Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad

Roasted garden vegetables make this unique Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad packed with delicious flavor. For another easy chicken meal, see The Ultimate Chicken Club Pasta Salad.

People often ask “What is your favorite food?” or “If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?” Well, I’m announcing that mine would be pasta, under the condition that I could fix and mix it in whatever way I wanted. Although some folks might not agree, in my opinion, pasta is a blank canvas – the perfect backdrop for the ingredients it’s paired with.

I want to explore and taste all the pastabilities!

Today I’m dreaming of summer picnics with burgers hot off the grill, succulent corn on the cob, and a bowl of colorful pasta salad. This Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad is a delicious twist on the classic recipe. I’m not sure it’s accurate to say this, but this version may be a tiny bit healthier than the traditional variety. This one is loaded with vegetables rather than gratuitous amounts of cheese and pepperoni. For another comforting dinner, see Really Good Pasta Salad: Fresh, Flavor-Packed Potluck Side.

I particularly enjoy this recipe because of the roasted vegetables. Roasting veggies in the oven is one of the easiest and most flavorful ways to cook them. Combine the pasta and roasted vegetables with a splash of pesto sauce, and you have a combination that’s hard to beat.

Also, unlike traditional pasta salad, this salad is served right away, at room temperature. You can chill the salad if you’d like, and to me, it is just as good. Another recipe that works well for a busy day is Thanksgiving Salad, Easy Festive Holiday Mixed Green Salad.

Okay enough talking, let’s get cooking.

Now it’s your turn. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups zucchini (1 medium, chopped)
• 1 1/2 cup yellow squash (1 medium, chopped)
• 1 cup red onion (1 large, chopped)
• 3/4 cup green pepper (1 medium, chopped)
• 3/4 cup red bell pepper (1 medium, chopped)
• 1 small eggplant (chopped)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 12 ounces whole wheat penne
• 1 cup pesto sauce (homemade or store-bought)
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh basil (julienned for garnish)

Instructions

• Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. In a roasting or sheet pan combine zucchini, yellow squash, onion, peppers, and eggplant. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Roast for 45 to 50 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Stir a couple times throughout the roasting process.
• Transfer the roasted veggies to a very large bowl.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, rinse, and cool slightly. Add the pasta to the roasted vegetables and gently mix together.
• Next, add the pesto and stir gently to coat the pasta and veggies. Finally, mix in the cherry tomatoes and season the salad to taste with additional salt at pepper. Garnish with fresh julienned basil.

Nutrition

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