30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (2024)

food

Easy to make, easier to eat

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (1)

By Lindsay Champion

Published Jun 23, 2020

Have you heard the news? According to the most glorious study of all time, pasta isn’t as unhealthy as we originally thought. This calls for a celebration: Try one of these lighter, low-calorie pasta recipes for dinner tonight.

RELATED

7 Desserts That Might Help You Lose Weight

1. Coconut Curry Pasta With Clams, Mussels And Corn

Craving a creamy sauce? Swap coconut milk for dairy and you’ll cut your calories in half.

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

2. Carrot Pasta

No need to feel guilty about getting another helping of these gnocchi-like clouds.

Get the recipe

3. Cauliflower Mac And Cheese

Thanks to the world’s most versatile veggie, a bowl of this stuff is under 500 calories.

RELATED

11 Tasty (and Easy) Ways to Replace Carbs with Cauliflower

ERIN MCDOWELL

4. Fettuccine With Mushroom Alfredo

This lighter take uses milk instead of cream, so feel free to have seconds.

Get the recipe

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

5. Pesto Zoodles

OK, this isn’t technically pasta, but it’s just as good. We promise.

Get the recipe

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

7. Spaghetti With Avocado Sauce

Sayonara, marinara.

Get the recipe

ERIN MCDOWELL

8. Pasta With Cherry Tomatoes

Use light ricotta cheese to make the dish even lighter.

Get the recipe

9. Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Pile the veggies high.

ERIN MCDOWELL

10. One-pot Pasta With Peas And Artichokes

We’d like some more, peas.

Get the recipe

11. Skinny Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake

A tasty new take on baked ziti.

12. Mushroom Alfredo Pasta Bake

Just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean you can’t have a liiiitle bit of Gruyère cheese.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

13. 15-minute Lemony Broccolini Pasta

It’s gorgeous enough to serve at your next dinner party, but not too fancy for the kiddos.

Get the recipe

Inspired Entertainment/The Domestic Geek’s Meals Made Easy

14. One-pot Tomato Basil Pasta

The best part (beyond having just one pot to clean)? Once you’ve mastered this version, you can customize the recipe to your heart’s content.

Get the recipe

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (16)

Damn Delicious

15. Summer Spaghetti With Tomatoes And Burrata

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

Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Jodi Moreno

16. Grain-free Mushroom, Spinach And Leek Pasta

You can use any variety of grain-free pasta, but we’re a big fan of the Cappello’s brand: fresh pasta that’s both gluten- and grain-free.

Get the recipe

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (18)

Half Baked Harvest

17. Golden Sundried Tomato Red Lentil Pasta

This bright red pasta is packed with fiber and healthy carbs—plus, it’s so much prettier than the regular kind.

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (19)

Foodie Crush

18. One-pot Skinny Pasta Primavera

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

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (20)

Pinch of Yum

19. Skinny Fajita Shrimp Pasta

Make it with whole-wheat pasta for a little extra virtue.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

20. Vegan Spaghetti Squash With Mushroom Marinara Sauce

Psst: Subbing in veggies for pasta means you can have two bowls.

Get the recipe

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (22)

Oh My Veggies

21. Creamy Vegan Pesto Pasta

Need an easy weeknight dinner? Use store-bought pesto.

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (23)

Gimme Some Oven

22. Easy Balsamic Veggie Pasta

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

Kajakiki/Getty Images

23. Whole-grain Pasta With Pesto, Mozzarella, Pine Nuts And Tomato

The perfect not-sad-desk-lunch option.

Get the recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

24. Baked Zucchini 'ziti' Spirals With Mozzarella

Even the kids will love this one.

Get the recipe

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (26)

Inspiralized

25. Vegan Zucchini Spaghetti Puttanesca

This recipe from Coterie member Ali Maffucci is little bit spicy, a little bit briny and a lot delicious.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

26. Butternut Squash Carbonara

Add in some mashed butternut squash and cut down on the butter and your favorite decadent dish is officially healthy.

Get the recipe

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (28)

What's Gaby Cooking

27. Cauliflower Alfredo Pasta

Our favorite veggie saves the day. It’s rich and creamy, without all the calories.

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (29)

The Recipe Critic

28. Peanut Ginger Noodles

It tastes just like takeout but will set you back only 400 calories.

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (30)

Minimalist Baker

29. Zucchini Pasta With Lentil Bolognese

Bonus: It’s ready in just 30 minutes.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

30. One-pot, 15-minute Pasta Limone

This one-pot, pasta limone is like dinner in your back pocket: You likely have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already, and it comes together in practically no time.

Get the recipe

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (32)

Lindsay Champion

Freelance Editor

From 2015-2020 Lindsay Champion held the role of Food and Wellness Director. She continues to write for PureWow as a Freelance Editor.

read full bio

30 Low Calorie Pasta Recipes You Need to Try Now (2024)

FAQs

Which pasta is lowest in 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. Shirataki noodles and kelp noodles are also quite low in carbs and calories."

What is the healthiest pasta to eat? ›

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.

Is pasta better for weight loss than rice? ›

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 there a pasta diet to lose weight? ›

Pasta is frequently consumed as part of the Mediterranean diet, which is one of the most well-researched diets for weight loss and reduction of risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease [6,7,8].

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 there any low calorie pasta? ›

Hearts of palm pasta from brands like Palmini offer a pasta alternative in cans and pouches. It is very low in carbs and calories: A 2.5 oz serving has just shy of 4 grams and 20 calories.

Does homemade pasta have less calories? ›

Fresh pasta is lower in carbohydrates and calories per cup after cooking than dry pasta.

How much pasta is 200 calories? ›

One cup of cooked pasta contains just 200 calories, in addition to valuable vitamins and minerals. It also fills you up so you don't feel hungry while trying to lose weight! Pasta has a low Glycemic Index (GI) so it does not cause sugar in the blood to rise quickly.

Can I eat pasta everyday? ›

It is possible to eat pasta daily and still be healthy. The key to eating pasta every day is to limit your portion size and supplement your pasta bowl with essential nutrients. The recommended portion size is two ounces of dry pasta or one cup of cooked pasta.

Is pasta better than rice? ›

The main differences between refined (white) pasta and white rice are in the amount of calories, fiber, and protein in each. Pasta contains more calories, more fiber, and more protein than rice. However, many healthier varieties of pasta and rice are available that are more nutritious than their refined counterparts.

Does brown pasta have less calories than white pasta? ›

Whole-grain pasta is typically high in fiber, manganese, selenium, copper and phosphorus, while refined, enriched pasta tends to be higher in iron and B vitamins. Whole-grain pasta is also lower in calories and higher in fiber and certain micronutrients than refined pasta.

Does cold pasta have less calories than hot pasta? ›

It doesn't actually lower the calories, but it does cause chemical changes that cause your body to digest the reheated pasta differently than fresh cooked. Reheated pasta causes less of a spike in blood insulin levels and makes the carbohydrates harder to digest, like fiber.

Is brown or white pasta better for weight loss? ›

Depending on your health goals, whole-wheat pasta can help you lose weight. Whole-wheat pasta (and other whole grains) take longer to digest than pasta made from refined flour. Because of this, it raises blood sugar more slowly, which prevents excess fat storage, especially around your midsection.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 6289

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.