Sign me up for a delicious bowl of noodles every day. If it’s an easy and healthy pasta recipe, even better. I’m serious, it’s something I crave often, especially after a long day of work and grueling exercise. After taking a bite of the delicious, creamy ice cream, I felt all the tension leave my body and I was renewed. Am I being dramatized? Well, maybe but you probably can’t dispute the fact that pasta is the ultimate comfort food. Many people think that a healthy pasta recipe does not exist, but I ask otherwise. When made with the right ingredients, pasta can be the best of both worlds: filling and nutritious.
In the era of keto diet, pasta and whole carbohydrates Usually get a bad wrap. But fad diets asideCarbohydrates are the fuel for maintaining a healthy, active body and are an important ingredient for building and keeping lean muscle.
Nutrition is not just a “calories in and calories out” approach. As we learned from our resident nutritionist, Edie Horstman, balance blood sugar is important to consider for our overall health and well-being. Simple tricks like pairing pasta with lots of veggies and protein or eating a salad first be a game changer. Another important factor to consider is eating pasta on a day you’ve been significantly physically active. This will help you rebuild your glycogen stores and aid in post-workout recovery and muscle growth. So keep reading to find 15 simple and healthy pasta recipes and why they’re cutting back.
Featured image is from Love and lemon
Creamy chickpea & leek pasta from Pick Up Limes
Why we love it: This noodle dish is full of vegetables. The peas, broccoli, and leeks create a creamy sauce that adds texture and flavor without too much fat. With lots of herbs and a squeeze of fresh lemon, it’s the perfect easy healthy pasta recipe.
Hero composition: Leek. With a mild sweet onion flavor, it adds depth to the dish without sacrificing other ingredients.
Creamy & mushroom pasta from Spain on plate
Why we love it: This simple pasta recipe is creamy, low in fat, and packed with vegetables. Oh, and it’s so simple, it can be done in less than 30 minutes.
Hero composition: Greek yogurt – it makes this recipe low in fat, but very creamy.
Baked Vegetable Pasta with Love & Lemon
Why we love it: This dish is so chewy. If you don’t have zucchini or squash, any other grilled vegetable will do the trick. And made in less than 30 minutes, this bright and rich salad makes for a delicious meal.
Hero composition: Feta Cheese.
Creamy Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff from Rainbow Plant Life
Why we love it: This pasta recipe is for our vegan friends. It’s made with tahini and nutritional yeast so it has a rich umami flavor without any animal products.
Hero composition: Four different types of mushrooms – cremini mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms and maitake mushrooms.
Zucchini Parmesan Pasta from Half Naked Harvest
Why we love it: This pasta recipe manages to have butter and cream without a hint of heavy whipping cream. Secret? Mix a delicious blend of zucchini and caramelized squash for a simple yet comforting meal.
Hero composition: Zucchini.
Pumpkin seed butter pasta with walnuts and love sage & lemon
Why we love it: If creamy butternut squash soup turned into pasta, it would be this one. Soft and caramelized baked squash takes this dish to the next level.
Hero composition: Butternut Squash is definitely the star of the show.
The greenest and most delicious one-pot noodle dish from Green Kitchen Stories
Why we love it: This vibrant green noodle dish is full of vegetables but very light and greasy.
Hero composition: Bucatini pasta is thick and hollow to soak up the delicious sauce.
Garlic Zucchini and Spaghetti from Inspiration
Why we love it: Sometimes their own zucchini noodles don’t cut it. This recipe combines both spaghetti and zucchini spirals to create a nice balance between simple and complex carbs. If you’re on the fence trying to get zucchini noodles, this is the dish for you.
Hero composition: Parmesan.
Instant Spaghetti Squash from Minimalist Baker
Why we love it: Pumpkin spaghetti is sometimes difficult to make. But with the help of an instant pot, this delicious “pasta” will be ready in just 20 minutes.
Hero composition: Spaghetti Squash
Zucchini noodles with fresh herbs from plating and grafting
Why we love it: Another half zucchini and half reishi recipe to convert zucchini noodle skeptics. This recipe is lower in carbs and full of fresh herbs like mint, dill, and parsley for a very refreshing yet filling feeling.
Hero composition: Fried capers
Carrot and Zucchini Pasta with Butter Cucumber Sauce from Downshiftology
Why we love it: This noodle dish is for those zucchini noodle fanatics who can’t have enough. It’s an explosion of low-carb, easy-to-make and light-hearted vegetarian dishes.
Hero composition: The avocado-cucumber sauce is so fresh you’ll want to add it to every meal.
One Pot Creamy Mediterranean Chicken Pasta from The Modern Right
Why we love it: This one-pot wonder will be ready from fridge to table in less than 30 minutes. Made with cream and butter, it has a lighter taste than the rest but is balanced with bright lemon and olive aromas.
Hero composition: Olives.
Lemon Chicken Spaghetti from This Healthy Table
Why we love it: This lemon chicken noodle soup is simple to make and is sure to please the crowd.
Hero composition: Yellow lemon. That acidity really cuts through for an irresistible zingy sensation.
Spaghetti Squash Carbonara from Real Simple Good
Why we love it: This recipe uses the traditional carbonara pasta dish and adds a light twist. This makes it a really well-balanced dish with protein, healthy fats, and lots of flavor.
Hero composition: The bacon will make you drool over every bite.
Tuscan Chicken Spaghetti from Healthy Meal
Why we love it: This quick and easy noodle dish is full of spinach, healthy protein, and very fatty. With a hint of sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, the flavor will satisfy your taste buds and satisfy your hunger.
Hero composition: Almond milk
