21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (2024)

Penne for your thoughts.

Hannah LoewentheilPublished on October 08, 2017
21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (2)

Zoë Burnett / BuzzFeed

1. Creamy Avocado Spinach Pasta

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (3)

Jo Cooks / Via jocooks.com

There's absolutely no heavy cream involved in this rich pasta dish. Get the recipe.

2. Easy Balsamic Veggie Pasta

Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

Grab all your favorite veggies, roast them in the oven, and call it pasta night. Get the recipe.

3. Drunken Zucchini Noodles

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (4)

The Movement Menu / Via themovementmenu.com

Who needs takeout when you can make this better-for-you take on an Asian classic? Plus, there's nothing bland about zucchini noodles when they're drowning in a sauce of chili garlic paste, fish sauce, lime, and ginger. Get the recipe.

4. Dairy-Free Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (5)

Love and Lemons / Via loveandlemons.com

Cashew cream takes the place of dairy in this comforting fall dinner. Get the recipe.

6. Sun Dried Tomato Fettuccine

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (6)

Table For Two / Via tablefortwoblog.com

Non-fat Greek yogurt and sour cream makes this pasta taste totally decadent. Get the recipe.

7. Tomato and Ricotta Whole Wheat Pasta

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (7)

Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com

This whole-wheat medley is simple, veggie-packed, and full of flavor. Get the recipe.

8. Mushroom Spaghetti in Olive Oil

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (8)

My Food Story / Via myfoodstory.com

You can leave out the butter all together and make this rustic pasta with nothing more than good olive oil, garlic, parsley, and chili flakes. Get the recipe.

9. Peanut Chicken Zucchini Noodles

Sally's Baking Addiction / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com

Packed with protein and veggies, these Thai-inspired zucchini noodles get a kick from a sauce made with peanut butter, low-sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and Sriracha. Get the recipe.

10. Butternut Squash Alfredo

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (9)

Joyful Healthy Eats / Via joyfulhealthyeats.com

Take advantage of fall's produce and make this rich "alfredo" sauce with roasted butternut squash and milk. Get the recipe.

11. Roasted Cauliflower and Mushroom Carbonara

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (10)

Closet Cooking / Via closetcooking.com

This recipe has all the flavors of classic carbonara, but it's loaded with roasted veggies that'll fill you up without weighing you down. Get the recipe.

12. Ratatouille Spaghetti

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (11)

Wallflower Kitchen / Via wallflowerkitchen.com

Ready in about 20 minutes, this simple spaghetti gets an upgrade from eggplant, zucchini, pepper, and tomato, all sautéed into melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Get the recipe.

13. Pesto Vegetable Pasta

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (12)

Sue Bee Homemaker / Via suebeehomemaker.com

Angel hair pasta gets bulked up with spiralized zucchini, carrots, and squash. Then the whole thing gets tossed in nutty pesto (which you can whip up from scratch or buy pre-made). Get the recipe.

14. Roasted Veggie Pasta

Simple Bites / Via simplebites.net

Pop your favorite fall veggies into the oven while the pasta cooks, then toss it all together on a sheet pan with olive oil and Parmesan cheese for a feel-good weeknight pasta you'll want to make time and time again. Get the recipe.

15. Sun Dried Tomato and Basil Pasta with Shrimp

Carlsbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com

Who knew you could make such a fancy dinner in just 20 minutes? Get the recipe.

16. Lemon Broccoli Skillet Pasta

The Food Charlatan / Via thefoodcharlatan.com

This vegetarian meal is loaded with roasted broccoli, and it gets a zesty-hot kick from garlic, lemon, and red pepper flakes. Get the recipe.

17. Butternut Squash Noodles with Spinach and Ricotta

Running to the Kitchen / Via runningtothekitchen.com

Sauté spiralized butternut squash for about 5 minutes in garlic and olive oil and it'll become slightly-soft like perfectly al dente pasta. Get the recipe.

18. Parsnip Pasta with Brussel Sprouts and Sausage

Skinny Taste / Via skinnytaste.com

Look! It's everything you love most about fall in a single skillet. Get the recipe.

19. Carrot Gnocchi

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (13)

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL / Via purewow.com

You've never had gnocchi like this before. Carrots take the place of potatoes in this light and airy recipe that gets dressed in a sauce of butter, garlic, and sage. Get the recipe.

20. Spaghetti with Mushroom Lentil Ragu

21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (14)

Fox Loves Lemons / Via foxeslovelemons.com

Bookmark this one for meatless Monday. Get the recipe.

21. Dairy-Free Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Crazy Vegan Kitchen / Via crazyvegankitchen.com

This red pepper blender sauce is made with nut milk, tomato passata, and nutritional yeast...and you'll want to put it on just about everything from now on. Get the recipe.

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    21 Healthyish Noodle Recipes That Will Satisfy Your Pasta Craving (2024)

    FAQs

    What to eat instead of pasta? ›

    8 Low-Carb & Grain-Free Substitutes for Pasta
    • Zucchini. Zucchini is a popular noodle substitute because its texture makes it easy to spiral out into spaghetti-like shapes. ...
    • Cauliflower. ...
    • Spaghetti Squash. ...
    • Egg Noodles. ...
    • Cucumber. ...
    • Broccoli. ...
    • Eggplant. ...
    • Cabbage.

    How to make pasta more healthy? ›

    How to make pasta dishes healthier
    1. GO WHOLEWHEAT OR WHOLEGRAIN. There are many varieties of pasta available these days. ...
    2. THINK OF PASTA AS A SIDE DISH. Chances are the amount of pasta you pile in your bowl is twice what you actually should have (or end up eating). ...
    3. PACK IT WITH PROTEIN & VEGGIES. ...
    4. ADD FRESH HERBS. ...
    5. REHEAT!

    How do you add nutrition to pasta? ›

    5 Ways to Make Pasta Dishes More Nutritious and Filling
    1. Add Beans and Lentils. Legumes are a cheap and sustainable source of protein. ...
    2. Use Nutritional Yeast. Missing parmesan? ...
    3. Opt for Whole Grains. Whole wheat pasta varieties are widely available in the UK. ...
    4. Add in Dark Leafy Greens. ...
    5. Add in Smoked Tofu.
    Aug 28, 2020

    What are the healthiest noodles? ›

    6 Healthy Noodles You Should Be Eating, According to a Dietitian
    • Whole-Wheat Pasta.
    • Chickpea Pasta.
    • Veggie Noodles.
    • Red Lentil Pasta.
    • Soba Noodles.
    • White Pasta.
    Jul 13, 2023

    What is the healthiest pasta? ›

    What Is The Healthiest Type of Pasta?
    • Whole-Wheat Pasta. Whole wheat pasta, or whole grain pasta, is made from the entire grain of the wheat stalk, including the bran, endosperm, and germ. ...
    • Chickpea Pasta. ...
    • Legume-Based Pastas. ...
    • Soba Noodles. ...
    • Rice Noodles. ...
    • Quinoa Noodles. ...
    • Vegetable Noodles. ...
    • White Pasta.

    Can I eat pasta everyday and be healthy? ›

    It is possible to eat pasta daily and still be healthy. The key to eating pasta every day is to limit your portion size and supplement your pasta bowl with essential nutrients. The recommended portion size is two ounces of dry pasta or one cup of cooked pasta.

    Which pasta sauce is the healthiest? ›

    The healthiest pasta sauces get most of their fat from olive oil (marinara) or olive oil and nuts (pesto), not cream or cheese (alfredo).

    What pasta has the lowest carbs? ›

    1. Shirataki noodles (konjac noodles) and tofu shirataki noodles. If you're counting carbs and craving pasta, these are your best bet. ...
    2. Zucchini noodles. Also known as zoodles, these are simply long strands that have been spiralized from whole squash. ...
    3. Hearts of palm noodles. ...
    4. Spaghetti squash noodles.
    Oct 31, 2022

    What to put on pasta when you have no sauce? ›

    Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

    What is a good protein to add to pasta? ›

    Here are some of our tips for adding a dose of protein to your meals: Meat lovers – Add some lean poultry to pasta for an extra protein boost. In addition to a high protein content, chicken and turkey also provide a number of vitamins and minerals like B vitamins (especially B6 and niacin) and selenium and zinc.

    What is a good protein for pasta? ›

    The ideal protein to have with pasta will vary depending on your dietary requirements and preferences. You can top your preferred pasta with chicken or sausage if you'd rather eat a meat-based protein. Similarly, you may consider pairing fish, shrimp, seeds, or nuts with your pasta for a non-meat protein option.

    What do Italians eat other than pasta? ›

    Authentically Italy: 7 Delicious Italian Dishes That Aren't Pizza...
    • Melanzane di Parmigiana. This famous dish is made of layers of grilled eggplant with marinara sauce and parmesan cheese baked in the oven. ...
    • Chicken Cacciatora. ...
    • Ribolitta. ...
    • Arancini. ...
    • Cipollate con Pancetta. ...
    • Risotto. ...
    • Insalata Caprese.
    Jan 28, 2020

    How can I get carbs without pasta? ›

    Not a Fan of Pasta? 10 Healthy Carb-Loading Meals for Runners
    1. Quinoa Pilaf. ...
    2. Oven-Baked Chicken and Rice. ...
    3. Barley Risotto with Mushrooms and Spinach. ...
    4. Salmon and Potato Foil Packets. ...
    5. Roasted Vegetable Whole-Wheat Pizza. ...
    6. Steak and Sweet Potato Bowls. ...
    7. Mediterranean Farro Salad. ...
    8. Vegetable Fried Brown Rice.
    Nov 4, 2017

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