Looking for healthy pasta recipes? Whether you're on the 5:2 diet or want to find nourishing midweek meals, we have plenty of healthy pasta dishes for you to try.

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When eaten in moderation, pasta can easily form part of a balanced and healthy diet. Whether a meat eater or a vegan, you can support your health with delicious and nutrient-rich toppings or sauces which add more vitamins and minerals, protein, calcium and good fats. Adding herbs to your pasta dishes, such as basil, thyme or oregano, is also an excellent way to boost the nutritional density of your dish, as they are naturally anti-inflammatory and provide benefits against heart disease and diabetes.

From lighter linguine to super-simple low-fat spaghetti, we have the best pasta ideas to make healthy meals with spaghetti, penne pasta, pasta shells and more. Then try our creamy pasta recipes and sausage pasta recipes.

For more healthy meal inspiration, take a look at our quick and healthy recipes, healthy curry recipes, healthy takeaways and healthy Italian recipes.


Best healthy pasta recipes

Healthy salmon pasta

Nadine Brown’s healthier spin on creamy salmon pasta proves you can keep dinners light while feeling satisfied and fuller for longer.

Two bowls of salmon and pea pasta with lemon zest on the side

Healthy spaghetti bolognese

This spaghetti bolognese has slightly less meat in than usual but no less flavour, and is bulked out with lentils for healthy fibre. You could also use vegetarian mince, if you like.

A white bowl of spaghetti bolognese with parmesan and a grater in the background

Tuna pasta bake

An absolute classic, made even more wonderful with the addition of dried chilli flakes and rosemary. It's a real crowd-pleaser.

Tuna melt pasta bake in an oval dish

Vegan bolognese

Check out our meat-free bolognese. This family favourite uses mushrooms and plenty of veg, making it a low-fat, healthy, vegan meal that everyone will love.

A large silver pot full of vegan bolognese with mushrooms

Tomato, spinach and mascarpone gnocchi

Our tomato, spinach and mascarpone gnocchi makes a quick and easy midweek meal, ready in just 20 minutes. Grill this warming veggie gnocchi until bubbling and golden for ultimate comfort.

Mascarpone Gnocchi with Spinach and Tomato

Green linguine

Check out this super-simple linguine, made with peas, broad beans, leeks and ricotta. It's packed with veg and makes a great midweek meal for two.

Green Linguine Recipe

Rigatoni with courgette, lemon and parmesan

Turn courgette into a stylish veggie supper with this delicious pasta dish. Comforting, colourful and ready in just 20 minutes, this is one for summer weeknights.

Rigatoni Pasta with Courgette, Lemon and Parmesan

Spicy prawn linguine

Our prawn linguine has a rich tomato sauce with a good chilli kick. Serve with rocket for a healthy midweek meal that's full of flavour. Check out our other hot and spicy recipes.

Spicy Prawn Linguine Pasta Recipe

Orzo risotto with cavolo nero, peas and chilli

Make our creamy veggie orzo risotto with cavolo nero, sweet peas and punchy chilli for a warming midweek meal. Orzo pasta makes a great base for risottos, and requires less stirring.

Pasta Orzo Risotto with Cavolo Nero

Chicken pasta salad

Throw together this quick and easy pasta salad using leftover chicken, tomatoes and greens for a protein-packed lunch or dinner.

Chicken Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Rocket in Two Bowls

Baked orzo with harissa prawns

Flavour prawns with harissa, dill, garlic and lemon, then serve swirled through orzo pasta, baked with tomatoes, for a speedy but sophisticated supper.

Baked Orzo with Harissa Prawns and Lemon on a Blue Plate

One-pot puttanesca

This one-pan puttanesca is an easy meal for one. The pasta soaks up the flavours, and the starch from the pasta makes the sauce rich and creamy. One pot also means less washing-up.

One Pot Pasta Puttanesca Recipe

Turkey ragu

Like a healthier version of spaghetti bolognese, this low-fat and high-protein ragu comes packed with celery, courgette and carrots, plus a little Marmite for a deeper savoury note.

Turkey ragu

One-pot creamy lemon and spinach ravioli

Take shop-bought ravioli to the next level and turn it into a nutritious vegetarian meal for two. This creamy one-pot pasta dish is ready in a flash and so good, you'll come back to it again and again.

One-Pot Ravioli Recipe with Lemon and Spinach

Pasta salad with bocconcini, capers and tomatoes

Pasta gets tossed with tomatoes, olive oil, red wine vinegar and capers here, before being finished off with mozzarella cheese balls and fresh herbs. A great veggie dinner that's ready in 20 minutes.

Two bowls filled with curly pasta, roast tomatoes, basil and white cheese balls

Orzo, bean and tuna salad

Turn storecupboard staples like tinned tuna, jarred red peppers and olives into this vibrant, nutritious orzo pasta salad, on the table in 20 minutes.

Orzo, Bean and Tuna Salad on Two Plates

Healthy prawn linguine with ’nduja

'Nduja is a spicy, spreadable sausage from Italy. It works so well in this healthy prawn pasta, which is super-quick and easy to make, but is packed with big flavours.

Prawn linguine with 'nduja

One-pot pasta with anchovies and Tenderstem broccoli

This one-pot pasta is not only low in calories but low-cost, too. It's simple to put together; plus it's packed full of punchy flavours. If you don't have fusilli in your cupboard then wholemeal rotini works just as well.

One-pot pasta with anchovies and Tenderstem broccoli

Avocado fusilli pasta

Avocados make everything from salad dressing to ice cream super-creamy, so why not put them in a pasta sauce? It’s a great way to use up over-ripe avocados.

Avocado and Spinach Fusilli in Two Bowls

Orzo deli salad

Check out this vegan pasta salad with crunchy red onion and sweet sun-blush tomatoes. This lighter recipe is low in calories, but still just as satisfying as regular pasta salad.

Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe

Cottage cheese alfredo

Make a low-calorie, smooth and creamy pasta sauce in 15 minutes using just cottage cheese, milk, garlic granules and a little cornflour... magic!

Cottage cheese al fredo

Orecchiette pasta salad with prawns, basil, feta and tomato caper dressing

Check out this pasta salad with crumbly feta, prawns, basil and a simple caper and tomato dressing. This quick dish is low in calories and ready in under 30 minutes.

Orecchiette Pasta Salad Recipe with Prawns

Ravioli with buttered lemon greens

This recipe is super zesty and buttery and great when you're short on time. Low in calories and meat-free make this the perfect Monday night supper.

Lemon Ravioli Recipe with Greens

Vegetarian lasagne

Try our veggie alternative to classic meat lasagne with layers of greens and fresh pesto. This combination of kale, ricotta and leeks keeps the dish low in calories and easy to whip up – a great midweek meal the whole family will love.

A tray of lasagne with green filling and a chunk cut out and put on a plate

Wholewheat spaghetti with long-stemmed broccoli, chilli and lemon

This vegan recipe for wholewheat spaghetti with long-stemmed broccoli, chilli and lemon is quick and easy to make, plus, it's pasta for under 500 calories - what's not to love about that?

Wholewheat Vegan Spaghetti Recipe with Broccoli, Chilli and Lemon

Penne alla norma

Check out this easy gluten-free tomato pasta with aubergine topped with fresh basil. This simple recipe is veggie friendly and makes for an easy weekday supper.

Penne Alla Norma Recipe

Orecchiette with anchovies, cavolo nero and caramelised onions

This low-calorie, simple but tasty pasta dish with salty anchovies and fresh seasonal cavolo nero makes a quick and easy evening meal for two. Cavolo nero, also known as black kale, is a rich but robust brassica, originally from Tuscany. It’s great in soups, stews and hearty pasta dishes.

Orecchiette with anchovies, cavolo nero and caramelised onions

’Nduja prawns with orzo, feta and olive salad

Check out our orzo salad with spicy 'nduja pesto, crumbly feta and juicy prawns. Make this simple salad for a summery meal that's low in calories but big on flavour.

Feta and Olive Salad Recipe with 'Nduja Prawns

Penne with chopped puttanesca sauce

There are no anchovies in this healthy puttanesca, to keep it vegetarian. The chopped puttanesca sauce is left to stand for 10 minutes while cooking the penne, to allow the flavours to develop. The sauce is elevated with olives, capers, garlic and chilli and would also work well tossed through cold pasta for a summery salad.

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Penne with Chopped Puttanesca Sauce Recipe

Broccoli, chilli and lemon wholewheat pasta

A healthy, vegetarian pasta dish for two. Wholewheat spaghetti adds fibre without affecting the taste. And broccoli is added to the pasta at the end of cooking. The chilli, lemon and garlic sauce makes a flavoursome, zesty addition with a kick of heat to coat the pasta.

Wholewheat Pasta Recipe with Broccoli and Chilli

Authors

Janine Ratcliffe Portrait
Janine RatcliffeFood director

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