The 40+ Best Healthy Pasta Recipes! These are the best healthy pasta dishes – from one pot pasta to make ahead pasta meals and more!
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We have a delicious roundup of over 40 easy and nutritious pasta recipes that are perfect for busy people and family dinners!
Whether you’re a pasta lover or just looking for nutritious meal ideas, there’s a recipe you’ll love. In this collection, we’ve got something for everyone from wholesome pasta dishes to quick and convenient one-pot wonders.
Plus, we’ll show you some make ahead meals and dishes that make fantastic leftovers, making your meal planning a breeze.
Why We Love Quick Healthy Pasta Dishes on Busy Weeks!
Healthy Pasta Meals are one of our favorite healthy dinners because:
- Nutrient Rich Ingredients: Many healthy pasta recipes incorporate heart healthy ingredients like olive oil, garlic, and lots of vegetables. These nutrient dense ingredients can help support overall well-being and keep you feeling satisfied.
- Energy Boosting Meal: Carbohydrates in pasta provide a quick and reliable source of energy. Opting for healthier pasta choices ensures sustained energy release, helping you stay energized.
- Versatility and Flavor: Healthy pasta dinners can be incredibly versatile, allowing you to experiment with a wide range of vegetables, lean proteins, herbs, and spices. This versatility means you can enjoy a variety of delicious flavors and textures in your meals while still making nutritious choices.
Read our post Is Thrive Market Worth It to find out why we love their service for ordering dried pasta!
Healthy Pasta Recipes
Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe that is perfect as a side dish! This cold mozzarella pasta salad with tomatoes and basil is so delicious!
Healthy Mediterranean Chicken Orzo is an easy and delicious dinner! Made with simple ingredients, packed with flavor and done in under 30 minutes!
Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe! Bucatini and chicken are tossed in a creamy lemon sauce that is cheesy, delicious and secretly healthy!
Easy Taco Pasta is the best one pan dinner! Healthy, cheesy, and delicious, this recipe for taco pasta is great for a quick 30 minute dinner.
Goat Cheese Pasta Recipe that is loaded with veggies and so delicious. Healthy, simple and filling – this is an awesome dinner!
Creamy Mozzarella Shrimp Pasta is one of my favorite meals. It’s so simple to prepare that you could make it just before dinner and still be ready, making it the ideal option for a weekday meal.
Lemon Shrimp Asparagus Pasta is made with juicy shrimp, tender asparagus, and a tangy lemon sauce. It can be made both gluten and dairy-free!
Greek Yogurt Pasta with Garlic and Lemon! This quick and easy pasta dinner is a delicious and healthy dish that’s ready in under 20 minutes.
Shrimp Scallop Pasta! Juicy shrimp, tender scallops, and cherry tomatoes come together in this recipe to create a delicious and healthy pasta dish that’s easy to make and incredibly satisfying.
Vegetarian Baked Ziti is an easy and delicious weeknight dinner! This recipe adds lentils for extra protein, ricotta, and spinach to sneak in some extra veggies.
Pasta with Broccoli is an authentic dish from my Sicilian grandmother. One of my favorite pasta recipes to make. Broccoli, garlic, and parmesan cheese are meant to be together.
Healthy One Pot Pasta Recipes
One Pot French Onion Pasta that is so delicious! This Onion Pasta recipe is rich, flavorful and quick to make!
Easy Lasagna Soup Recipe! This lasagna soup is cheesy, delicious and done in under an hour. A healthy dinner everyone will enjoy!
Chicken Pesto Pasta is an easy weeknight dinner you’ll love. Packed with broccolini, tomatoes and pesto – it’s healthy and delicious!
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup is hearty, delicious, and quick to make! The best cozy dinner!
Chicken Parmesan Pasta is the best healthy dinner! This One Pot Pasta Recipe is delicious, quick to make and loaded with flavor!
Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is quick to make, cozy and delicious! Add your ingredients into your slow cooker and let your crockpot cook dinner for you!
One Pot Chicken Orzo Recipe that is so easy to make! This creamy orzo with chicken is rich and delicious while still being healthy!
One Pan Balsamic Chicken, Pasta & Vegetables is a quick nutritious dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. Easy to make, veggie packed and so tasty!
One Pot Chicken, Broccoli, and Peas Pasta is an easy and delicious dish made in under 30 minutes that your whole family will love. Made with simple and healthy recipes, you will want to make this one pot pasta again and again!
One Pot Mushroom and Spinach Pasta is easy and made in one pot in just 20 minutes and has the tastiest vegetarian creamy sauce that can be made vegan with one simple swap. It’s loaded with delicious mushrooms and healthy spinach, and makes a great lighter option for pasta night.
Pumpkin Pasta recipe is made in one pot, delicious, and packed with nutrients and flavours! So easy and quick mid-week meal just done in one pot.
Cajun Shrimp Pasta features tender, succulent shrimp in a flavorful cream sauce. But unlike many other recipes, this version leverages the one-pot method and some clever ingredients to create all those popular, restaurant-quality Cajun flavors quickly, easily, and MUCH more nutritiously!
Make Ahead Healthy Pasta Recipe Ideas
Sausage and Peppers Pasta Recipe everyone will love! This is an easy and delicious dinner anyone can make! Healthy, hearty and filling!
Greek Chicken Pasta Salad is the perfect side dish or dinner. A Mediterranean pasta salad with chicken that is healthy and delicious!
Healthy Pasta Salad recipe that is easy to make! This cold pasta salad with salami is quick to make and delicious. The perfect side dish! You can change it up by using one of these healthy dressings in place of the dressing in the recipe!
Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad is a delicious, lighter lunch! Made with only 10 ingredients, high in protein, and low in fat – it’s the perfect easy meal!
Orzo Pasta with Tomatoes and Artichoke Hearts. This delightful dish combines tender orzo, juicy tomatoes, and savory artichoke hearts to create a satisfying meal that’s both simple and elegant.
Pesto Turkey Stuffed Shells recipe is lightened up with one of my favorite baked pasta tricks.
Gluten Free Zesty Ranch Pasta Salad is allergy friendly and makes a fantastic side dish or main dish. Bring this salad to your potlucks and BBQs, it’s so creamy and flavorful, no one will know it’s gluten free!
Spinach Pasta Sauce. A delicious recipe for a 5-ingredient spinach pasta sauce. Whizz it together in a few minutes and serve with your favourite pasta or ravioli.
Green Pasta Sauce. Flavorful, delicious alternative to marinara, this green pasta sauce is packed with nutrients. Made with spinach, even the kids will love this sauce.
Healthy Tuna Pasta Casserole. It combines whole grain pasta, lean protein from tuna and a variety of vegetables to create a filling and balanced meal.
Healthy Pasta Meals That Make Great Leftovers
Vegetable Pasta Primavera Recipe is SO easy to make! The best vegetable pasta that is delicious, simple and healthy!
Healthy Baked Ziti is a lighter twist on a classic Italian dish. Baked Ziti Pasta is made with ground turkey for a delicious, simple dinner that anyone will love! Easily made gluten free + simple to prepare!
Italian Wedding Soup Recipe! This recipe for Italian Wedding Soup is easy to make and loaded with flavor. A delicious, cozy dinner!
Kielbasa Soup Recipe! This Polish Sausage Soup is easy to make and so delicious. A hearty dinner you’ll love!
Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe anyone can make! This delicious chicken tortellini soup with spinach is hearty, cozy and so yummy!
Tahini Pasta is ready in just 20 minutes! Creamy, tangy, nutty goodness – the flavorful tahini sauce on this pasta is SO GOOD!
Authentic Italian Pasta with ground beef is healthy and nutritious, just like this 6 ingredient pasta sauce.
Vibrant Beet Pasta is easy to make and ready in just 30 minutes! It’s made in just 1 pot and is naturally vegan, dairy-free, and can be made gluten-free. The pink beet sauce is creamy, savory, and packed with flavor!
Mushroom Corn Pasta. Earthy mushrooms and sweet corn kernels are combined with al dente pasta, creating a nutritious meatless pasta dish with a light cream sauce that is perfect for a satisfying dinner.
Creamy Harissa Tahini Pasta Sauce is a delicious, quick pasta recipe! It’s so good and you only need 20 minutes to make this delicious recipe.
Healthy Mexican Pasta Bake Recipe! It is super comforting, veggie loaded, protein packed and a perfectly balanced meal for your next family dinner!
More Healthy Pasta Recipes
Creamy Lemon Pasta is easy to make and delicious! Rich and creamy this lemon pasta sauce is made with only a few simple ingredients!
Baked Feta Pasta Recipe made in under an hour. Cheesy, delicious & easy to make! This viral TikTok recipe is worth the hype. Loaded with veggies and easily made gluten free!
Greek Spaghetti is a quick and simple dinner you can make in under an hour. This Mediterranean pasta is loaded with flavor and delicious!
Hamburger Vegetable Soup Recipe that is so delicious! This Vegetable Soup with ground beef is hearty, healthy and yummy!
Pasta Fagioli Soup recipe that is better than Olive Garden! Healthy, vegetarian & easy to make on the stove, crockpot or instant pot.
Healthy Pasta Primavera is an easy, delicious dinner! This vegetarian pasta dish is simple to make, packed with veggies and ready in under 20 minutes!
One-Pot Mac & Cheese that’s gluten-free, grain-free, and nut-free! The perfect quick, healthy, protein-packed dinner recipe, ready in less than 10 minutes, making it one weeknight family favorite where moms and kids approve!
Best Pasta Chips that we’ve ever had with their perfect blend of flavors and crunch. Satisfying for any salty, crunchy craving, these are perfectly dippable and kids love them!
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta is infused with so much flavour! It’s simple to make but tastes like a meal you’d get from a restaurant!
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower Pasta. This veggie-loaded pasta recipe is deliciously, deceptively simple … just a few ingredients that add up to surprisingly big, big flavors! Plus, with all those roasted vegetables, it’s a nutritious meal-in-one with no veggie side dish needed – perfect for busy nights!
Vegan Roasted Red Pepper and Carrot Pasta with hemp seeds is the perfect healthy pasta recipe. It is creamy and delicious.
Farmer’s Market Green Pasta. This super green pasta is loaded with fresh farmers’ market veggies and herbs.
How to Store Healthy Pasta Recipes
For the most accurate storage information, check the specific recipe post you will be storing.
Storing: Most pasta recipes will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Freezing: We don’t recommend freezing most pasta dishes. They can get very soggy when defrosted.
Reheating: You can reheat pasta in the microwave or on the stove. I find it’s best to reheat pasta on the stove in a pan with some olive oil or a little bit of broth.
Best Healthy Pasta Dishes: Healthy Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 15 oz fusilli pasta
- 1 cup mini mozzarella balls whole or halved
- 1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes 8 oz
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1 cup halved & sliced cucumber
- 1/2 cup black olives
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup diced salami 5 oz
- ½ cup red bell pepper diced
Dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice juice of ½ a lemon
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to package directions. Make sure to cook until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander. Run cold water over the pasta to stop it from cooking and to cool it down.
- While pasta cooks, make the dressing. In a measuring cup or mason jar with a lid, combine dried thyme, oregano, lemon juice, olive oil, dijon mustard, maple syrup and black pepper. Stir/shake well.
- Prepare your veggies and salami by cutting them and arrange in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the cooled, cooked pasta to the bowl with veggies and salami. Stir in the dressing.
- For best flavor, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour.
Sarah says
These all look amazing, so many great recipes here! Thank you for including our pasta recipe 🙂