18 Healthy Pasta Recipes for Guilt-Free Comfort Food
You don't have to give up everything you love to get healthy!
Trying to add more healthy dinner recipes to your rotation? The worst thing you can do is to try to cut out all the foods you enjoy most. That's a sure way to guarantee that you'll eventually give up. Instead, try finding healthier ways to make the food you like—and then eat it in moderation!
If pasta is your thing (and it's certainly ours!) then bookmark this page. We've got a range of healthy options, from some smart and nutritious ways to upgrade away from the boxed mac and cheese, to veggie packed pasta salads that, on balance, are far more salad than pasta. All of them taste delicious, and any of them can be a healthier choice for dinner tonight!
Easy-Peasy Stovetop Mac 'n Cheesy
Made with whole ingredients (powder free), this kid-friendly classic gets a little veggie boost from some green peas. And since you make it all in one bowl, it's actually easier than the boxed stuff!
Caprese Pasta Salad
When fresh tomatoes are on hand, there's no reason to boil them down into a heavy sauce. This delicately dressed pasta salad makes a great lunch or light dinner.
Orzo Pasta Salad
We love orzo's rice-like noodles, as they make pasta salad extra scoopable. And we love the combo of kale, peppers, red onions, and cheese in this cold salad.
Easiest-Ever Chicken Alfredo
Though the homemade sauce is decadent, we dress the pasta lightly. A little goes a long way, flavor-wise.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
We couldn't leave this classic egg noodle based casserole out of the roundup! Though it's pure comfort food, the lean tuna and big veggie boost keep it relatively healthy.
Italian Pasta Salad
Here it is: The classic pasta salad, with all the stuff folks love, and none of the stuff they tend to pick out, and a dressing that balances perfectly between tangy, sweet, and just the right amount of herby.
Chicken-and-Spinach Tortellini Soup
Warm and comforting without being weighty, packaged tortellini helps fill out a soup of rotisserie chicken, tomatoes, and fresh veggies. Make enough for leftovers—you'll want 'em!
Shrimp Scampi Pasta
It might surprise you to find that shrimp is a great high-protein, low-fat way to fill out a lightly dressed dish like fettucinni. And while the sauce is made with butter, it works out to a reasonable 1 tablespoon per serving.
Grilled Ratatouille Pasta Salad
This big pasta dish gets the bulk of its flavor from a variety of well-grilled veggies, making it good and good for you!
Pumpkin Pasta with Pine Nut Gremolata
Who would have guessed that a can of pumpkin was the trick to making pasta sauce taste extra creamy?
Cauliflower Mac 'n' Cheese
Mac and cheese is already comfort food, but this cauliflower-boosted variety not only gets a boost of fiber and vitamins, the veggie purée actually makes it creamier. You're welcome.
Spring Pasta with Salmon, Peas, and Dill
The snappy English peas and lightly roasted salmon add quite a lot to this simple, hearty dish, but it's the fresh dill that really ties the whole thing together.
Get the recipe for Spring Pasta with Salmon, Peas, and Dill.
Ginger Garlic Chicken Ramen
Snow peas, mushrooms, and a broth base keep this homemade ramen light.
Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes
Get your winter veggie fix with this tasty recipe.
Get the recipe for Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes.
Pasta with Sautéed Peppers, Zucchini, and Smoked Mozzarella
Loaded with zucchini and peppers, this recipe will help you reach your vegetable quota for the day.
Get the recipe for Pasta with Sautéed Peppers, Zucchini, and Smoked Mozzarella.
Turkey Meatballs over Zucchini Noodles
Lighten up spaghetti night with lean turkey meat and fresh "zoodles." If pint-size picky eaters call you on your bluff ("that's not pasta!"), you can substitute half of the zucchini with 8 ounces of cooked spaghetti.
Chicken and Arugula Cacio e Pepe
Baby arugula and lean chicken breast add some much-needed nutrition to this simple, cheesy, peppery dish.
Pearl Couscous with Leeks and Peas
Here, fresh leeks and radishes give this dish a bevy of flavor. It's good as a side or a main, and tasty hot or cold.
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