipe love that it is packed full of so much that is yummy and good.
XoLivi
August 28, 2018 at 4:49 pmoh my gosh, this looks so delicious. It looks easy to make!
Prashant
August 30, 2018 at 12:12 amPasta looks really yummy.. and seems easy to prepare. Will give a try to make.. My kids love pasta. Thanks for sharing.
Simerbir Singh
August 30, 2018 at 1:24 amDelicious looking dish once again. I don’t know cooking much but I have tried some recipes you shared here.
Vaishali
August 30, 2018 at 11:35 amThanks Simerbir