food

31 Healthy Pasta Recipes That Still Taste Indulgent

Yes, you can fall face-first into a warm, cheesy plate of pasta and come out on the other end of it feeling, well, fantastic. The trick? Using whole, fresh ingredients and making some smart swaps when possible. Voilà, 31 healthy pasta recipes that are all still super satisfying.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. 15-Minute Lemony Broccolini Pasta

It’s gorgeous enough to serve at your next dinner party.

Get the recipe
Inspired Entertainment/ The Domestic Geek's Meals Made Easy

2. One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

The best part (beyond having just one pot to clean)? You can customize the recipe to your heart’s content.

Get the recipe
Damn Delicious

3. Summer Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Burrata

It's pretty magical and not too fancy for the kiddos.

Get the Recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. Skillet Pasta with Summer Squash, Ricotta and Basil

This delicious one-pan meal is summer in a skillet.

Get the recipe
Erin McDowell

5. Spaghetti with Avocado Pasta Sauce

This recipe is rich but totally virtuous, and the whole meal takes just 30 minutes to prepare. (Cue singing angels.)

Get the recipe
Pinch of Yum

6. Healthy Mushroom Alfredo Pasta Bake

Creamy cauliflower sauce takes this casserole over the top.

Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Pasta Alla Norma

Best of all, you can make four servings for less than $10. Salute!

Get the recipe
Foodie Crush

8. Skinny Pasta Primavera

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

Get the recipe
Minimalist Baker

9. Vegan Eggplant-Cremini Pasta

Full of good-for-you veggies and fresh herbs.

Get the recipe
Jeanine Donofrio/Love and Lemons Every Day

10. Creamy Sweet Corn Pappardelle

Cashews and lemon create a cream sauce that doesn’t use any actual cream for this way-too-easy-to-eat pappardelle.

Get the recipe
The Recipe Critic

11. Peanut Ginger Noodles

Whole-wheat linguine gets bathed in a luscious Thai sauce.

Get the recipe
Pinch of Yum

12. Skinny Spinach Lasagna

Hold the phone: It’s less than 250 calories a serving.

Get the recipe
I am a Food Blog

13. Everything Bagel Spice Aglio E Olio Pasta

If pasta is the best carb, bagels are a close second, and this super easy recipe combines the two for a tasty vegan hybrid.

Get the recipe
Half Baked Harvest

14. Olive and Parmesan Pasta with Pistachio Breadcrumbs

This pasta is gorgeous, salty, savory and crunchy in all the right ways.

Get the recipe
Minimalist Baker

15. Creamy Vegan Lemon Asparagus Pasta

All you need: nine ingredients and 30 minutes.

Get the recipe
Foodie Crush

16. Whole Wheat Greek Pasta Salad

The whole wheat penne adds a nutty flavor and ups the nutrition factor at the same time.

Get the recipe
Gimme Some Oven

17. Easy Balsamic Veggie Pasta

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

Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

18. Roasted Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese

plus a whole head of cauliflower florets. That makes this count as a vegetable, right?

Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

19. Apple, Grape and Pecan Pasta Salad

Salty Parmesan cheese will pop on the tongue alongside sweet grapes and apples.

Get the recipe
Bojon Gourmet

20. Gluten-Free Spicy Tomato Chickpea Pasta

Chickpea noodles are gluten-free, low in carbs and packed with extra protein—a no-brainer in this already chickpea-heavy recipe.

Get the recipe
Nutritionist Easts

21. Corn, Tomato and Avocado Pasta Salad

This classic combo of summer produce never gets old. Especially mixed with cubes of sharp cheddar, fresh basil and lemon juice.

Get the recipe
The Mess is Ours

22. Lemon, Broccoli and Cauliflower Pasta

Minimal prep time, minimal cooking time and maximum payoff.

Get the recipe
Foodie Crush

23. Pasta Pomodoro Sauce

Twirl, fork, repeat. Even the kids will like this recipe.

Get the recipe
Pinch of Yum

24. Easy Italian Pasta Salad

The gang’s all here: cherry tomatoes, fresh mozz, Kalamata olives, salami and pepperoncini.

Get the Recipe
Foodie Crush

25. Chicken Piccata Pasta

When the toppings are this good, the pasta is pretty much just filler.

Get the Recipe
Bojon Gourmet

26. Vegan Cashew-Miso Pasta with Peas

Just what the doctor ordered. We’re officially obsessed with this recipe.

Get the Recipe
Damn Delicious

27. Butternut Squash Carbonara

Nothing screams “comfort food” like a steamy plate of carbonara.

Get the Recipe
Gimme Some Oven

28. Pasta with Caramelized Sweet Potatoes and Kale

It’s so healthy, it’s basically a salad.

Get the Recipe
Foodie Crush

29. Shrimp Scampi Pasta with Zucchini Noodles

Basically checks off all of the food groups.

Get the Recipe
Damn Delicious

30. Roasted Cauliflower Carbonara

Similar to our old friend, but more delicious.

Get the Recipe
Pinch of Yum

31. Skinny Spaghetti and Meatballs

Hi, old friend. Is that you?

Get the recipe

Heath Goldman

Food Editor

From 2017 to 2019 Heath Goldman held the role of Food Editor covering food, booze and some recipe development, too. Tough job, eh?
read full bio

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.