The great thing about pasta is that it’s so easy to make – just boil it, strain it, add it to the sauce. But that also means it’s so easy to make the same thing every time with this tried and true box of pasta. However, sometimes we have to think outside the box. To help you with this, we’ve rounded up our favorite healthy pasta ideas that are unique, delicious, and easy to incorporate into any menu plan. And when old believers get a break from the eating routine, you may even miss them a little.
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Hit that yummy spin on traditional pesto, stat! Each bright and vibrant bite contains a mix of earthy kale, roasted walnuts, flavorful basil, EVOO, garlic, and parmesan. The end result is a flavorful sauce full of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids, three nutrients that play key roles in improving the overall look of your skin.
Gaby Dalkin
This lightened version of the alfredo sauce is perfect when it’s a little chilly outside. The sauce is extremely healthy compared to a traditional alfredo and nobody would notice the difference, it is so delicious.
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Two easy vegetarian additions make this simple stew pasta a lively main course. You can adjust the ingredients to your taste. You can use whatever type of pasta you prefer or switch the greens with chopped kale, escarole, or Swiss chard instead of spinach.
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The avocado cream sauce is both light and refreshing – properties rarely found in creamy sauces. This sauce retains amazing brightness even with the addition of fresh basil and lemon and is extremely versatile.
Courtesy Valerie Bertinelli
Wake up your midweek dinner routine with this light and savory pasta dish. It can be thrown together quickly and easily and is bursting with fresh flavors.
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This simple, rustic Sicilian pasta dish is a Contrino family favorite. Sweet tomatoes, earthy aubergines and some red peppers to season make it a hearty meal for every night. Usually topped with ricotta salata, this version uses a whipped ricotta to balance the tomato sauce with a creamier texture.
Dylan Dreyer
This simple pasta dish is one of Dylan Dreyer’s favorite recipes and checks all the criteria for a healthy, child-friendly dinner: vegetables, starch and protein. Your son Calvin loves it so you know it will be a hit with guests of all ages.
TODAY Illustration / Chloe Coscarelli
Love a bowl of soothing mac but want to get your greens too? This dish got you covered. Simple, creamy, and longing, it’s 100% vegetable so good for you and the earth.
Alex Guarnaschelli
This dish fulfills that wonderful need for comfort eating without being overly rich or heavy. It offers fresh asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes and sweet onions. Plus, it all comes together in the oven, making it a breeze for any weekday meal.
Julia Gartland
Lentils are fun to use in a Bolognese just like meat, while taking traditional items like carrots and onions with you. The result gives a vegetable flavor to a traditional and iconic pasta dish.
Samah Dada
This pasta is flavorful, light, and balanced while remaining a plant-based, vegetarian dinner or lunch that everyone will love. The roasted red peppers and garlic give the sauce a sweetness that is enhanced by the sour tomatoes, lemon juice and spices.
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In this pasta, Samah Dada balances earthy sesame butter with a little fresh lemon juice to make it creamy, light and tangy. It’s the perfect pasta when you want something aromatic and rich with a little pinch.
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Harissa-flavored pasta and chicken with green beans reflect the cuisine and flavors of North Africa with the harissa punch and the Italian influence with the noodle bowls.
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Coarsely ground black pepper and red pepper flakes give this simple pasta dish a unique flavor. It only has five ingredients, but it is bursting with flavor.
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Full of flavor and so easy to prepare, this pasta dish is a must. The maple syrup balances out the bitterness of the Brussels sprouts so that you can only taste the freshness of the vegetables.
Courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Mushrooms with marsala and pistachios are a fantastic combination of flavors, which is why this pasta is currently one of Giada’s favorites. Try royal trumpet mushrooms, morels, cremini, shiitake, or oyster mushrooms. They all have different flavors and textures, and experimenting with new strains is part of the fun!
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Cacio e pepe is one of those dishes that many people love for its simplicity, but it is not easy to reproduce the complex taste of traditional Italian cheeses. Dada’s version of the Italian staple uses nutritional yeast and cashew nuts to create a delicious, umami-filled sauce.
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When you eat dairy-free or vegan, you don’t have to go without your favorite flavors and textures. This recipe has the rich and creamy goodness of traditional macaroni and cheese without all the heaviness.
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Classic Italian pesto gets a healthy makeover with a large helping of spinach. This recipe is fully customizable with any toppings you choose! Add bubble tomatoes, almond milk ricotta, more olive oil and something crispy. Gluten-free chickpea noodles are great for extra protein.
From Chloe
The creamy, delicious sauce is made from healthy, protein-rich tofu, but tastes like all kinds of dairy products. Top it off with shiitake bacon (simply thinly sliced roasted shiitake mushrooms with olive oil and sea salt) and it’s the perfect bait for your longtime partner!
Courtesy Adam Friedlander
The combination of broccoli, mushrooms and garlic with the light lemon taste and the heat kick is divine. Baking the pasta gives the pieces an extra crispy texture along the edge that is deeply satisfying.
Clean Green Eats / Evi Abeler Photography
An ideal dish that often leaves leftovers for later, this hearty lasagna full of vegetables hits the spot on the flavors. Even for those used to its meaty counterpart, this dish will be a winner.
Courtesy Adam Friedlander
This recipe is low maintenance, so you can put it in the oven and then do weird chores around the house while it cooks. There’s something calming about digging up the thick pieces of lasagna noodles smothered in red garlic sauce. The spinach also makes it feel a bit healthy.
Courtesy Stephanie Harris-Uyidi
As a member of the tuna family, mackerel is a delicious but underrated fish that deserves more attention. A firm, high-fat fish known for its strong, hearty taste. Combined with salty olives, sweet, sour tomatoes and fresh herbs, this seafood pasta is a must.
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Cheesy, cheeky, noodle-like, and filling – this lightened baked ziti won’t disappoint. Imagine: Whole grain penne with minced meat, three different types of cheese (mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan) and spicy tomato sauce, then perfectly baked in the oven. Joy Bauer also sneaks in some spinach for extra nutrients and fiber. It’s baked ziti bliss.