Looking for the perfect spring or summer pasta salad? Try making this delicious Penne Pasta Salad with Green Beans and Tomatoes your whole family will love!
Pasta may be a comfort food for many, but it can also be a light dish perfect for spring and summer. As we are enjoying spring now and summer will be here before we know it, we can also look at discovering new, delicious recipes ... like my Penne Pasta Salad with Green Beans and Tomatoes!
I like to use vegetables in the main dish and not just as a side. Not only are vegetables great on a nice pasta (and not just slathered in sauce), they also bring a fresh effect to the meal.
While grape or cherry tomatoes will work, mini heirloom tomatoes in a variety of colors can also work if you can find them. In fact when you slice those heirloom tomatoes, save some seeds to keep your fun meals all summer long. Plus, you'll be able to save a ton of money on tomatoes!
The fresh green beans are great. I don't recommend canned French style as they won't be the right texture for this dish.
I have tried a few other oil/acid dressings on this pasta "salad" dish. The lemon brings just enough zing to the dish that it really completed the taste. When serving as a main dish, I like having depth of flavors.
Adding the fresh dill completes this earthy pasta salad recipe while still giving a wholesome and filling meal for even growing boys. You can also use fresh dill, basil, mint, or parsley. For pasta, you can also try using whole wheat.
When you're looking for a great meal, don't overlook the obvious. Pasta can be overdone, but only if you don't mix it up. Add this Penne Pasta Salad with Green Beans and Tomatoes to your next menu plan and you'll sure to please your entire family!
Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
Description
For the Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette:
Ingredients:
½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 ¼ teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 ¼ teaspoons white wine vinegar
1 small garlic clove, minced
⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
How To Make:
In a blender, combine the lemon zest and juice, shallots, mustard, vinegar and garlic and puree until smooth. With the machine on, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Pour the vinaigrette into a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
Ingredients
- 1 (16-oz.) package whole wheat penne pasta
- 1 (8-oz.) package thin green beans, cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
- 1 pt. grape tomatoes, halved
- ¾ cup Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, adding green beans to boiling water during last 2 minutes of cooking time; drain.
- Rinse pasta mixture under cold running water until cool; drain.
- Toss together pasta mixture, tomatoes, and vinaigrette.
- Cover and chill up to 24 hours, if desired.
- Stir in dill, and add salt and pepper to taste, just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 servings
What do you think about this Penne Pasta Salad with Green Beans and Tomatoes recipe? Tell me in the comments!
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I've never seen green beans in a pasta recipe. This recipe is worth a try.
This looks delicious and bright! I love using farm fresh veggies in my cooking.
while i have never used green beans this way, it sounds and looks delish so will try it out.. penne is certainly a fav pasta in our home
Wow this looks so good! I definitely need to try this!
This looks super yummy! I will be trying it with my kids one night next week
I love how simple and easy but delicious this recipe is. I can make this immediately today. Thank you!
Oh this looks so delicious! Definitely pinning for later
This looks so tasty and ideal for spring or summer
We usually make pasta with red or white sauce. This is a nice salad that I can give a try.
This dish looks delicious. My girls love penne so will be adding to my list of to try recipes. Thank you for sharing.
Loving this recipe so much. It's simple yet with all the flavors I love. Can't wait to give it a try.
This is a new pasta salad that I have not tried. I think my kids would love it!
I love cooking with dill! This looks like the perfect summer salad.
This salad looks and sounds so delicious. I can't wait to make it.
This is the kind of meal I love. It's light and delicious, and it won't leave me feeling like a swallowed a boulder.
This looks really delicious! I am going to have to try to make it sometime soon. I'm whipping up our grocery list tomorrow, will dd the ingredients on it that we don't have yet on hand to make this penne green beans tomatoes pasta dish.
Looks delicious, but I would substitute green beans for broccoli.
It's almost like a light version of a primavera. A perfect summer dish.
This Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes looks absolutely delicious! My kids love all things pasta so I'll definitely have to give this recipe a try.
Now this looks simple and yummy. I love penne and definitely want to try the dressing that you paired with this!
This looks quick and delicious! I'm always looking for easy Perfect summer afternoon meals to make!
Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes recipe sounds so good. It would be a perfect dish for any family gathering this summer. We grow up in an Italian family so this would be right up our alley. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
This looks and and sounds delicious! I like the addition of fresh dill to the salad too.
Nice recipe, sounds great for the summer! I love dill! I'll have to try this yummy pasta dish
Crunchy beans and dill! This sounds like heaven in a bowl. My husband is the pasta maker in our house, I'm passing this over to him!
That looks like an interesting flavor combination! I never would have thought to put those things together!
I know how vegetables can add a fresh look to your dish. I’m going to try your recipe. It looks delicious!
Your recipe looks so tasty! I've never had green beans with penne pasta but I surely want to try it now. Perfect dish for the summer.
i am definitely bookmarking this recipe. I am always looking for the right combination and I agree the dressing is the key. This sounds perfect. Cant wait to make it.
I love this dish, the tomatoes and green beans would be our children's pick! I would try your recipe when my beans are ready to pick.
This sounds heavenly. I love pasta and this recipe is just perfect for the summer. It would be nice to make this for lunch or dinner. It's not at all heavy and the lemon will round up the flavors so well!
This looks like such a fresh and lovely meal! I'll need to try this recipe out!
This looks so good, I have to admit to being a big fan of pasta dishes, especially when summer comes around.
I love that this uses whole grain pasta! We have made the switch as well. I love how light and fresh this looks for summer.
What a great way to use the fresh green beans and ripe tomatoes that are currently in season. I love pasta and this is a recipe I've never made before. I'm looking forward to trying it. It's so fresh and bright looking!
This looks so good! I have never thought about adding green beans to a pasta dish. I bet it tastes outstanding. I will have to give it a try!
This looks like a light and refreshing dish. I like that it's something that can be whipped up at anytime.
Oh this looks so good and summery. It has three of my favourite fresh veggies: green beans, tomatoes and dill!
This looks so good! This is definitely a good way to use fresh produce with your pasta. The vinaigrette sounds good too!
Is there any alternative to beans? I don't like beans
This looks fresh and delicious! I love the addition of the tomatoes, a great way to add a veggies to a pasta dish. My family would love to try this recipe.
I have never thought about putting dill in my pasta! I am going to try though because that was probably one of my favorite flavors. It's got such a crisp flavor and it's perfect for summer.