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    Home » Easy Meals

    24 Healthy Easy Pasta Meals

    January 4, 2017 By Monika Last Updated September 13, 2024 7 Comments

    This post features 24 healthy pasta meals including simple vegetarian, chicken as well as fish recipes, easy to make one-pots, all delicious, low in fat, perfect as family dinners. 

    Creamy chicken pesto pasta in large bowl with fork.

    Cooking pasta the healthy way

    Before I dive into the recipes I thought it'd be a good idea to talk a little bit about preparing the pasta.

    It is important to cook your pasta al dente, so that it's neither too soft nor too crunchy, but somewhere in between. Pasta cooked al dente is still firm and slightly chewy.  This is not only a lot more appealing than overcooked mushy pasta but it's also healthier.

    When you cook pasta too long it raises its GI (Glycemic Index), which can cause spikes in your blood sugar, potentially contributing to mood swings and lower energy levels.

    Pasta is often associated with unhealthy foods, but this is usually due to the sauces it's served with.  The good news is you can create delicious creamy sauces that are also healthy and low in fat.  

    Healthy creamy pasta meals

    1. Healthy Easy Mushroom Pasta

    This 6-ingredient healthy easy mushroom pasta comes together in a matter of minutes! It is made using naturally low in fat fromage frais (fromage blanc), which thickens the sauce and adds lots of delicious tanginess to it.

    Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 15 minutes

    Top down view of mushroom pasta without cream in shallow pan.

    2. Creamy Pasta and Broccoli (Low Fat)

    This creamy pasta and broccoli recipe is a simple vegetarian dish that comes together in under 15 minutes!  It does not contain any cream, is low in fat, super easy to make and perfect as a family dinner.

    Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 9 minutes, Total Time: 14 minutes

    Broccoli pasta with spoon in light green coloured bowl wrapped in green cloth.

    3. Roasted Asparagus Pesto Pasta

    This asparagus pesto pasta is made with roasted asparagus and classic pesto ingredients for a deliciously creamy, herby pasta dish. Versatile, easy to make and bursting with flavour, this pasta with asparagus pesto is ready in as little as 30 minutes!

    Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 30 minutes

    Side view of pasta with asparagus pesto in pan with fork.

    4. Creamy Spinach Mac and Cheese (Healthy)

    This super easy to make, healthy spinach macaroni cheese is full of colour, goodness and loads of deliciousness your family will love!

    Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes

    Top down view of spinach macaroni cheese in white bowl, with fork to right and more macaroni cheese in bowl and saucepan at top.

    Easy pasta salad recipes

    5. Caprese Orzo Salad with Pesto

    This orzo salad with pesto combines the concept of a caprese salad and basil pesto creating a delicious pasta salad that’s perfect as a light meal or party food idea.

    Prep Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 15 min

    Top down view of orzo salad with pesto, cherry tomatoes, mini mozzarellas and spoon in white bowl wrapped in green cloth, with white bowl in top right and pine nuts in small dish in top left corner.

    6. Roasted Beetroot and Feta Pasta Salad

    This roasted beetroot feta salad with pasta is satisfying, healthy and makes a delicious vegetarian meal or party food idea. It contains a handful of ingredients, comes together in under 45 minutes and can be served warm or chilled.

    Prep Time: 8 minutes, Cook Time: 35 minutes, Total Time: 43 minutes

    Top down view of beetroot and feta salad in purple bowl.

    Pasta meals with vegetables

    7. Pasta with Butternut Squash and Tomatoes

    This butternut squash tomato pasta features pasta coated in roasted chunky butternut squash sauce and sweet and tangy tomatoes. It's easy to make, requires a handful of ingredients and is extremely adaptable.

    Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 40 minutes, Total Time: 50 minutes

    Top down view of pasta with chunks of butternut squash and tomato in pan.

    8. Polish Pasta with Cabbage Recipe (Lazanki z Kapusta)

    Polish pasta with cabbage is a simple one-pot dish made using traditional Polish pasta called 'łazanki'. Preparation is minimal and the recipe comes together in just over 20 minutes.

    Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 25 minutes

    Top down view of cabbage pasta in blue bowl.

    9. Roasted Pumpkin Pasta with Garlic

    This vegan pumpkin pasta recipe with arugula and garlic is a delicious seasonal recipe that’s easy to prepare, healthy and ready in about 20 minutes!

    Prep Time: 7 minutes, Cook Time: 13 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes

    Top down view of fussili pasta with pumpkin pieces, garlic slices and pine nuts inside skillet on top of wooden board, with green cloth, pumpkin seeds and squash in background.

    10. Roasted Red Pepper Pasta with Tomatoes

    This simple roasted red pepper pasta recipe combines the natural sweetness of red bell peppers with tangy fresh tomatoes for a delicious, healthy vegan meal idea. Ready in just over 30 minutes. 

    Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 30 minutes, Total Time: 35 minutes

    Spaghetti with chunky tomato and red pepper sauce in pan.

    11. Roasted Beetroot Pasta Sauce (Low Fat)

    This delicious roasted beetroot pasta sauce is low in fat and nutritious.  It contains a handful of ingredients and is super easy to put together.

    Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 35 minutes, Total Time: 40 minutes

    Beetroot pasta in purple bowl with spoon, blue-and-white stripy cloth and raw beetroot on wooden board in background.

    12. Healthy Salmon Spinach Pasta

    This healthy salmon spinach pasta is an easy and delicious way of turning salmon leftovers into a quick and nutritious meal the whole family will enjoy. Ready in 15 minutes!

    Prep Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 15 minutes

    Salmon and spinach with pasta and creamy sauce in white bowl with fork.

    Healthy pasta sauce recipes

    13. Quick Turkey Spaghetti Bolognese (Healthy)

    This turkey bolognese is a speedy dinner idea the whole family will enjoy.  It is low in fat but has a deliciously rich flavour and comes together in under 30 minutes!

    Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 25 minutes, Total Time: 30 minutes

    Top down view of turkey bolognese sauce with spaghetti and fork in large white shallow dish, with grated cheese in small dish and white lid in background.

    14. Avocado Basil Pesto Pasta Sauce (Low Fat)

    This avocado pesto pasta sauce is an all-season, healthy, delicious vegetarian family dinner idea. It requires few ingredients and only about 15 minutes of your time.

    Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 15 minutes

    Side view of avocado pesto in jar with spoon, avocado, basil and pine nuts in background.

    15. Roasted Eggplant Tomato Pasta Sauce (Vegan)

    This simple, vegan roasted eggplant tomato pasta sauce is delicious with any pasta and so easy to put together it’s perfect to make on a busy weeknight.

    Prep Time: 25 minutes, Cook Time: 25 minutes, Total Time: 50 minutes

    Chunky eggplant tomato sauce with spaghetti in white bowl with fork.

    16. Tofu Bolognese Sauce Recipe

    This vegan tofu bolognese sauce is deliciously rich and made using baked marinated tofu for added flavour and texture. Easy to put together and ready in under 40 minutes.

    Prep Time: 9 minutes, Cook Time: 30 minutes, Total Time: 39 minutes

    Bolognese sauce with tofu and spaghetti in large shallow pan.

    17. Easy Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce (Healthy)

    These healthy turkey meatballs in tomato sauce are a delicious and easy to make dinner idea. Your family will love the soft meatballs in a tangy sauce served over a bowl of steaming spaghetti.  Ready in under 40 minutes.

    Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 30 minutes, Total Time: 40 minutes

    Meatballs in tomato sauce over spaghetti in bowl with fork and meatballs in sauce in pan in top right corner.

    Healthy pasta bake recipes

    This is another easy, healthy way of enjoying pasta.  Cooking pasta and vegetables in one pot is not only simple to do but it also infuses the pasta with lots of flavour.  Plus it's an easy way to control your pasta portion size.

    18. Creamy Salmon Leek Pasta Bake (Healthy)

    This delicious salmon pasta bake with leek is a quick and easy family dinner idea that comes together in under 30 minutes. Despite being low in fat it is creamy and comforting and comes with a light and crispy blanket of panko breadcrumbs. I will show you how to make this recipe using salmon leftovers as well as how to easily prepare the salmon from raw.

    Prep Time: 13 minutes, Cook Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 28 minutes

    Side angle view of salmon pasta bake in rectangular dish.

    19. Roasted Eggplant (Aubergine) Pasta Bake

    This eggplant pasta bake is a delicious vegetarian meal idea, easy to make and using simple ingredients. It's packed full of goodness, low in fat and a super tasty way of serving eggplant.

    Prep Time: 40 minutes, Cook Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour.

    Top down view of eggplant pasta bake in large round dish with spoon.

    20. Turkey Lasagna with Vegetables

    This healthy turkey lasagna with vegetables is full of flavour, creamy, satisfying and made using a very moderate amount of cheese. It’s quick and easy to assemble, perfect to make even on a weeknight. 

    Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

    Side view of turkey lasagna slice with slaw and fork on white plate.

    21. Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake

    This one-pot quick and easy creamy pesto chicken pasta bake is filled with delicious Mediterranean flavours everyone loves.  It contains a moderate amount of fat and no heavy cream. Ready in under 40 minutes!

    Prep Time: 20 minutes, Cook Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 40 minutes

    Side view of creamy pesto chicken pasta bake in rectangular dish with spoon.

    22. Pasta Bake with Fennel and Cherry Tomatoes

    This easy pasta bake with fennel and cherry tomatoes is the perfect mid-week dish, easy to make and based around only a handful of ingredients.  It’s full of flavour and low in calories.

    Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 30 minutes, Total Time: 45 minutes

    Fussili pasta with sliced fennel and tomato sauce in large white casserole dish with spoon, pasta and sauce in bowl, halved fennel and grater in background.

    23. Lentil Lasagne with Vegetables

    This vegetarian lentil lasagna contains 2 types of lentils, lots of vegetables and a creamy layer of ricotta. Easy to make, hearty, filling and nutritious, perfect as a family meal.

    Prep Time: 30 minutes, Cook Time: 40 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

    Side view of lentil lasagna piece on white plate with grey casserole dish in background.

    24. Bean Pasta Bake with Tomatoes

    This simple, low fat bean pasta bake with tomatoes is a super easy to make and delicious healthy vegetarian weeknight dinner idea.

    Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 30 minutes

    Top down view of bean pasta bake in oval casserole dish on oven tray

    Related recipes

    • Healthy Meatball Casserole
    • Easy Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Recipe
    • Healthy Tuna Bake (No Pasta)
    • Meatballs in Healthy White Sauce

    You might also like this collection of healthy one-pot chicken recipes.

    Keep in touch!

    Have you made any of these healthy pasta meals? I'd love to know which one. Let me know how it turned out in the comments below, thanks!

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    1. Aika says

      June 27, 2019 at 1:56 am

      I love pasta and I can't wait to try these vegetarian recipes! I love that this is both healthy and delicious. Thanks for sharing this.

      Reply
      • Monika says

        June 29, 2019 at 1:08 pm

        Thank you! Hope you enjoy them!

        Reply
    2. Bryan says

      January 29, 2019 at 6:53 pm

      I'm not even sure which recipe I should start with! haha I'll just make my way down the list, thank you!

      Reply
      • Monika says

        January 29, 2019 at 7:18 pm

        Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Monika says

      January 02, 2019 at 11:22 am

      Thank you Mollie, Happy Hew Year!

      Reply
    4. The Girl Next Door says

      December 30, 2018 at 1:55 pm

      We are vegetarians at home, and absolutely love pasta! I am always on the lookout for good vegetarian pasta recipes. This post of yours is a lifesaver! Will be trying these out pretty soon. 🙂

      Reply
      • Monika says

        December 31, 2018 at 4:11 pm

        Thank you! Let me know how they turn out for you if you do make any of them.

        Reply

    Hi, I am Monika, welcome to Everyday Healthy Recipes! This blog is all about simple recipes with a healthy twist, old classics with a modern take, and an occasional Polish dish thrown into the mix - all easy to make and delicious, perfect for everyday cooking.

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