It’s always smart to take care of yourself by watching your nutritional intake and keeping yourself on track with a healthy, well-rounded diet. Sometimes, however, you just need some carbs! There’s nothing wrong with the occasional craving for good pasta. Your body does, after all, require more than vegetables. There are plenty of ways to go about enjoying pasta in a healthier, diet friendly way.
Check out these 15 mouthwatering pasta recipes that are just healthy enough to not completely wreck your diet!
1. Creamy vegan lemon and asparagus pasta
We all know the words “creamy” and “diet” don’t usually go together, but this recipe by Minimalist Baker is a unique exception to the rule. It’s made with almond milk instead of actual cream, but it still gives you that satisfying ‘guilty pleasure’ texture. It’s also jam packed with veggies and zesty taste!
2. One pot spaghetti alla puttanesca with chickpeas and artichoke
Yup, It’s Vegan shows you a wonderfully diet-friendly recipe that balances out the carbs you’ll consume in the pasta with a whole host of flavour rich veggies to really fill you up make the meal worth it..
3. Healthy garlic shrimp and broccoli pasta
Well Plated makes sure that the ratio of healthy broccoli to noodles is a good one! If you’re worried about feeling totally satisfied after the meal because you’re controlling your portions, a recipe like this that adds more veggies and protein rather than just more noodles is ideal.
4. Sesame-peanut soba noodle salad with avocado
Maybe you’re craving a noodle dish but a big pasta with thick noodles sounds like a bit too much? Try soba noodles instead! This recipe by Yes to Yolks is made sesame seeds, peanut sauce, and fresh avocado, meaning it’s completely delicious.
5. Creamy avocado and spinach pasta
Greens, greens, and more greens! This recipe by Jo Cooks is full of healthy green vegetable nutrients, but it also features a mouthwatering sauce. It keeps your carb fix healthy and yummy.
6. Mushroom Bolognese
Instead of a bolognese dish piled high with large portions of meat, try replacing the meatballs with an awesome standout vegetable instead! Mushrooms add a unique flavour to the classic dish and make sure you come away from the meal feeling nice and full. Get the recipe from Gimme Some Oven.
7. Sicilian pasta with almonds and anchovies
Nuts and seafood are a great way to get protein too! They’re the perfect alternative to your standard chicken diet dish, which you might need to occasional break from no matter how much you love chicken. Check it out on The View From Great Island.
8. Chicken sausage and kale penne
Sausages are just one of those foods that get you craving sometimes. Classic sausages, however, aren’t always very diet friendly. Try replacing them with less fatty chicken sausages, just like this awesome chicken sausage and kale pasta from Eat, Drink, Love.
9. Fettucine with cauliflower alfredo
This unbelievable recipe by Pinch of Yum gives you all kinds of healthy alternatives that still result in a deliciously creamy, satisfying dish! This sauce is made from blended cauliflower instead of a cream base and the noodles are actually sweet potato noodles.
10. Rotini and pea pesto with sun-dried tomato and arugula
Anything involving sun-dried tomato and pesto is automatically going to be packed with flavour no matter how many other healthy ingredients you put in! This one looks and smells almost as good as it tastes. Minimalist Baker shows you how it’s done.
11. Skinny spaghetti and meatballs
If a classic spaghetti and meatballs is the absolute only thing that will satisfy your craving, then Pinch of Yum is here to save the day. This recipe takes calories and nutritional value into account by using half lean turkey and half finely chopped veggies to make the meatballs and low glycerin or gluten free noodles.
12. Penne rosa with veggies and shrimp
Back to Her Roots understands the value of a good tomato rose sauce, just like us! Dieting or prioritizing health doesn’t have to mean you avoid delicious foods like that. This recipe, for example, uses Greek yogurt instead of cream. Add in some flavourful shrimp and you’re all set!
13. Spinach artichoke lasagna
Cookie + Kate reminds you how good veggies can be for substituting fattier meats so you can still enjoy your favourite classic dishes. This amazing lasagna includes spinach, artichokes, and cottage cheese.
14. Healthy linguine with white clam sauce
Skinny Mom knows the value of seafood when it comes to keeping things on healthier side but still enjoyable. This recipe is full of ingredients that avoid the heavy cream element many pastas are made from, as well as heavy meats. Instead, it uses spices and white wine for taste.
15. Slow cooker turkey Ragu with linguine
The Yummy Life knows that you’re probably very busy, and preparing genuinely healthy meals in a time crunch can be hard. That’s where your slow cooker comes in! Using pre-made Ragu sauce, which is quite nutritious already, also helps. Add some ground turkey to keep the fat content down and you’ll have a hearty sauce by the end of the work day!
