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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Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (3)

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!

Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (6)

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.

Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (7)

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.

Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (12)

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!

Healthy Pasta Recipes | Low-Calorie Pasta For Weight Loss (13)

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 is the lowest calorie type of pasta? ›

"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. Shirataki noodles and kelp noodles are also quite low in carbs and calories."

What to eat with pasta for weight loss? ›

Along with veggies, do not forget to add sources of protein in your pasta. Protein should fill 1/4 of your pasta plate or bowl. You can add lean chicken or fresh fish like salmon in your pasta. If you are making a vegetarian pasta, add legumes such as white beans.

Can I eat pasta and still 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.

Is pasta better than potatoes for weight loss? ›

OR PASTA. AND they make you feel fuller for longer. than rice or pasta because of the way their are.

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.

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.

What pasta has the least amount of carbs? ›

THE BREAKDOWN: BEST LOW-CARB PASTA BRANDS RANKED
  • IT'S SKINNY PASTA & RICE. ...
  • PALMINI LOW-CARB PASTA. ...
  • GREEN GIANT BUTTERNUT SQUASH VEGGIE SPIRALS. ...
  • BANZA CHICKPEA PASTA. ...
  • SOLELY ORGANIC DRIED SPAGHETTI SQUASH. ...
  • EXPLORE EDAMAME SPAGHETTI. ...
  • MIRACLE NOODLE PASTA. ...
  • THINSLIM FOODS IMPASTABLE LOW-CARB PASTA.
Mar 25, 2024

What pasta is skinnier than spaghetti? ›

Vermicelli Pasta

These long strands of pasta are thinner than spaghetti but thicker than angel hair. You can use just as you would either of those. Also known as spaghettini. Browse our entire collection of Vermicelli Recipes.

Can I lose weight eating pasta and rice? ›

A good bowl of spaghetti or risotto can be part of a weight-loss plan. In fact, as long as you don't overdo the portions, pasta may help you eat a higher-quality diet, according to results published in a 2020 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Nutrition.

How many cups of pasta should I eat to lose weight? ›

For a meal, I typically advise my weight loss clients to keep their portion of cooked pasta to 1 to 1.5 cups (women) and 1.5 to 2 cups (men). The serving size of pasta on nutrition labels is given as a dry weight, so it can be hard to know how much to cook.

What can I add to pasta to make it healthier? ›

Here's a variety of tasty vegetables you can load into your pasta for their flavor, fiber, and nutrients.
  1. Broccoli. Broccoli is a nutritious and versatile vegetable that makes a great addition to any pasta dish. ...
  2. Mushrooms. ...
  3. Peas. ...
  4. Spinach. ...
  5. Tomatoes. ...
  6. Asparagus.
Apr 11, 2022

How much weight can you lose in 2 weeks without carbs? ›

The amount of weight you can lose on a low-carb diet in 2 weeks can vary widely depending on factors such as your starting weight, adherence to the diet, and individual metabolism. Some individuals have reported losing up to 10 pounds or more in two weeks, while others may experience less dramatic results.

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 tuna and pasta good for weight loss? ›

It's a great source of protein that comes at an affordable cost. It's low in calories and fat yet is jam-packed with nutrients. Each serving of tuna has omega-3s and other various vitamins and minerals, like vitamin D and selenium. These nutrients are part of a healthy, balanced diet.

What pasta has the least carbs? ›

THE BREAKDOWN: BEST LOW-CARB PASTA BRANDS RANKED
  • IT'S SKINNY PASTA & RICE. ...
  • PALMINI LOW-CARB PASTA. ...
  • GREEN GIANT BUTTERNUT SQUASH VEGGIE SPIRALS. ...
  • BANZA CHICKPEA PASTA. ...
  • SOLELY ORGANIC DRIED SPAGHETTI SQUASH. ...
  • EXPLORE EDAMAME SPAGHETTI. ...
  • MIRACLE NOODLE PASTA. ...
  • THINSLIM FOODS IMPASTABLE LOW-CARB PASTA.
Mar 25, 2024

Can I eat protein pasta and still lose weight? ›

University of Maryland nutrition pro Pamela Peeke, MD, notes that nutrients in protein pasta “make it easier for your body to burn fat.” And that's especially true for those of us over age 50, the doctor adds.

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.

Is brown or white pasta better for weight loss? ›

Unlike white pasta, which is made from refined wheat and has a higher glycemic index, whole wheat pasta has a lower glycemic index and may help you feel fuller for longer. This can be helpful for weight loss, as it may help reduce the temptation to snack on unhealthy foods.

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