Roasted Vegetable Salad

Posted by admin on Jun 03, 2021

Roasted Vegetable Salad

Roasted vegtable salad in a bowl with quinoa and pita

Where are you headed this weekend? This Roasted Vegetable Salad wants to come with! A colorful medley of roasted veggies with chickpeas for bulk and a vibrant Mediterranean dressing, this salad is a big bowl of brightness.

Pin this recipe on Pinterest to save for later

Pin It!0

Loaded with a robust array of vegetables you can find in good form year round, like cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and zucchini, and creamy hunks of feta cheese, this hearty roasted vegetable salad is the go-with-the-flow friend who’s happy to follow your mood.

Carry this meal-prep and travel-friendly salad along for a potluck, where it will freshen up anything you plate alongside it.
Serve it for a healthy side dish with whatever you have planned for dinner tonight. Most of the cooking happens hands-free while the vegetables roast, so you can use the time while they are in the oven to prepare the rest of your meal.
Roast vegetable salad can be the meal. Thanks to hearty additions like chickpeas and the fiber-rich vegetables themselves, it has rib-sticking power.

I originally served this Mediterranean roast vegetable salad tucked inside warm pita bread for a meatless dinner. I think it would be equally delightful over prepared couscous or quinoa.

The leftovers I mixed with arugula the next day for lunch. Hello mid-day Mediterranean vacation!

TIP!

Looking for more hearty vegetarian recipes? Don’t miss my full collection of Meatless Mains.

As much as I enjoyed the salad when the vegetables were still warm from the oven at dinner, it tasted even better the next day as a cold roasted vegetable salad, once the flavors had a chance to marry in the fridge.

Even my husband Ben—a man who rarely says no to meat—finished this vegetarian meal, looked at me very seriously and said, “You can make this any time.”

Now that is my kind of endorsement!

5 Star Review

“I think I’m in love with this salad! It has everything I adore: zucchini, feta, chickpeas, all mixed up in a delicious Mediterranean dressing!”
— Danae —

How to Make Roast Vegetable Salad

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity here. Though the ingredients and preparation are straightforward, the flavor is complex.

Lightly roasting the veggies gives them a bit of caramelization and concentrates their flavors.

The easy homemade Greek dressing binds and brightens.

The Ingredients

Cauliflower. Like my tasty roasted vegetable salad Indian-style, Curry Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Chickpeas and Sweet Potatoes, this salad takes full advantage of the magic of roasted cauliflower. Cauliflower caramelizes beautifully, and it soaks up whatever flavors you pair it with. It’s also packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Sweet Potato. I adore Roasted Sweet Potatoes, especially in combination with cauliflower. The two are a super pairing (hence, I added them both to the Sheet Pan Tandoori Chicken in my cookbook; it’s so yummy I cooked it live on Good Morning America!)
Zucchini. Roasted Zucchini is a sweet, tender, and colorful addition to this salad. Plus, zucchini is rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Red Onion. One of the most underrated roasted veggies! It crisps, caramelizes, and gives the salad surprising complexity.

Market Swap

The vegetables I’ve suggested here are just that—suggestions! You can also make this salad with whatever vegetables are in season (or in your refrigerator). I’d also add the red onion to any of these:

Summer Vegetable Salad. Use a combination of zucchini, yellow summer squash, and red bell peppers.
Italian Vegetable Salad. Combine bell peppers, cauliflower, and cherry tomatoes.
Fall Vegetable Salad. Swap the zucchini for another root vegetable (such as butternut squash) or broccoli.

Feta. Creamy hunks of this Mediterranean cheese provide just enough saltiness to allow the other flavors to shine. Cheese also makes salads more satisfying.

Substitution Tip!

For a different, equally tasty spin, make the roasted vegetable salad with goat cheese in place of the feta.

Chickpeas. Creamy, nutty, and protein-packed. Chickpeas make this salad ultra scrumptious and satisfying.

TIP!

Chickpea Tuna Salad, Moroccan Chickpea Salad, and Mediterranean Chickpea Salad are three other delicious, meal-prep friendly chickpea salad recipes that can be made ahead and kept in the fridge.

Parsley. To bring the salad to life.
Greekish/Mediterraneanish Dressing. With olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper, the dressing is reminiscent of what you might find on a Greek or Mediterranean salad. It’s light, bright, and just flavorful enough to perk up the veggies.

Couscous and roasted vegetable salad in a bowl

Tips For The Best Roasted Vegetables

A high temperature of 400 degrees F is best for roasting most vegetables and should work nicely with any you care to add to this salad.
Don’t crowd the pan. I’ve suggested splitting between two sheet pans here to make sure that air can circulate around the vegetables. If the pan is crowded, it can make your roasted vegetables soggy. Roast vegetables uncovered to ensure they brown.
Flip the vegetables. Use a large spatula (a thin, flexible fish spatula is my favorite) to flip and turn the vegetables twice during roasting. This will help the vegetables brown evenly.
Rotate the pan. Ovens are often hotter in the back than they are in the front. If you notice the vegetables at the back of the pan browning more quickly, rotate the pan 180 degrees F. It’s also a good idea to switch the pans’ positions on the upper and lower rack.

Bonus!

For even more roasted veggie tips, check out The Well Plated Cookbook, which has an Ultimate Roasted Vegetable Guide with seasoning suggestions, ways to use roasted veggies, and more!

The Directions

Cauliflower and sweet potato on a baking sheet

Place the cauliflower and sweet potato on one baking sheet and season with salt, pepper, and olive oil.

Zucchini and red onion on a baking sheet

Do the same with the zucchini and red onion, on a separate baking sheet. Roast the veggies.

Whisk the dressing ingredients together.

Toss the vegetables and chickpeas with the dressing.

Stir in the feta and parsley. DIG IN!

Dietary Note

Need this roasted vegetable salad vegan? Simply omit the cheese. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Healthy roasted vegetable salad in a bowl

How to Serve Roast Vegetable Salad

As a Salad. Serve the roasted veggies over a bed of greens for a healthy and flavorful salad that makes the ideal lunch or dinner.
With Grains. The roasted vegetables are delicious served alongside a grain like quinoa, couscous, or rice. This Moroccan Couscous is a favorite.
As a Pita Sandwich. Take a note from my Chickpea Salad Sandwich and serve the roasted veggies inside a pita for a tasty sandwich.
As a Side Dish. Need an easy side for Chicken Kababs or Grilled Salmon in Foil? This roasted vegetable salad is the perfect thing!

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate roasted vegetables in an airtight storage container for up to 5 days.
To Freeze. While I don’t recommend freezing this salad as the vegetables will become mushy, you certainly can try it. Freeze roasted vegetables in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Perk up with fresh dressing.

Meal Prep Tip

Chop all the vegetables up to 1 day in advance. Store them separately in the refrigerator. You can also whisk the dressing ingredients together up to 1 day in advance and store the mixture in the refrigerator.

What to Serve with Roasted Vegetable Salad

Grilling

Grilled Chicken Tenders

45 mins

Side Dishes

Lemon Rice

1 hr

Vegetarian

Crispy Tofu

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Baking Sheets. The ideal tool for roasting vegetables.
Mixing Bowls. Stackable, dishwasher-safe, and incredibly versatile.
Liquid Measuring Cup. This measuring cup is fantastic because it’s microwave and dishwasher-safe.

The Best Baking Sheets

High-quality baking sheets rank among my most-used kitchen tools. This set is perfect!

Get on AMazon

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you thought!

Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe.

Leave a Rating

This summer, roasted vegetable with feta will be my go-to for picnics and potlucks, a sure destination for my farmers market haul, and a lunch I’ll look forward to all morning.

If you try it, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!

Roasted Vegetable Salad

This healthy roasted vegetable salad is packed with seasonal vegetables, chickpeas, and feta, while tossed in a light homemade vinaigrette!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mediterranean

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 466kcal

Author Erin Clarke / Well Plated

Ingredients

FOR THE SALAD:

1 medium sweet potato
1 small head cauliflower or broccoli cut into florets
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
1 medium zucchini
1 small red onion
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas rinsed and drained
2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Warm pita couscous, or quinoa (optional for serving)

FOR THE DRESSING:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic about 3 cloves
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Place racks in upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Scrub the sweet potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes and the cauliflower into florets. Place them on the first sheet pan and drizzle with 1 ½ tablespoons oil.
Cut the zucchini into 1/2-inch cubes and the red onion into 1/2-inch slices. Place on the second sheet pan and drizzle with 1 ½ tablespoons oil.
Sprinkle each sheet pan with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Toss to coat, then spread the vegetables into an even layer. Place in oven and roast for 10 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven, then with a spatula toss the vegetables to promote even cooking. Spread back into an even layer, rotate the pans' positions, then continue baking until the vegetables are crisp-tender about 10 to 15 additional minutes.
While the vegetables roast, prepare the dressing: in a small bowl or large liquid measuring cup, whisk together the dressing ingredients: olive oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, mustard, salt, and pepper.
Once the vegetables have finished roasting, scrape them into a large serving bowl. Add the chickpeas. While the vegetables are still warm, pour the dressing over the top and toss gently to coat.
Gently stir in the feta and parsley. Enjoy with pita, couscous, or quinoa as desired.