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 should I eat if I want pasta? ›

    7 Pasta Alternatives to Satisfy Your Cravings
    • Zucchini Noodles. Looking to cut back on sodium and saturated fats, zucchini is a great place to start on your pasta alternatives journey! ...
    • Spaghetti Squash. ...
    • Quinoa Pasta. ...
    • Shirataki Noodles. ...
    • Sweet Potato. ...
    • Black Bean Pasta. ...
    • Rice Pasta.
    Mar 3, 2022

    What can I 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.

    What should I put on my pasta to be healthy? ›

    Here's a variety of tasty vegetables you can load into your pasta for their flavor, fiber, and nutrients.
    1. Broccoli. Broccoli is a nutritious and versatile vegetable that makes a great addition to any pasta dish. ...
    2. Mushrooms. ...
    3. Peas. ...
    4. Spinach. ...
    5. Tomatoes. ...
    6. Asparagus.
    Apr 11, 2022

    How can I make my pasta more interesting? ›

    If you don't have sauce in the house, grilled, stir-fried or baked veggies can add lots of flavor and texture. Butternut or acorn squash, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and onion are all great options to add to a pasta dish, along with some minced garlic, olive oil, and herbs.

    Why am I craving pasta so bad? ›

    If You're Craving Carb-rich Foods

    When you crave carb-heavy eats like bread and pasta, it may be because your energy levels have taken a nosedive. These same empty carbs can make you crave even more unhealthy foods.

    What causes a craving for pasta? ›

    Rice, bread and pasta

    If you find yourself constantly craving fried rice, bread, noodles, potatoes, pasta, cake or donuts, it might be a sign that your body is exhausted. Carbohydrates are our body's most important source of fuel, and when we're tired, our body signals that it's time for an energy boost.

    Is there a healthier version of pasta? ›

    1. Whole-Wheat Pasta. Whole-wheat pasta is an easy-to-find nutritious noodle that will bump up the nutrition of your pasta dish. Made from whole grains, every cup of cooked pasta (140 grams) boasts 43 g of carbohydrate, 3 g of fiber and 8 g of protein per serving, per the USDA.

    What are the healthiest noodles? ›

    Rice noodles are often considered one of the healthiest options available. They are naturally gluten-free, low in fat, and easy to digest. P'Nut Asian Kitchen incorporates rice noodles into many of their dishes, including the popular Pad Thai and Wonton Noodle Soup.

    Which pasta is the healthiest? ›

    Whole-Wheat Pasta

    Also called whole-grain pasta, this type of pasta keeps the bran, endosperm, and germ of the grain together. It's filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This helps you feel full longer and keeps your blood sugar from spiking.

    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.

    Can you eat pasta when trying to lose weight? ›

    Dietitians and other health care professionals should consider pasta as a low-glycemic carbohydrate option within the context of a healthy diet or a weight loss/weight maintenance diet.

    What is a good protein to add to pasta? ›

    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 can I put in pasta instead of 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.

    How to jazz up boring pasta? ›

    Fresh or dried herbs will also add flavor to pasta dishes.

    "I use a lot of parsley, either fresh or even dried," Montillo said. "Oregano, garlic powder, onion flakes, black pepper all work well in a variety of sauces."

    What to put in bland pasta? ›

    Herbs and Spices: Add a variety of herbs and spices to enhance flavor. Common choices include basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. Fresh herbs can bring a burst of freshness to the sauce. Tomato Paste: Stir in a tablespoon or two of tomato.

    Can I eat pasta if I want to lose weight? ›

    Yes, you can eat pasta and still stick to your weight loss goals and lose fat. The main consideration to keep in mind when making food choices while trying to lose weight is to remain in a calorie deficit. Very simply, if your body uses more calories than you consume, then you will lose weight.

    Can I eat pasta if I want to lose fat? ›

    Dietitians and other health care professionals should consider pasta as a low-glycemic carbohydrate option within the context of a healthy diet or a weight loss/weight maintenance diet.

    What is a good substitute for pasta and rice? ›

    You could try grains like couscous, quinoa and barley to introduce a new flavour to your favourite dishes. Barley and quinoa are both low-GI foods, and quinoa is also a source of protein and fibre, and works particularly well in salads.

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