Roasted Vegetable Pasta

If you're looking for a quick and easy meal idea, then roasted vegetable pasta should be top of the list. Easy to switch up each week and a family favorite!

This post was originally published on November 18, 2013.

I am a big proponent of NOT making full recipes every day of the week. It's exhausting! Which is why having quick and easy healthy meals like these are so important.

The Perfect Easy Meal

You need this easy meal idea in your back pocket at all times. This is such a great meal option because:

• It's easy to make
• Can be prepped ahead of time
• Is super versatile to meet everyones flavor preferences
• Is easily changed up to make it new and different each time
• Takes very little energy to make

How to prep ahead

Prepping veggies is one of my favorite things to do! If done with a system in place, it can make your week so easy. Look at this guide on prepping veggies for more details.

In general, all you need to do is cut the veggies the day before so they are ready to go when it's roasting time.

Fresh versus frozen vegetables

You can definitely use frozen vegetables for a super easy meal. The thing to keep in mind is that the end texture will definitely not be the same. I find that when using frozen vegetables, you don't get as nice of a crisp.

What kind of pasta to use

Any kind of pasta you like works with this roasted veggie meal. Whether it's spaghetti, penne or shells, it all works! Make sure to use gluten-free if needed.

There are also types of pasta subs you can use if you don't want to eat pasta itself, here are some of our favorite ideas:

• Spaghetti squash (check out this guide on how to roast spaghetti squash)
• Zucchini noodles (here is a great zucchini noodle recipe)
• Sweet potato noodles
• Miracle noodles (a type of noodle made out of shiratake)
• Bean based pastas

How to Make Roasted Vegetable Pasta

As one of the easiest meals, this will be a go to quick and easy idea for the week! Here are the simple steps.

1. Cut your veggies and roast them on a baking sheet (I use parchment to help with crispness).
2. Put over pasta and top with cheese or anything else you want!

How do you add vegetables to pasta?

Adding the veggies can be done either by simple topping the pasta with them, or by mixing them together in a bowl. You can also eat the roasted veggies as a side!

Types of vegetables to use

The options are literally endless when it comes to the vegetables used to pair with your pasta. It really comes down to what you like. We have basically tried everything!

Veggies gain a richer almost caramelized flavor when you roast them. And many change flavors a ton, like the radishes you see in these roasted vegetables tacos.

Here is a list of ideas for vegetables to serve with pasta to get your brain gears turning:

How to cook the different vegetables

Different vegetables cook at different rates and also are best cooked in different ways, (you can grab my free cheat sheet below). So you first need to figure out what veggies you are using.

Personally, I have roasted every type of vegetable, even greens! Although greens are best sautéed (in my opinion), sometimes I get lazy, chop them up, just mix them with the others and roast.

But generally, I choose to saute my greens and roast everything else. When it comes to roasting, there are ways that you can easily roast all types of veggies at the same time.

• To roast everything on one pan, if a veggie needs more time to cook, cut it into smaller pieces than the veggies that need less time to cook.
• To roast on different pans, group veggies on each pan by time needed to cook and cut veggies the same size so they cook evenly.

Types of herbs to add

You can also add fresh herbs, both before and after roasting. Here are some of my favorite:

• Basil
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Dill
• Chives
• Sage
• Parsley
• Tarragon
• Mint

Topping ideas

While we love these roasted veggies plain, there are many ways to up this meal. Here are some favorites:

• Vegan Parmesan Cheese
• Fresh Tomato Marinara
• Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce
• Creamy vegan Alfredo like sauce
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Veggie sausage
• Chickpea Sausage Crumbles
• Vegan Classic Bolognese
• Mushroom Lentil Bolognese