Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (2024)

By: Chris Freytag, CPT // January 16, 2023

Delicious pasta doesn’t have to be packed with calories. There are so many ways to make healthy pasta recipes with ingredients that fit into a healthy lifestyle.

Giving up foods you love when you’re trying to lose weight makes it hard to stick to a healthy lifestyle. That’s why at Get Healthy U, we don’t subscribe to diets or deprivation; instead, we are all about enjoying the foods you love but just making them healthier.

And let’s be honest; there are so many things to love about pasta; this comfort food makes for a quick weeknight dinner, an easy option for lunch meal prep, and it’s inexpensive!

With some simple swaps and adding loads of fresh vegetables, you can turn a humble box of noodles into a healthy and satisfying meal you can feel good eating!

Healthy Pasta Recipes

Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (1)

Roasted Tomato & Artichoke Pesto Pasta

This colorful pesto pastais full of veggies and flavor—withoutany oil orcholesterol you’d find intraditional pesto. The quick, throw-it-together sauce is made creamy and nutty with walnuts, refreshing with basil, and lightly garlicky with – yep! – garlic. Just about every vegetable makes an appearance here; kale, arugula, artichoke hearts, tomatoes,red pepper and mushrooms eachshine boldly atop thebright green, whole-grain pasta.

Butternut Squash Noodles with Chicken and Roasted Red Peppers

If you’ve never tried vegetable noodles, you’re about to be hooked. I love to use my Spiral Vegetable Slicer – I use it to make noodles, pizzas, and casseroles galore with all sorts of different veggies but this particular butternut squash noodles recipe is one of my absolute favorites.

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Lemon Swiss Chard Pasta

A quick and easy vegetarian weeknight pasta made with lemon, garlic, and Swiss chard. This recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make. Capers and green olives give the sauce just the right balance of flavor and acidity. Can be made vegan or gluten-free with a couple of simple swaps.

Beef Stroganoff with Potato Noodles

Warm up with this creamy Beef Stroganoff recipe that uses potato noodles as the base. This dairy-free, grain-free recipe is full of rich deep flavors and very satisfying. The coconut milk creates such a rich sauce you won’t believe it’s not cream.

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Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (5)

Creamy pumpkin, sage, broccolini and, kale pasta

Pumpkin and pasta? Yes, please! This combination will fill you up but is also lower in fat and calories and high in essential micro-nutrients – hooray!

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Light Lemon Pesto Pasta

Light yet full of flavor, this pesto is perfect tossed with hot spaghetti for a quick and low-calorie pasta dinner.

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Simple Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

This healthy pasta is fast and easy to make, ready in under thirty minutes. While this pasta is all about the roasted red peppers,the sun-dried tomatoes really add another depth of flavor! Something about their sweetness and intense flavor just adds so much to the recipe!! You’ll be making this sauce on repeat!

Asian Noodle Edamame Salad with Peanut Dressing

When it comes to eating healthy, we want to make sure what we’re making to nourish our body, still packs major flavor. This Asian Noodle Edamame Salad is the perfect example of that. We loaded this dish with tons of good for you veggies like red pepper, carrots, purple cabbage, edamame and topped it with

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Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (9)

Bangkok Peanut Mango Pasta.

You have to try this delicious healthy meal. I can make it in just 15 minutes, and dinner is done… so my kind of meal. Plus, there are practically zero cleanups.

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Spicy Sausage And Brussels Sprouts Pasta

This easy vegetarian pasta features spicy plant-based sausage, crispy sage, and brussels sprouts. It takes less than 30 minutes to make! The creamy sauce is flavored with onions and garlic—and comes together while the pasta cooks. (Vegan option, Gluten free option)

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Pappardelle with Artichoke & Almond Sauce, Purple Kale & White Asparagus

With a drizzle of olive oil, a handful of almonds,and a heaping spoonful of green vegetables, this dish embodies the Mediterranean diet similar to the diet ofthose on the island ofIkaria.

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Creamy Spinach Sweet Potato Noodles with Cashew Sauce

You have to try these caramelized sweet potato noodles! Gently sautéed spinach and a good dose of creamy cashew sauce tossed together for a really comforting weeknight vegetarian/vegan meal. It’s thick and creamy and it’s super satisfying!

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Farmers’ Market Pasta with Walnut Pesto

Farmer’s Market Pasta! Vegan, summer veggie-loaded pasta with roasted garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and a big dollop of herby walnut pesto. There are endless combinations to this delicious pasta, I know you’ll love it as much as I do!

Pro Tips For Making Healthy Pasta

  1. You can make any pasta recipe gluten-free by choosing the best noodles. I have tried SO MANY gluten-free pasta brands, and these are my favorites because they hold their form, taste great, and are made with superior ingredients:Tolerant Lental Pasta and Banza Chickpea Pasta.
  2. If you’re looking to sneak vegetables past kids (or picky adults!), you can also easily puree and grate your favorites into any recipe!
  3. If you want to skip the noodle part of your pasta altogether, try making a noodle alternative with a spiralizer or using spaghetti squash!

Food

Printed from GetHealthyU.com

2 Comments

Karen on March 18, 2024 at 12:45 PMReply

Could you please give me your recipe for Easy avocado mac and cheese with sun dried tomatoes, thankyou!

    Chris Freytag, CPT on March 19, 2024 at 9:54 PMReply

    Well - we don't have a recipe for an easy avocado Mac and Cheese with sun dried tomatoes - but I am going to look for one because that sounds amazing!

Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest pasta for weight loss? ›

In fact, whole wheat or whole grain pasta is the best option for weight loss as whole wheat pasta takes longer to digest than pasta made from refined flour. Slower digestion means blood sugar will rise slowly after consumption, preventing your body from storing excess fat.

What type of pasta has the least calories? ›

"Vegetable-based pastas, such as zucchini noodles or hearts of palm noodles, tend to be lowest in carbs and calories," says Sassos. "They are also packed with nutrient-dense vitamins and minerals and are naturally gluten-free.

Can you eat pasta when trying to lose weight? ›

Dietitians and other health care professionals should consider pasta as a low-glycemic carbohydrate option within the context of a healthy diet or a weight loss/weight maintenance diet.

What pasta is good for losing belly fat? ›

You can make any fat-burning pasta dish by using whole-grain, high-protein noodles, adding lean meats, and replacing fatty dairy products with low-fat cream and cheese.

Is rice or pasta better for weight loss? ›

At 117 calories per 100g Vs pasta's 160 calories per 100g, rice has significantly lower calories, so swapping pasta to rice may be beneficial for anyone controlling their calories as a way to lose or maintain their weight.

Is pasta less fattening than rice? ›

Pasta comes first at 160 calories per 100 gram cooked serving, followed by white rice at 130 calories. Couscous and quinoa switch places in terms of calorie ranking, with quinoa coming in at 120 calories and couscous at 112 calories.

What pasta has no carbs? ›

Shirataki noodles (konjac noodles) and tofu shirataki noodles. If you're counting carbs and craving pasta, these are your best bet. Shirataki noodles are a traditional Japanese product made from a fiber called glucomannan, which is produced from konjac, an Asian root vegetable.

How do you make pasta less calories? ›

  1. Making a healthier version of classic pasta dishes is definitely possible with some simple substitutions and cooking techniques.
  2. *By adding vegetables.
  3. * using homemade tomato-based sauces.
  4. * Reducing Cheese.
  5. *Limit Salt.
  6. * Using Healthy Fats like olive oil or avocado oil.
Jul 31, 2023

Are egg noodles healthier than pasta? ›

Are Egg Noodles Healthy? Egg noodles can give you extra nutrients that regular pasta won't, though they also lack in some areas compared to pasta. Still, you don't have to choose only one. Add both to your pantry for a well-rounded diet and supplement each with vegetables, proteins, and other sources of nutrients.

Which carbs to avoid to lose weight? ›

A low-carb diet generally limits grains, legumes, fruits, breads, sweets, pastas and starchy vegetables, and sometimes nuts and seeds.

Is pasta or potatoes better for weight loss? ›

Of rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread, potatoes are the healthiest of these starchy and complex carbohydrate foods. This is because potatoes are dense in nutrients, containing essential minerals, vitamins, and other micronutrients. Potatoes are also high in fiber, helping to satiate hunger and regulate blood sugar.

Why am I losing weight eating pasta? ›

Pasta typically has a low-GI, meaning that it increases your blood sugar levels at a slower rate than other refined carbohydrates, such as white bread. The researchers from St Michael's Hospital in Toronto found that those who ate pasta as part of a low-GI diet actually ended up losing a small amount of weight.

What foods cut out belly fat? ›

Five foods that may help burn belly fat include:
  • foods with soluble fiber like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
  • foods with protein like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
  • fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
  • foods with probiotics like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
  • green tea.

What pasta is skinnier than spaghetti? ›

Capellini: With ultra-thin strands that measure between 0.85 and 0.92 millimeters, this pasta is delicate and falls apart if overcooked. It's often labeled as “angel hair” pasta.

What cheese is best for weight loss? ›

Cheese variants such as Feta, low-fat cottage cheese, cheddar, swiss, and parmesan are excellent choices for weight loss, especially regarding reducing belly fat. Not only are these cheeses full of beneficial nutrients, but they also come in low-calorie servings.

What type of pasta is the healthiest? ›

Whole-Wheat Pasta

Also called whole-grain pasta, this type of pasta keeps the bran, endosperm, and germ of the grain together. It's filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This helps you feel full longer and keeps your blood sugar from spiking.

What type of pasta is lowest in carbs? ›

Palmini low-carb pasta uses the interior of a type of palm tree to create a pasta-like substitution. If you've ever had hearts of palm, the taste is somewhat unique (some people love it, and others hate it). As far as low carb noodles are concerned, Palmini is a great option with fewer carbs than most.

What is a healthier version of pasta? ›

Quinoa Pasta

Quinoa is naturally gluten-free and contains a ton of nutrients like iron, B-vitamins, magnesium, calcium, fiber and more! It is one of only a few plant foods considered a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids.

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