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  1. Food and Cooking
  2. Recipes
  3. Corn and Zucchini Pasta

Corn and Zucchini Pasta

The sauce is extra cheesy.

By Ree DrummondPublished: Jul 12, 2025
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the pioneer woman corn and zucchini pasta
David Malosh
Yields:
4 - 6 serving(s)
Prep Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
35 mins

There's usually nothing I love more than a hearty, meaty pasta sauce—bolognese, you’ve got my heart! But when summer rolls in, my kitchen shifts gears. I start dreaming of bright, fresh, veggie-packed meals. Enter this fabulous corn and zucchini pasta. Juicy, sweet corn just off the cob and tender zucchini make the perfect summer pairing, especially in this simple, cheesy pasta dish. Grab whichever short pasta you adore (shells are my favorite for catching those little corn kernels and all the saucy goodness). Pair it with a fresh caprese salad and some fluffy garlic bread, and you've got a meal that brings summer straight to your table.

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Ingredients

  • 1 tsp.

    kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water

  • 1 lb.

    medium pasta shells

  • 2 Tbsp.

    olive oil

  • 4

    ears of corn, kernels removed (about 3 cups)

  • 2

    medium zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick half moons

  • 4

    garlic cloves, finely chopped

  • 1/2 tsp.

    black pepper

  • 1/2 tsp.

    red pepper flakes, plus more for topping

  • 1 cup

    low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

  • 1 cup

    grated parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces), plus more for topping

  • 1

    (5.3-ounce) package garlic-and-herb cheese (such as Boursin), sliced and at room temperature

  • Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

  • 2 Tbsp.

    chopped fresh chives, plus more for topping

Directions

    1. Step 1Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain, reserving ½ cup cooking water. 
    2. Step 2Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the corn and zucchini and cook, without stirring, until the vegetables begin to turn golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the garlic, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
    3. Step 3Add the chicken broth to the skillet and cook for 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the parmesan, garlic-and-herb cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. 
    4. Step 4Fold in the pasta and chives, loosening the sauce with a few splashes of the reserved cooking water if necessary. Serve topped with more parmesan, red pepper flakes, and chives.
Love this recipe? Try one of these next!
  • Pasta with Zucchini Pesto
  • Pasta Primavera
  • Street Corn Pasta Salad
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