Pasta Primavera with Roasted Vegetables (Printable)

Vibrant Italian pasta featuring roasted seasonal vegetables tossed with olive oil, garlic, and fresh Parmesan. Light, satisfying, and ready in 40 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or fusilli pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
03 - 1 medium yellow squash, sliced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
05 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
06 - 1 small red onion, sliced
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cup broccoli florets

→ Seasonings and Aromatics

09 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
10 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 - Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

→ Garnish

15 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley
17 - Lemon wedges, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Arrange zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli on the prepared sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly and spread in a single layer.
03 - Roast vegetables for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until lightly browned and tender.
04 - Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
05 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
06 - Add roasted vegetables and cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss gently, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen if needed.
07 - Remove from heat. Stir in half the Parmesan and fresh basil or parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning.
08 - Serve immediately, topped with remaining Parmesan and extra herbs. Add a squeeze of lemon juice if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It clears out your crisper drawer and turns random vegetables into a cohesive, restaurant-worthy dinner.
  • The roasting step does all the work, coaxing out natural sweetness you never get from steaming or boiling.
  • You can eat it hot, cold the next day, or even baked into a casserole if you have leftovers.
  • It feels indulgent but stays light enough that you wont need a nap afterward.
02 -
  • Dont skip the step of reserving pasta water because its the secret to a silky sauce that holds everything together without butter or cream.
  • If you crowd the vegetables on the sheet, they will steam instead of roast and you will lose that caramelized sweetness.
  • Add the garlic to the skillet off the heat or on low because it burns fast and turns bitter in seconds.
03 -
  • Use a mix of at least five different vegetables so every bite has variety in color, texture, and flavor.
  • Grate Parmesan right before serving because pre-grated cheese is coated with cellulose and will not melt into the pasta the same way.
  • Toss the hot pasta with the vegetables off the heat so the Parmesan melts from residual warmth instead of clumping from direct flame.
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