Roasted Veggie Pasta

This roasted veggie pasta is a great way to use up vegetables about to wilt in your fridge. Healthy and packed with flavors, it’s a great meal on its own or as a side with your favorite protein. It’s a delicious way to get your ‘5 a day’ veggies.

For more vegetarian recipes, browse our collection here. Vegetarian Recipes.

This colorful vegetable pasta is my go-to for weeknight dinners, potlucks, as well as picnics. It’s perfect eaten warm or cold and travels well. It stays well in the fridge for quick lunches and healthy snacks. It is easy to make a huge batch and feed a crowd.

Why you should try this Roasted Veggie Pasta Salad

• Use up vegetables lying in your fridge or freezer – no need to let them wilt and chuck at the end of the week.
• A delicious way to get a colorful medley of healthy vegetables with all the goodness and fiber.
• Cheap way to bulk up meals and feed a crowd.
• Tweak it your own way with vegetables you love
• Serve warm or as cold pasta salad.

Ingredients for Roasted Veggie Pasta

Vegetables

Use this as an opportunity to use up all the wilting vegetables you may have. I have used the following –

Zucchini – These are great all-rounders with a neutral taste and firm texture. Do not peel the skin for this recipe.

Onions – I have used red onions. Use any sweet variety.

Tomatoes – I have used ripe Roma tomatoes as they are sweet and juicy. This is great to add some liquid to the pasta.

Red Bell Peppers – You can also use yellow bell peppers or a can of chargrilled bell peppers.

Whole garlic – USe whole garlic pods without peeling them.

Mushrooms – I have used button mushrooms. Feel free to substitute with any other type.

Other vegetables that will go with this pasta salad are – eggplants, artichokes, squash, asparagus, and yellow and green bell peppers.

For Pasta

Pasta: I have used store-bought penne pasta. You can also use other short pasta like fusilli, farfalle, and elbow pasta.

Water: Get a medium to large-sized saucepan to allow the pasta to cook properly and not lump together.

Salt: A good quantity for 7 oz/ 200 g of pasta (for 4 people) is 2 teaspoons in 4 cups of water.

Other Ingredients

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar – Is slightly sweet than normal vinegar. If using Red Wine Vinegar, add a dash of honey or maple syrup, or your favorite sweetener.

Seasoning – Salt and Ground Pepper

Dried herbs – I have used oregano and rosemary.

Red Pepper Flakes

Optional Ingredients

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Creamy Cheeses like Ricotta or Mascarpone

Chilli Flakes

Fresh Basil Leaves – For garnish

How to make Veggie Pasta Salad

Slice your vegetables in similar sizes so they roast uniformly. I have cut them as shown below. Separate the garlic pods and discard extra skin. Do not peel the skin before roasting. This prevents the garlic from burning too quickly.

Oven: Preheat oven to 360 F / 180 C for 10 minutes.

1. Place all chopped vegetables on a baking sheet or roasting pan. Add olive oil, salt, pepper, herbs, and balsamic vinegar. Mix well. Place the tray in the oven and roast for 20 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven, and turn the veggies on once. Continue to roast for another 10 minutes or till the veggies look slightly caramelized and shrunk.

2. While the vegetables are roasting in the oven, bring the water to a boil in a medium to large saucepan over medium heat. Add salt. Add pasta and stir so the pasta does not fall into one pile. Let the pasta boil for about 8 – 10 minutes till al-dente. Stir pasta at least 2-3 times during the cooking process so they do not clump together while cooking.

3. Once the vegetables are roasted, squeeze the garlic pods, and remove the flesh. Discard peels.

4. Once the pasta is cooked just right (it should have a bite, and not be mushy), drain the pasta water immediately, and place the pasta in a large serving bowl. Add the roasted veggies and toss to mix.

5. Taste the veggie-pasta mix, and adjust the seasoning if required. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar and let it soak.

6. Optional: Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, top with a dollop of ricotta, and garnish with basil leaves. Serve hot or cold.

Some Useful Tips and Notes

Balsamic Dressing – Since we have added garlic, salt, pepper, and herbs in the roast tray, the dressing need not have these ingredients. Balsamic vinegar is sweeter than Red Wine Vinegar. You can substitute balsamic vinegar with red wine vinegar and add a dash of maple syrup to make up for the lack of sweetness.

Lining a roasting pan – You do not have to line your roasting pan. I do it for easy cleaning afterward. 

Turn the tray in the oven – If the veggies are beginning to burn at the back where it is hotter, remove the tray, turn it around, and put it back in the oven.

Pasta cooking time – DIfferent kids of pasta require different cooking times. The end results need to be al-dente (firm to bite) For penne, the manufacturer’s instructions said 10 minutes, however, it was ready in 8. So it’s a good idea to check a couple of minutes earlier than instructed. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Roasted Veggie Pasta

How else can I cook these vegetables?

Air Fryer: Add seasoned vegetables to the air fryer and cook at 360 F/ 180 C for about 8 to 10 minutes. At 5 minutes, shuffle the vegetables around with a spoon.

Grill: These vegetables can also be cooked on a hot grill. Just make sure the slices are bigger so they do not fall through the grates.

Wok/ Pan: Heat a pan or wok at a high temperature. Add oil and wait till it starts smoking point. Add vegetables in small batches so they do not crowd the pan and start sweating. Working quickly keep frying till they are roasted light golden brown.

What can I serve with Veggie Pasta Salad?

For a vegetarian pasta salad, you can add various kinds of cheese like feta. For a hit of protein, shredded deli chicken and canned tuna, are all quick options.

Some other suggestions-

Frozen Breaded Chicken Breasts in Air Fryer

Whole Roast Chicken (Juicy and brined)

Crispy Keto Chicken Drumsticks

Teriyaki Salmon

Spiced Fish in Air Fryer

Crock Pot Cube Steak by Glenda Embree

More Content You Might Enjoy:

Disclaimer:

Information given here is for general purposes only. Please check with your doctor particular ingredient or way of eating is suitable for you. Our nutritional values are calculated by Spooncular API. While we try our best to ensure these values are correct, please confirm these independently.