Cooking

55 Healthy Pasta Recipes Full of Vegetables, Protein, and Flavor

A little pasta won't kill you. It might even make you stronger.
Kale pesto pasta
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio

Pasta is a truly beautiful thing that no one should be denied. And, contrary to popular belief, pasta and good health are not mutually exclusive. These 55 recipes prove it. We're talking about protein-rich, veg-heavy, pastas and noodles that actually taste good. (How much butter and cheese you top them with is totally your call.)

  • Pantry Pasta With Vegan Cream Sauce recipe
    Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    1/55

    Pantry Pasta With Vegan Cream Sauce

    Many vegan cream sauces rely on blended nuts or steamed cauliflower, but this sauce is made of beans and pasta water alone—no soaking or blending necessary. It’s important that the beans are adequately hydrated: Once you start mashing, make sure there’s plenty of pasta cooking liquid in the pot and don’t let it evaporate.

    View Recipe
  • This image may contain Food Dish Meal Plant Pasta Noodle Platter Spaghetti Cutlery Fork and Lunch
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li
    2/55

    Peanutty Noodles with Tempeh Crumbles

    Tempeh skeptics, this recipe will make a convert of you.

    View Recipe
  • Image may contain Food and Plant
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio
    5/55

    Kale Pesto With Whole Wheat Pasta

    This kale pesto inspired us to keep spreading the word that there is still no better or more delicious way to eat your greens.

    View Recipe
  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal Seasoning Sesame and Pasta
    Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich 
    6/55

    Cauliflower Bolognese

    No, this isn’t some kind of joke, and you don’t have to be a vegetarian to love what’s going on here.

    View Recipe
  • This image may contain Spaghetti Food Pasta Meal and Dish
    Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    7/55

    Summer Bolognese

    Think of this weeknight-friendly pasta recipe as a lighter take on the classic Italian ragù that features cherry tomatoes, a red chile for some heat, and tons of fresh basil.

    View Recipe
  • A brightly colored noodle salad with sliced purple cabbage red radishes watercress cucumbers yellow beans and carrots.
    Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    8/55

    Salad Ramen

    This is our idea of what a cold noodle salad dish should be.

    View Recipe
  • Spaghetti with NoCook Puttanesca
    Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk
    11/55

    Spaghetti With No-Cook Puttanesca

    A bright, summertime pasta sauce packed with in-season tomatoes and briny olives.

    View Recipe
  • Fusilli With Battuto di Erbe pasta recipe
    Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime
    12/55

    Fusilli With Battuto di Erbe

    Battuto is 1) A chopped herb sauce that tastes like spring 2) Fun to say. Make it!

    View Recipe
  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal Plant Produce Vegetable and Bowl
    Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Heather Greene
    13/55

    Brothy Meatballs with Peas, Fennel, and Tiny Pasta

    This dish is a perfect choice for those blustery but bright early spring days: It's comforting from the simple-but-flavorful broth and bright from the crunchy fresh topping.

    View Recipe
  • Two bowls of pasta with asparagus basil Parmesan and lemon.
    Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime
    14/55

    Lemony Asparagus Pasta

    With lots of olive oil and parm, this asparagus pasta recipe comes from L.A.’s Evan Funke.

    View Recipe
Explore Bon AppétitPastaHealthyishDinnerVegetable