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36 Light Pasta Recipes That Are Full of Flavor

By Rebecca Shapiro
| Jun. 27, 2020
/
Start Slideshow
36 Light Pasta Recipes That Are Full of Flavor
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

You’ve been trying to keep it healthy, but after a long day, you’re not exactly craving salad. Enter these light pasta recipes that have all the flavor and comfort of classic carb-centric bowls, but with a little less guilt. From a creamy macaroni and cheese with a secret veggie substitute to peanut noodles under 400 calories that tastes like takeout, keep these dishes on-hand during busy weeknights or for summer barbecues.

RELATED: 13 Healthy One-Pot Meals Under 500 Calories

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lightened up pastas lemon broccolini pasta recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1/36

1. Lemon Broccolini Pasta

Infinitely more elegant than spaghetti with tomato sauce.

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lightened up pastas carrot gnocchi recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
2/36

2. Carrot Pasta

These pillowy gnocchi clones use carrots instead of potatoes, which means more vitamins and fewer calories.

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light pasta recipes   mushroom pasta
PHOTO: MICHAEL MARQUAND/STYLING: JODI MORENO
3/36

3. Grain-Free Mushroom, Spinach and Leek Pasta

You can use any variety of grain-free pasta, but we’re a big fan of the Cappello’s brand: fresh pasta that’s both gluten- and grain-free..

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lightened up pastas sundried tomato red lentil pasta recipe
Half Baked Harvest
4/36

4. Golden Sundried Tomato Red Lentil Pasta

This bright red pasta is packed with fiber and healthy carbs—plus, it’s so much prettier than the regular kind.

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light pasta recipes   pasta primivera
Foodie Crush
5/36

5. Skinny Pasta Primavera

Half pasta, half veggies and topped with creamy almond milk sauce.

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lightened up pastas skinny fajita shrimp recipe
Pinch of Yum
6/36

6. Skinny Fajita Shrimp Pasta

Make it with whole-wheat pasta for a little extra virtue.

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lightened up pastas vegan spaghetti squash mushroom marinara recipe
Spoon Fork Bacon
7/36

7. Vegan Spaghetti Squash with Mushroom Marinara Sauce

Psst: Subbing in veggies for pasta means you can have two bowls.

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lightened up pastas vegan creamy pesto recipe
Oh My Veggies
8/36

8. Creamy Vegan Pesto Pasta

Need an easy weeknight dinner? Use store-bought pesto.

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light pasta recipes   veggie pasta
Gimme Some Oven
9/36

9. Easy Balsamic Veggie Pasta

This fresh mix of vegetables and balsamic is filling and healthy at the same time.

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lightened up pastas whole grain pesto recipe
Kajakiki/Getty Images
10/36

10. Whole-Grain Pasta with Pesto, Mozzarella, Pine Nuts and Tomato

The perfect not-sad-desk-lunch option.

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lightened up pastas baked zucchini ziti recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
11/36

11. Baked Zucchini 'Ziti' Spirals with Mozzarella

Even the kids will love this one.

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lightened up pastas vegan zucchini spaghetti puttanesca recipe
Inspiralized
12/36

12. Vegan Zucchini Spaghetti Puttanesca

This recipe from Coterie member Ali Maffucci is little bit spicy, a little bit briny and a lot delicious.

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lightened up pastas vegan butternut squash carbonara recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
13/36

13. Butternut Squash Carbonara

Add in some mashed butternut squash and cut down on the butter and your favorite decadent dish is officially healthy.

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lightened up pastas cauliflower alfredo recipe
What’s Gaby Cooking
14/36

14.Cauliflower Alfredo Pasta

Our favorite veggie saves the day. It’s rich and creamy, without all the calories.

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lightened up pastas peanut ginger noodles recipe
The Recipe Critic
15/36

15. Peanut Ginger Noodles

It tastes just like takeout but will set you back only 400 calories.

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lightened up pastas zoodles lentil bolognese recipe
Minimalist Baker
16/36

16. Zucchini Pasta with Lentil Bolognese

Bonus: It’s ready in just 30 minutes.

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lightened up pastas mushroom kale lasagna rolls
Skinny Taste
17/36

17. Mushroom Kale Lasagna Rolls

It’s basically a green juice wrapped in pasta.

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light pasta recipe   cauliflower mac and cheese
Damn Delicious
18/36

18. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Thanks to the world’s most versatile veggie, a bowl of this stuff is under 500 calories.

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light pasta recipes   limone pasta
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
19/36

19. 15-Minute Limone Pasta

This one-pot, pasta limone is like dinner in your back pocket: You likely have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already, and it comes together in practically no time (well, 15 minutes, to be precise).

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lightened up pastas skinny alfredo ziti with broccoli recipe
Ambitious Kitchen
20/36

20. 30-Minute Skinny Alfredo Ziti with Broccoli

Bonus: It’s totally dairy-free.

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light pasta recipes   summer squash pasta
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
21/36

21. Skillet Pasta with Summer Squash, Ricotta and Basil

We love a one-pan wonder. But we *adore* one that puts sweet, nutty summer squash front and center.

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lightened up pastas zucchini noodles turkey meatballs recipe
Damn Delicious
22/36

22. Zucchini Noodles with Turkey Meatballs

Prep them on Sunday and eat them all week.

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light pasta recipes   cucumber noodles
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
23/36

23. Cold Sesame Cucumber Noodles

Cucumber noodles are so refreshing on a hot day and a breeze to make with a spiralizer or peeler. And the sesame-soy tahini dressing is one for the books.

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lightened up pastas healthy mushroom alfredo bake recipe
Pinch of Yum
24/36

24. Healthy Mushroom Alfredo Pasta Bake

Cauliflower strikes again.

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lightened up pastas sweet potato zoodles almond sauce recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
25/36

25. Sweet Potato Noodles with Almond Sauce

Tastes sinful. (Spoiler: It isn’t.)

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light pasta salad   italian pasta salad
Inspiralized
26/36

26. Italian Zucchini Pasta Salad

Bring this light pasta salad to your next potluck.

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lightened up pastas turkey bolognese lasagna recipe
Foodie Crush
27/36

27. Turkey Bolognese Lasagna Toss

This deconstructed recipe replaces beef with turkey and cuts way down on the cheese, without sacrificing flavor.

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lightened up pastas skinny baked shrimp scampi recipe
Pineapple and Coconut
28/36

28. Skinny Baked Shrimp Scampi

Don’t worry—there’s still a little butter, and plenty of garlic.

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light pasta recipes   pad thai
PHOTO: MICHAEL MARQUAND/STYLING: JODI MORENO
29/36

29. Kelp and Zucchini Noodle Pad Thai

If you haven’t cooked with kelp noodles, they don’t need any cooking—just soaking—and taste a bit like al dente glass noodles. They’re gluten-free, paleo and rich in nutrients like iron, vitamin K, calcium and fiber.

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lightened up pastas roasted red pepper recipe
The Minimalist Baker
30/36

30. Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

It’s vegan and gluten-free. Win-win.

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light pasta recipes   shrimp pasta salad
Two Peas and Their Pod
31/36

31. Easy Shrimp Pasta Salad

Shrimp and farfalle glistening with honey-Dijon dressing? Scampi could never. The fresh dill is a game changer, adding grassy freshness and a pop of green to the bowl.

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light pasta recipe   capellini
Spoon Fork Bacon
32/36

32. Castelvetrano Olive, Lemon and Parmesan Capellini

Briny olives are an unexpected addition to pasta, but with lemons, garlic and cheese, it totally works.

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light pasta recipes   beef ragu
33/36

33. Beef Ragu with Sweet Potato Noodles

Make this one on Sunday and enjoy leftovers all week. Psst, it only takes 20 minutes in total.

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light pasta recipe   avocado pasta
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
34/36

34. Avocado and Black Bean Pasta Salad

If we’re going to eat a giant plate of pasta, it might as well be filled with satisfying protein, too (and creamy avocado, because duh).

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light pasta recipes   cajun pasta
Oh My Veggie
35/36

35. Creamy Vegan Cajun Pasta

Cashew cream replaces traditional hearty cream sauce, in this protein-packed pasta dish.

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light pasta recipes   spring pea pasta
What's Gaby Cooking
36/36

36. Spring Pea Pasta with Burrata

Creamy burrata is balanced with fresh peas, mint and lemon zest.

Get the recipe

View Thumbnails
  • lightened up pastas cauliflower alfredo recipe
    Back to Article
  • lightened up pastas lemon broccolini pasta recipe
  • lightened up pastas carrot gnocchi recipe
  • light pasta recipes   mushroom pasta
  • lightened up pastas sundried tomato red lentil pasta recipe
  • light pasta recipes   pasta primivera
  • lightened up pastas skinny fajita shrimp recipe
  • lightened up pastas vegan spaghetti squash mushroom marinara recipe
  • lightened up pastas vegan creamy pesto recipe
  • light pasta recipes   veggie pasta
  • lightened up pastas whole grain pesto recipe
  • lightened up pastas baked zucchini ziti recipe
  • lightened up pastas vegan zucchini spaghetti puttanesca recipe
  • lightened up pastas vegan butternut squash carbonara recipe
  • lightened up pastas cauliflower alfredo recipe
  • lightened up pastas peanut ginger noodles recipe
  • lightened up pastas zoodles lentil bolognese recipe
  • lightened up pastas mushroom kale lasagna rolls
  • light pasta recipe   cauliflower mac and cheese
  • light pasta recipes   limone pasta
  • lightened up pastas skinny alfredo ziti with broccoli recipe
  • light pasta recipes   summer squash pasta
  • lightened up pastas zucchini noodles turkey meatballs recipe
  • light pasta recipes   cucumber noodles
  • lightened up pastas healthy mushroom alfredo bake recipe
  • lightened up pastas sweet potato zoodles almond sauce recipe
  • light pasta salad   italian pasta salad
  • lightened up pastas turkey bolognese lasagna recipe
  • lightened up pastas skinny baked shrimp scampi recipe
  • light pasta recipes   pad thai
  • lightened up pastas roasted red pepper recipe
  • light pasta recipes   shrimp pasta salad
  • light pasta recipe   capellini
  • light pasta recipes   beef ragu
  • light pasta recipe   avocado pasta
  • light pasta recipes   cajun pasta
  • light pasta recipes   spring pea pasta
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