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31 Healthy Pasta Recipes That Still Taste Indulgent

healthy pasta recipes cat

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.

healthy pasta recipe lemony broccolini pasta
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. 15-Minute Lemony Broccolini Pasta

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

healthy pasta recipe one pot pasta
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.

healthy pasta recipes spaghetti with tomatoes and burrata
Damn Delicious

3. Summer Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Burrata

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

healthy pasta recipe skillet pasta with summer squash ricotta and basil
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.

healthy pasta recipe avocado pasta
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.)

mushroom alfredo 501
Pinch of Yum

6. Healthy Mushroom Alfredo Pasta Bake

Creamy cauliflower sauce takes this casserole over the top.

healthy pasta recipes pasta alla norma
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Pasta Alla Norma

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

healthy pasta recipe one pot pasta primavera
Foodie Crush

8. Skinny Pasta Primavera

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

healthy pasta recipes vegan one pot orecchiette
Minimalist Baker

9. Vegan Eggplant-Cremini Pasta

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

healthy pasta recipes sweet corn pappardelle
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.

healthy pasta recipes peanut ginger noodles
The Recipe Critic

11. Peanut Ginger Noodles

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

spinach lasagna 501
Pinch of Yum

12. Skinny Spinach Lasagna

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

healthy pasta recipes vegan pasta recipes everything bagel spice aglio e olio pasta
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.

healthy pasta recipes vegan pasta recipes garden fresh herb olive parmesean pasta
Half Baked Harvest

14. Olive and Parmesan Pasta with Pistachio Breadcrumbs

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

creamy vegan lemon asparagus pasta 501
Minimalist Baker

15. Creamy Vegan Lemon Asparagus Pasta

All you need: nine ingredients and 30 minutes.

healthy pasta recipes penne pasta recipes whole wheat greek pasta salad 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.

healthy pasta recipes penne pasta recipes easy balsamic veggie pasta recipe
Gimme Some Oven

17. Easy Balsamic Veggie Pasta

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

healthy pasta recipes cauliflower mac and cheese
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?

healthy pasta recipes pasta recipes apple grape and pecan pasta salad recipe jpg
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.

healthy pasta salad chickpea tomato penne
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.

healthy pasta recipes corn tomato avocado pasta salad jpg
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.

healthy pasta recipes almond and broccoli penne
The Mess is Ours

22. Lemon, Broccoli and Cauliflower Pasta

Minimal prep time, minimal cooking time and maximum payoff.

healthy pasta recipes pomodoro sauce
Foodie Crush

23. Pasta Pomodoro Sauce

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

healthy pasta recipes italian pasta salad
Pinch of Yum

24. Easy Italian Pasta Salad

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

healthy pasta recipes chicken picante
Foodie Crush

25. Chicken Piccata Pasta

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

healthy pasta recipes pea and miso pasta
Bojon Gourmet

26. Vegan Cashew-Miso Pasta with Peas

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

healthy pasta recipes butternut squash carbonara
Damn Delicious

27. Butternut Squash Carbonara

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

healthy pasta recipes pasta with caramelized sweet potatoes kale and pasta
Gimme Some Oven

28. Pasta with Caramelized Sweet Potatoes and Kale

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

healthy pasta recipes linguine and zucchini noodles with shrimp
Foodie Crush

29. Shrimp Scampi Pasta with Zucchini Noodles

Basically checks off all of the food groups.

healthy pasta recipes roasted cauliflower carbonara
Damn Delicious

30. Roasted Cauliflower Carbonara

Similar to our old friend, but more delicious.

spaghetti and meatballs 501
Pinch of Yum

31. Skinny Spaghetti and Meatballs

Hi, old friend. Is that you?


heathgoldmanheadshot 1

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?