Step 1

Heat the oven to 425°F. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 425°F. Meanwhile, prep the vegetables.

Step 2

Chop up the vegetables. Peel the vegetables if desired, then cut into uniform pieces so they cook evenly. Smaller pieces will cook more quickly; larger pieces will take a bit longer to cook. If your vegetables still have some moisture after washing, be sure to pat them as dry as possible; the drier the vegetable, the better it will roast.

Step 3

Toss the vegetables with olive oil and season. Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl. Add the oil, salt, and pepper and toss to combine. Add more oil if the vegetables still look dry or don't seem evenly coated.

Step 4

Spread onto a baking sheet. Spread the vegetables out on a rimmed baking sheet, in an oven-proof skillet, or in a baking dish. Make sure they are in a single layer with a little space in between. If they are too crowded, the vegetables will steam instead of roast -- use 2 baking sheets if needed instead.

Step 5

Estimate your cooking time. In general, softer vegetables, like green beans and cauliflower, will cook in 10 to 20 minutes, and tough, hard vegetables, like winter squash and potatoes, will take 30 minutes or longer. Large pieces will also take longer to cook than smaller pieces.

Step 6

Roast the vegetables until tender. Place the vegetables in the oven and begin roasting. Check and stir the vegetables every 10 to 15 minutes. Continue roasting until the vegetables are easily pierced with a fork or knife and they are showing crispy, charred bits at the tips and edges.

Step 7

Serve. Transfer the vegetables to a serving dish and taste; sprinkle with more salt or pepper if needed.