Veggie Patch Pasta

 

Veggie Patch Pasta | WorldofPastabilities.com

Back to Schoolit’s never an easy transition!

We are used to late nights, late dinners, too much dessert, lots of friends, lots of popsicles and a flexible laid back schedule.  Not anymore folks!  The alarm goes off at 6:00 (or earlier), you I have to PUULLLLLL your my kids out of bed, make a healthy breakfast, remind them of the day’s activities, and get them on their way all before 7:00am.  And accomplish all of this while smiling and pretending I am happy and this is fun :)!  We are having fun, right?

All that being said, back to school is a special time of year for renewal and reflection.  The kids are a year older and ready to take on new challenges and adventures.  I’m a year older (yikes – not quite the same).  It is a time where I renew my “healthy eating” vows and declare that I’ll make at least 3 delicious meals for the family a week.

I fantasize about sitting around the kitchen table on those nights and laughing and talking about each other’s days.  But the reality of multi sports, endless school activities and conflicting schedules makes this dream a bit more difficult…

Veggie Patch Pasta |WorldofPastabilities.com

 

We may not ALL eat together every night, but I do make a deliberate effort to incorporate more vegetables and healthier recipes into the mix.  The Veggie Patch Pasta recipe here is light and healthy.  It’s a wonderful accompaniment to grilled chicken, fish, or pork.  The small pieces of veggies go almost unnoticed by the kids when tossed in this fresh tangy dressing.  I love vinaigrettes just for this reason.

Veggie Patch Pasta | WorldofPastabilities.com

 

Feel free to substitute whatever veggies you have on hand or in the garden.  Squash, zucchini, cucumber, etc….all would be delish!  I’ve featured ABC-123 Pasta, but any short shape can be used.  And don’t forget to save yourself some for lunch tomorrow.  So farewell summer!  Hello fall…football…cool nights…colorful leaves…comfort foods…farmers markets…actually, I think I’m ready!

If you are interested in seeing all of our pasta shapes, you can visit The Pasta Shoppe website.  And if you have any fundraising needs, please check out Fun Pasta Fundraising!  We’d love to hear from you!

Print

Veggie Patch Pasta

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 29 reviews

Fresh and Light Veggie Patch Pasta

  • Author: Carey
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 7 mins
  • Total Time: 22 mins
  • Yield: 4-6 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 14 oz. ABC123 Pasta (or other short shape)
  • 1 cup green beans, blanched and halved
  • 2 carrots, peeled and grated
  • 1/2 cup red pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
  • 4 T. lemon juice (fresh or frozen)
  • 2 T. white vinegar
  • 6 T. olive oil
  • 2 t. lemon rind
  • 1 t. sugar
  • 1 t. Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 t. salt
  • 1/4 t. pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, add the carrots, red pepper, and green onions.
  2. Vinaigrette: whisk the lemon juice, white vinegar, olive oil, lemon rind, sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
  3. Cook pasta 6-8 minutes in gently boiling water. Add green beans with 4 minutes to go.
  4. Drain pasta and green beans and rinse with cold water. Add to veggie bowl.
  5. Gently toss pasta and veggies with dressing.
  6. Adjust seasonings to taste.
  7. Serve immediately.

 

Join our email list for fresh pasta recipes delivered to you every week!

!
!

Your information will NEVER be shared or sold to a 3rd party.

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

Browse Recipes

Featured

143 Comments

  1. Presley on October 20, 2018 at 2:42 pm

    I love the way you sneak in all the wonderful veggies with your delicious pasta! Great recipe!!






  2. Alice on September 4, 2014 at 8:48 pm

    Really good and fun recipe…love the ideas of white beans and roasted corn, which I’ll add next time–you might want to rename this “Veggie Mania,” as the addition of most any veg your family likes seems appropriate….your pasta blog is WOW, as I’ve never seen one devoted exclusively to it….thank you for sharing your genius of “quick-and-and-easy-go-to recipes!”






    • carey on September 4, 2014 at 9:55 pm

      Alice, you’ve made me laugh! And I’m just warning you…the recipes may get a little more complicated! 🙂

  3. Jenny J on September 2, 2014 at 7:38 am

    This looks so yummy and healthy, too! The best part is I think even my 2-year-old would eat it! Thanks for the great recipe!

    • carey on September 2, 2014 at 7:59 am

      You are welcome…enjoy!

  4. Kim on September 1, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    Great recipe-simple and easy






    • carey on September 2, 2014 at 7:59 am

      Thanks Kim!

  5. Daniel Scott on August 31, 2014 at 10:09 pm

    We have been eating more fresh food and have cut way down on processed food. We have been making a pasta salad with fresh veggies and everyone likes it.

    • carey on September 1, 2014 at 9:34 am

      Sounds like a healthy and good idea! And of course we love that pasta isn’t processed!

  6. Heidi on August 31, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    Sounds delicious!

    • carey on September 1, 2014 at 9:33 am

      Thanks Heidi!

  7. carey on August 31, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    Carol, you can make a 1/2 recipe…just make the vinaigrette and use enough for a 1/2 recipe – then save it for another salad! Can adjust veggies as you please! Thanks for your comment!

  8. Gracie on August 31, 2014 at 1:38 am

    Can’t wait to try the BLT salad. Perfect recipes for this Labor Day weekend.

    • carey on August 31, 2014 at 4:13 pm

      Please let me know what you think!!

  9. Shari Alligood on August 29, 2014 at 8:13 pm

    ABC Pasta!! I’m not sure which I’m more excited about the ABC Pasta post or the fact that you have a Blog now!!






    • carey on August 31, 2014 at 4:09 pm

      Aawwww….thank you! It’s been a long time comin’…stay tuned for more! 🙂

  10. Ann O. on August 29, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    Love the recipe and especially the pasta size. Will add it to my ‘must try’ list. Thank you!

    • carey on August 31, 2014 at 4:09 pm

      And if you make it let me know what you think!!

  11. Margaret Maggie Porter on August 29, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    What a great idea! I love the ABC’s and kids would love eating them I bet.

    • carey on August 31, 2014 at 4:08 pm

      Thanks Margaret!

  12. Jennifer Essad on August 29, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    between this recipe and the BLT salad I’m know what I’ll be making for our annual neighborhood block party on Sat – thanks for sharing love this sight






    • carey on August 31, 2014 at 4:07 pm

      Thanks Jennifer – I hope the celebration is a success!

  13. Kari Judd on August 29, 2014 at 4:42 pm

    We really love the ABC’S Pasta!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:54 pm

      Thank you!

  14. Sandra U. on August 29, 2014 at 4:37 pm

    Love it! my kids would love it too.






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:46 pm

      Try it out on them and see! 🙂

  15. Cindy R Moore on August 29, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    Great recipe! I’m definitely going to give it a try!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:45 pm

      I hope you enjoy it!

  16. Natalie J Vandenberghe on August 29, 2014 at 3:48 pm

    Your Veggie Patch Pasta is so colorful–I’m sure it tastes as good as it looks!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:45 pm

      Thanks Natalie!

  17. Debbie on August 29, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    cool!!!!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:44 pm

      Thanks!

  18. leslie on August 29, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    Looking forward to more healthy pasta recipes. My grandchildren love pasta and the more veggies they get with it the better. Any chance of making gluten free shapes?






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:44 pm

      Yes! We do have a gluten free pasta (a tagliolini)…but not in fun shapes. We import it from Italy because it must be made in a dedicated gluten free facility…and as of now our plant is all about the gluten! You can check it out here: https://pastashoppe.com/product.php?id=149&&c=2

  19. Kathy on August 29, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    Your recipes are WONDERFUL! Thank you for sharing them.






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:42 pm

      Thanks Kathy!

  20. CrystalGB on August 29, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    Looks delicious. Thank you fot the recipe. Always looking for recipes to incorporate veggies.

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:41 pm

      Me too – especially ones that my kids will eat!

  21. tara pittman on August 29, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    This looks so good and healthy too

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:40 pm

      Healthy and good!! 🙂

  22. Kira C on August 29, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    Love this recipe! Thanks!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 4:39 pm

      Thank you!

  23. Valarie Lee Gentry on August 29, 2014 at 11:53 am

    This is a great way to incorporate veggies!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 12:38 pm

      We try!:)

  24. Katie B on August 29, 2014 at 11:51 am

    HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND! Looking forward to the “pastabilities” of this new blog, haha 🙂

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 12:37 pm

      That’s pastably the nicest comment ever! OK – stop!:)

    • carey on September 3, 2014 at 3:56 pm

      Katie B – you were chosen as one of our 3 lucky winners! Please email me directly with your name and address so Ic an send you a Pasta Goodie Box!! carey@worldofpastabilities.com

  25. merri matalon on August 29, 2014 at 11:47 am

    love pasta and this recipe.






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 12:36 pm

      Awesome – please try it!

  26. Bunnie Short on August 29, 2014 at 11:43 am

    Great blog, and the recipe looks delicous!! Will have to try it out soon!! 🙂






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 12:36 pm

      Appreciate the nice comment…and let me know how you like it!

  27. ShaRhonda on August 29, 2014 at 10:56 am

    We are a huge pasta family. I am always looking for new recipes. It goes far, and fills up my men- especially my 13 year old teen basketball player. Thanks for sharing. Love this blog/title.

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:59 am

      Thanks ShaRhonda!

  28. Jean Bailey on August 29, 2014 at 10:48 am

    Can’t wait to give this recipe a try!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:52 am

      Let us know what you think!

  29. Lori G on August 29, 2014 at 10:48 am

    Love this blog! Pasta, both hot and cold, is a favorite in my house!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:53 am

      Thanks Lori!

  30. Deb on August 29, 2014 at 10:47 am

    Yummy. I still like making words out of my pasta!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:51 am

      Funny! Thank you!

  31. Stacy Giacosa-Bauer on August 29, 2014 at 10:46 am

    I Love your new Pastabilities blog! My family loves pasta and I will definitely be making this BLT Pasta Salad this weekend! Thanks for Sharing with us! Have a Great Weekend!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:51 am

      Thank you so much!

  32. Dave on August 29, 2014 at 10:46 am

    I like it! 🙂

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:51 am

      Appreciate it!

  33. Jacklyn Bruss on August 29, 2014 at 10:38 am

    This recipe sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it with my Tailgate & Celebrate pasta now that football season is here. GO PACKERS 🙂

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:52 am

      Oh ya! I’ll be posting some other tailgate options soon!

  34. lisa mcfarland on August 29, 2014 at 10:28 am

    this looks delicious






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:37 am

      Thank you!

  35. Lana simanovicki on August 29, 2014 at 10:25 am

    This is fantastic we love pasta and hopefully my kids eat the veggies I’m gonna make this

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:28 am

      Great! Please do!

  36. Leland Lee on August 29, 2014 at 10:10 am

    love it

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:27 am

      Thanks!

  37. patty knight on August 29, 2014 at 10:05 am

    We absolutely love anything pasta. All these dishes look good.

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:26 am

      You are my kind of people! 🙂

  38. Sharon Baker on August 29, 2014 at 10:04 am

    This sounds yummy! I’ll have to try it.

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:25 am

      Please do!

  39. Tina Brown on August 29, 2014 at 9:58 am

    This sounds really good! The kids do not care for bell peppers, so I think I would substitute zucchini or artichoke hearts.






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:25 am

      The green ones are a harder sell than the red for sure! I love your sub ideas!~

  40. Cheryl Christian on August 29, 2014 at 9:58 am

    All the different shapes of pasta just makes coming to the dinner table even more fun. Our little toddler grandchild loves telling me the ABC’s and shapes. 🙂






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:24 am

      Cute…have a great weekend!

  41. Bridget T. on August 29, 2014 at 9:58 am

    This looks good. I love anything pasta.

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:24 am

      Happy to hear that!

  42. caron on August 29, 2014 at 9:57 am

    I am a big music fan and I LOVE the Music City Pasta!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:24 am

      Thank you! We love our country music!

  43. Debbie Lind on August 29, 2014 at 9:53 am

    What fun shapes of pasta! these recipes looks awesome!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:23 am

      Thanks Debbie!

  44. Sophia Katherine Wroblewski on August 29, 2014 at 9:52 am

    Happy Friday!!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:23 am

      You too! Have a great long weekend!

  45. Laura Gilbert on August 29, 2014 at 9:48 am

    Love all these pasta ideas!!!!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:22 am

      Thank you!

  46. Rachel on August 29, 2014 at 9:47 am

    This sounds so yummy and such a great way to get kids to eat their vegetables.






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:22 am

      That is the goal! Thanks Rachel!

  47. Nicole Margrif on August 29, 2014 at 9:40 am

    Looks very good and healthy!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:32 am

      Thank you!

  48. Tamma Borzotra on August 29, 2014 at 9:37 am

    This is a definite dinner happening at our house! My children love the alphabet pasta! That’s the one time I allow them to “play” with their food! Plus it allows the soup to cool so they can eat it! Love hearing them laugh when they’re making words and trading letters with all of us together!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:32 am

      Fun! Thanks for sharing this!

  49. elizabeth miller on August 29, 2014 at 9:36 am

    This looks awesome and I love how natural the recipe stayed..no added mayo but I have say, in duplicating it, I hope it comes out goo without the ref peppers or bell pepper because those are two things I just can not eat.

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 10:33 am

      You can substitute! Add zucchini, or cannelini beans, or corn! Or anything else you like!

  50. rhonda hagy miller on August 29, 2014 at 9:33 am

    Love your new look!! AND loving these Pasta recipes!!
    My girls LOVE pasta any way it comes..my smallest one just slurps them up with butter!1
    Thanks for all the ideas!!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:35 am

      Thank you!

  51. Angela Reaux on August 29, 2014 at 9:31 am

    I’d love to try this recipe, it sounds delish!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:34 am

      Thanks Angela!

  52. deanna hanson on August 29, 2014 at 9:30 am

    looks soo good and tasty

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:31 am

      Thank you!

  53. teena sierson on August 29, 2014 at 9:27 am

    Love the pasta shapes they are really neat would like to try it






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:29 am

      Please do!

  54. bettyl on August 29, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Love different shapes of pasta, running for hubby, baseball for grandson and bunnys for Easter, love them all. Think Im going to new love your news site, ty.

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:25 am

      Thanks Betty!

  55. Wendy Miller on August 29, 2014 at 9:20 am

    We love your pasta! Kids are looking forward to ABC mac and cheese for the night before school starts!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:22 am

      Always a favorite…and I plan to post some updated versions of mac ‘n cheese soon – so keep in touch!

  56. Elizabeth F. on August 29, 2014 at 9:19 am

    I Love that I can print the recipe without having to copy and paste it!! Love the new website!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:22 am

      Thanks Elizabeth – I’m finding that most of my favorite recipes come from food bloggers – and I love the ease of printing too!

  57. Lauryn on August 29, 2014 at 9:17 am

    this looks delicious!!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:21 am

      Thanks Lauryn!

  58. Jennifer Ramlet on August 29, 2014 at 9:16 am

    This recipe looks yummy! I can’t wait to try it! and Thanks for the chance to win!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:20 am

      Sure thing Jennifer!

  59. Kay on August 29, 2014 at 9:15 am

    This looks delicious, and super healthy!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:20 am

      Thanks Kay – it is!:)

  60. Dawn Kolbet on August 29, 2014 at 9:14 am

    Sounds wonderful! Will send it to my culinary arts major to try out for his 3 year old little sister and maybe the older girls too! So hard to find good recipes for healthy eating when your range of children go from almost 20 to 3 and time is so limited!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:19 am

      Whoa…that is a challenge! Let me know if he has any other ideas to enhance it!

  61. Denise MacKenzie on August 29, 2014 at 9:11 am

    Love these recipes. Wish this pasta was around when my kids were little.
    My son works for Northwestern and ordered the Northwestern pasta for
    tailgates!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:18 am

      Love it! And I plan to post about our Collegiate Salads soon!

  62. Don Rogers on August 29, 2014 at 9:10 am

    Looks awesome! We have all of the ingredients on hand, except for the ABC123 pasta. Gonna have to do this with some farfalle instead. Lunch is handled!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:17 am

      Farfalle is a great shape – and will work just fine! Let me know how it goes – other suggestions have been to add cannelini beans or roasted corn!

  63. samantha on August 29, 2014 at 9:10 am

    I just love that abc pasta. So fun for kids.






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:16 am

      I like it that they are bite sized too!

  64. Kim Davis on August 29, 2014 at 9:07 am

    Love the abc’s So do the kids,






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:15 am

      And if they are happy, we are happy!

  65. Aria H. on August 29, 2014 at 9:06 am

    Good recipe. I am always looking for ways to incorporate more vegetables into our pasta meals.

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:14 am

      Me too…:)

  66. Pauline vrbanic on August 29, 2014 at 9:05 am

    This recipe is a definite will make. You can’t go wrong with a mix of pasta and veggies!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:14 am

      Agreed! Try the BLT too! 🙂

  67. Kathleen Walsh on August 29, 2014 at 9:04 am

    I love all of your fun shaped pastas. It makes cooking dinner so much fun and my family loves them. These recipes are great!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:13 am

      Thanks Kathleen!

  68. vicki howes on August 29, 2014 at 9:02 am

    Not having grown up with pasta in our diet – now looking for new ideas for my husband who eats bowls of it.

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:12 am

      Well I hope you find new ways to serve it here! Thanks Vicki!

  69. Donna Yost on August 29, 2014 at 9:02 am

    This sound so good! I would add roasted corn too I think!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:12 am

      YUM…GREAT idea! Noted!

  70. vickie james on August 29, 2014 at 9:00 am

    love your new pastabilities blog ! <3

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 9:11 am

      Thanks Vickie!

  71. Ellen Townsend on August 29, 2014 at 8:34 am

    Very fresh tasting, love the ABC’s!






    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 8:45 am

      Fresh is right – someone suggested adding cannelini beans which I think is a great idea!

  72. Jen P on August 29, 2014 at 7:33 am

    We love the ABC Pasta! My girls begin kindergarten and first grade next week and like this pasta with cannelini beans mixed in!

    • carey on August 29, 2014 at 7:52 am

      Girls? Does that mean twins?! You have your hands full! Cannelini beans are a favorite of mine too…and what a great addition to this recipe – I’ll give it a try!

Leave a Comment

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.