Ditalini with Air-Fried Veggies (Print View)

Tender ditalini tossed with crisp air-fried vegetables and a light olive oil dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz ditalini pasta
02 - Salt, for pasta water

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small zucchini, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small red onion, chopped
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1 cup broccoli florets
08 - 2 tbsp olive oil
09 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
10 - ½ tsp salt
11 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Dressing & Finish

12 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
13 - 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley
15 - Zest of ½ lemon
16 - Crushed red pepper flakes, optional

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Set the air fryer to 400°F.
02 - In a large bowl, combine zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli with olive oil, dried Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper; toss to coat evenly.
03 - Arrange vegetables in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until tender and lightly browned.
04 - Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook ditalini until al dente according to package directions; drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
05 - In a large serving bowl, mix the drained pasta with the air-fried vegetables; drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, add Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and fresh herbs; toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water if needed to moisten.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning as desired; serve warm topped with additional Parmesan and red pepper flakes if using.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Vegetables taste genuinely crispy and flavorful instead of steamed into submission, and it happens in your air fryer while pasta cooks.
  • You can raid your fridge without guilt—this dish works with whatever vegetables are taking up space.
  • It comes together in 35 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you need dinner but didn't plan ahead.
02 -
  • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket or vegetables will steam instead of crisp; if you have more vegetables than fit comfortably, cook them in batches.
  • Shaking the basket halfway through isn't optional—it's what prevents one side from browning while the other stays pale and gives everything that coveted caramelized finish.
  • Pasta water is liquid gold here; its starch helps create a light sauce and makes the dish feel cohesive rather than dry, so don't discard it.
03 -
  • Cut all vegetables to roughly the same size so they finish cooking at the same time—this small attention to detail makes the entire dish feel more polished.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, lower the temperature to 190°C (375°F) and add a minute or two; every air fryer has its own personality, and learning yours makes cooking more intuitive.
Go Back