This Mediterranean Pasta Salad combines tender pasta, flavorful roasted veggies, salty cheese, and a tangy, herbaceous dressing. Fast and straightforward to organize, it’s the right make-ahead dish for meal prep, cookouts, or to function a contemporary dinner aspect.
Not solely is each chew filled with coloration, texture, and daring Mediterranean taste, however this recipe can also be gluten and dairy-free-friendly!

Roasted Veggie Mediterranean Pasta Salad
In my view, nothing says heat climate like Mediterranean flavors! I take pleasure in choices like my Mediterranean turkey salad, Mediterranean quinoa salad, and meal prep Mediterranean bowls all yr lengthy, however discover myself making them nearly weekly in the summertime. Currently, this Mediterranean pasta salad has been a selected favourite with my complete household. Belief me once I say it’s SO rather more than your common chilly pasta salad dish!
I discover that roasting the veggies actually enhances their taste, including a delicate savory, nearly smoky taste to the dish. Then, my do-it-yourself dressing provides the right savory, tangy contact. I like to prep an enormous batch to maintain available for meal prep and infrequently add protein for an entire meal that’s prepared in minutes. You’ll by no means return to pre-made pasta salads once more.


Elements Wanted and Substitutions
*Scroll right down to the recipe card for the total recipe and ingredient record!
Pasta Salad
- Pasta: Use any pasta you want finest. I like to recommend small or medium-sized shapes like elbow, bow tie, cavatappi, rotini, or penne pasta. If wanted, gluten-free pasta additionally works.
- Veggies: Zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, asparagus, crimson onion, crimson bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, and shallots type the majority of the salad, including coloration, taste, and vitamins.
- Oil: I like to recommend utilizing further virgin olive oil for this recipe, as a result of it has a stronger taste that pairs properly with the veggies.
- Herbs and spices: Salt, pepper, contemporary parsley, and contemporary basil add a savory, shiny style.
- Mozzarella: These add a creamy consistency and savory, salty taste. Be happy to experiment with any cheese you want finest! Feta cheese makes a fantastic substitution. Or, omit it fully if it’s good to hold this recipe dairy-free.
Pasta Salad Dressing
- Oil: Olive oil types the bottom of the dressing.
- Lemon Juice: The acidity balances the richness of the dressing, including a shiny, refreshing style. Freshly squeezed is finest!
- Dijon Mustard: This provides a scrumptious, tangy taste.
- Seasonings: Dried oregano, salt, and pepper create an herbaceous style that pairs properly with the roasted greens.
Methods to Make a Roasted Vegetable Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe
- Prepare dinner the pasta: Convey a big pot of water to a boil, and prepare dinner the pasta to al dente in response to the bundle directions. Drain, rinse with cool water, and put aside.
- Roast the greens: Organize the greens on a big sheet pan. Drizzle oil on high, season with salt and pepper, and toss to mix and coat. Then, create a small properly within the heart for the garlic cloves. Roast till the greens are tender and starting to brown, and put aside to chill.




- Put together the dressing: Peel the garlic cloves and mash them right into a paste. Then, add them to a small bowl together with the remaining dressing elements, and whisk to mix.




- Assemble: Mix the salad elements in a big mixing bowl. Pour the dressing on high, and toss to mix and coat.
- Serve: Get pleasure from instantly, cool to room temperature, or chill within the fridge. Get pleasure from!




Attainable Variations
- Protein – Add grilled rooster thighs, crispy chickpeas, cooked tofu, air fryer salmon, and even Instantaneous Pot arduous boiled eggs for a lift of protein. Or, omit the cheese to maintain this recipe vegan-friendly.
- Veggies – Combine it up with no matter you’ve available! Strive roasted mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, or sun-dried tomatoes. It’s also possible to toss in contemporary spinach or arugula proper earlier than serving.
- Dressing – Customise the flavour together with your favourite dressing. A Greek dressing, Italian French dressing, balsamic glaze, or tahini-based dressing would all style nice.


FAQs
I discover this recipe retains contemporary in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Simply remember to give it a fast stir earlier than serving to redistribute all of the elements.
Extra Pasta Salad Recipes


Salad:
- 12 oz pasta of selection
- 1 zucchini quartered and sliced
- 1 yellow squash quartered and sliced
- 1 eggplant quartered and sliced
- ½ bunch asparagus trimmed and minimize into 1-inch items
- 1 crimson onion minimize into chunks
- 1 crimson bell pepper minimize into chunks
- 4 oz cherry tomatoes
- 6 cloves garlic unpeeled
- Olive oil for roasting
- Salt and pepper to style
- ¼ cup contemporary parsley finely chopped
- ¼ cup contemporary basil finely chopped
- 1 shallot finely diced
- 1 container mini mozzarella balls about 8 oz
Dressing:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Roast the greens:
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Organize zucchini, squash, eggplant, asparagus, crimson onion, crimson pepper, cherry tomatoes, and garlic cloves (unpeeled) on a big sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss the whole lot to coat and create a small properly within the heart for the garlic cloves.
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Roast for half-hour, or till greens are tender and beginning to brown. Let cool barely.
Put together the dressing:
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As soon as garlic cloves are cool sufficient to deal with, peel them and mash right into a paste with a fork. Add to a small bowl or jar together with olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake to mix.
Assemble the salad:
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In a big mixing bowl, mix the cooked pasta, roasted greens, mozzarella balls, diced shallot, parsley, and basil. Pour dressing excessive and toss till the whole lot is properly coated.
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Serve and revel in!
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Tastes nice heat, at room temperature, or chilled.
Storage: Leftovers hold properly for as much as 4 days within the fridge.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 470kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 16gFats: 24gSaturated Fats: 5gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 11gLdl cholesterol: 14mgSodium: 821mgPotassium: 462mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 671IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 184mgIron: 2mg