Fresh Veggie Pasta With Garlic And Parmesan

This Veggie Pasta dish is sure to be a hit – the pasta is cooked to al dente perfection and tossed with fresh tender vegetables, garlic, parmesan, and a light sauce. Cozy comfort food meets veggie-filled healthy for any night of the week.

If you love pasta, you’ll also love our pasta mains like homemade lasagna, one pot spaghetti, and crockpot creamy Italian chicken. Want some pasta-based sides? We’ve got those, too — creamy caprese macaroni salad, chicken pasta salad, and asparagus pasta salad with creamy lemon dressing.

Why We Love Garlic Veggie Pasta

If you love garlic and pasta, you’ll adore this meatless pasta dish packed with healthy veggies!

• Easy – It doesn’t get much easier than boiling pasta, quickly cooking vegetables, and tossing them with oil and cheese to put together a quick and healthy meal.
• Eat Your Veggies – A great way to add a lot of veggies to your meal.
• Flavor Packed – Full of flavor, satisfying, and filling.
• Versatile – Veggie pasta can be served as a family meal or as a side for a casual gathering.
• Customizable – You can change this recipe up in so many ways -switch up the veggies for pasta primavera, change the sauce, add protein… This easy pasta with veggies dish is a canvas for your creativity in the kitchen!

Fresh Veggie Pasta Ingredients

If you’re looking for a delicious dinner option that will help you get more veggies into your diet, this vegetable pasta dish is a great choice!

For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Penne pasta – We love this particular pasta for the way it gets gorgeously coated with the olive oil sauce. Try whole grain or +protein pasta for healthier options.
• Olive oil – Choose your favorite variety — higher quality is always best for a dish like this that relies on it as its main sauce component. We like to use good quality extra virgin olive oil.
• Fresh Veggies – Red bell peppers, red onion, baby spinach leaves, and sliced mushrooms.
• Garlic – cloves and garlic salt. Mince the garlic finely so that it mixes well and that there are no large chunks.
• Dried Italian seasoning – This adds a variety of Italian-style flavors.
• Parmesan cheese (or Asiago cheese) – Use either to add cheesiness to the dish.
• Crushed red pepper flakes – This optional addition adds a touch of heat
• Salt & Pepper to taste

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How to Make Garlic Pasta with Veggies

Grab a large non-stick skillet, large saucepan (to boil pasta ), and pasta bowls we’re making pasta with veggies!

When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. While the pasta is cooking to al dente, saute red pepper, onion, and minced garlic in a large skillet until soft.
2. Add the spinach and mushrooms to the red pepper mixture until the spinach is wilted.
3. Drain the pasta (reserving some of the starchy water), then combine it with the vegetable mixture. 
4. Add remaining olive oil, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning to the skillet.
5. Once heated, add a bit of the pasta cooking water, and a bit more EVOO if needed. Sprinkle with cheese; toss to coat. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
6. If desired, serve with additional cheese and crushed red pepper.

Tips for Making Quick Veggie Pasta

For the best results, here are some tips to make the perfect version of this easy vegetarian pasta dish.

• When preparing pasta, it is essential to be careful not to overcook it, as this is a key factor in ensuring a successful dish.
• Reserve starch water in the event that you may need to add it at the end of making the dish if it’s too dry or thick.
• Use high-quality olive oil (EVVO) for the best results. 
• Vegetables should be cooked until they are tender and slightly crisp, not soft and mushy.
• Grating fresh cheese will taste far better than using a pre-shredded, packaged version.

Variations on Pasta and Veggies in Garlic Sauce

This pasta dish has plenty of substitutions that can be made.

• Pasta – Instead of penne, use any type of pasta you like. We prefer to use short pasta for this veggie pasta recipe. In place of traditional pasta, you can use vegetable pasta, gluten-free pasta, whole grain, or +protein pasta.
• Vegetables – Swap some of all of these vegetables for what you prefer (or add extra veggies) — yellow squash, cherry tomatoes, or grape tomatoes (halved or diced), green beans, or asparagus are all good options.
• Protein – Add grilled chicken or another favorite protein; cooked shrimp, kielbasa or rinsed and drained garbanzo beans are great choices
• Garlic – While fresh is always better, you can use jarred, minced garlic if needed. You can also use roasted garlic if you have it on hand.
• Citrus – Add just a bit of lemon juice or lemon zest for brightness.
• Wine – Add just a touch of white wine for extra flavor.
• Butter – Instead of olive oil use butter to make a garlic butter sauce.
• Herbs – Add herbs like fresh basil or fresh parsley, or whichever dried or fresh herbs you like.
• Chicken broth – Try boiling the pasta in chicken broth for extra flavor.
• Oven Roast – Roast the bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms with plenty of olive oil, garlic, kosher salt, and pepper for a whole other level of deliciousness.

Serving Suggestions

• Salad – Serve a simple Italian salad with an easy dressing.
• Garlic Cheese Bread – Who doesn’t love buttery garlic cheese bread alongside a big bowl of pasta?
• Protein – Try adding grilled chicken or another favorite protein to meatless pasta. Cooked shrimp, kielbasa, or rinsed and drained garbanzo beans are great choices for adding protein to the pasta.
• Dessert – Tiramisu brownies are the perfect ending for an Italian night.