Healthy pasta recipes are one of my favorite food indulgences. You get a ton of taste that is actually pretty easy to fit into any type of meal plan (you generally have more room for carbs than fats).
I also love how versatile pasta dishes are. While you can’t go wrong with staples like bolognese, pesto, and vodka sauce dishes, you can get quite creative with combinations of ingredients and tastes.
In this article, I share 5 fantastically different, high-protein pasta dishes that will make your mouth water. Enjoy!
Picture courtesy of TheKitchn
Vegetables are as filling as pasta yet provide more nutritional value, making this recipe is a great way to satisfy hunger without going overboard on calories.
Directions
Put a large pot of water on the stove to boil.
Start the sauce by heating 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a skillet over medium-low. Cook 1 Tbsp. minced garlic for one minute, and then add 2 cans of seasoned diced tomatoes (about 30 oz.), 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp. dried basil, and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes while preparing pasta, and stir frequently.
Add one box (12 oz.) of rigatoni to the pot of boiling water. Five minutes later, add 1 cup frozen peas and 1 lb. fresh broccoli florets, and then cook together with pasta for about 3 minutes, or until pasta is finished.
In a large bowl, mix sauce, pasta, and veggies together, and top with 1/3 cup reduced fat feta.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Serves 4
Calories: 429
Protein: 21 grams
Carbs: 85 grams
Fat: 7 grams
Picture courtesy of GreensNChocolate
One bite of this pasta dish will trick you into thinking you’re eating a gut-busting meal. With the rich flavors of bacon, goat cheese, and butternut squash, this tastes indulgent yet won’t wreck your balanced diet.
Directions
Begin by cooking 6 slices of bacon in a skillet for about 5 minutes on medium heat. Transfer bacon to a paper towel to remove excess grease, and crumble into sizeable pieces. Drain the bacon fat out of the pan, leaving 2 Tbsp. in the skillet.
In the bacon fat, cook 4 to 5 cups of peeled and diced butternut squash and 2 cloves minced garlic, sautéing for 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat. Add 1 1/2 cups chicken broth and 1 tsp. salt, cover to simmer, and stir regularly. The squash will take about 20 to 25 minutes to become tender. Stir in 2 oz. crumbled goat cheese when finished.
Bring a large pot of water to boil, and add 1 box (12 oz.) of linguine, and cook for about 8 minutes. Drain and add to a large bowl. Stir in the garlic-squash sauce, and mix well. Finish with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, bacon bits, 2 oz. goat cheese, and 2 tsp. black pepper.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Serves 6
Calories: 470
Protein: 23 grams
Carbs: 60 grams
Fat: 17 grams
Picture courtesy of FeastingAtHome
Homemade lasagna in a slow cooker is already exciting. But layer all the flavors of Buffalo chicken in there, and you might just have the perfect dinner. It’s also loaded with protein so this pasta meal is a real homerun.
Directions
In a large bowl, make the sauce by combining 1 cup Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Sauce (or your favorite substitute) and 28 oz. simple pasta sauce. Add 3 pre-cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, shredded or cut in strips.
Grease a 5-quart slow cooker, and ladle sauce until the bottom is covered. Add a sheet of uncooked lasagna noodles, broken to fit inside. Add a layer of ricotta cheese, followed by diced bell peppers and a handful of shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Repeat the layering steps until you’ve used 15 oz. ricotta cheese, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, and 1 cup cheddar. Top with the last of the sauce and cheese. Add 1/4 water over the lasagna, and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Serves 8
Calories: 459
Protein: 34 grams
Carbs: 36 grams
Fat: 19 grams
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Picture courtesy of Emily Bites
Pasta and sausage are a classic pairing like PB&J, and this recipe gives it a twist with mustard instead of tomato sauce. To keep the fat content under control, low-fat cream cheese is used instead of the more traditional heavy whipping cream.
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to boil, and add 1 box (12 oz.) of penne or medium shells. It will take about 7 or 8 minutes to be al dente.
As the pasta cooks, heat 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a high-walled skillet. Remove 8 hot Italian sausages from casings, and add ground meat to the pan. Brown over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
Add 3/4 cup dry white wine, and scrape the bottom of the pan. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
Stir in 3/4 cup (6 oz.) low-fat cream cheese, 3 Tbsp. grainy mustard, and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Continue to cook for a couple minutes.
Remove skillet from heat, and stir the cooked pasta right into the sausage. Add 1 cup thinly sliced basil. Toss and serve.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Serves 4
Calories: 558
Protein: 20 grams
Carbs: 65 grams
Fat: 21 grams
Picture courtesy of Serious Eats
Need a quick dinner for one? Ramen is a standby for a cheap, filling meal, but by adding to it, you can make it a great bowl of pasta.
Directions
Start by bringing 2 cups of water to a boil.
Meanwhile, wash and slice 3 medium button mushrooms and 2 green onions. Add the ramen noodles to the boiling water to cook for about 5 minutes. As the noodles cook, you can also prepare 2 oz. sliced pork tenderloin in the water. One at a time, add each piece into the pot and gently move it across the top. Set pork aside.
Mix in half the seasoning packet. Lower the heat before stirring in the mushrooms, green onions, and 1 cup fresh spinach. The water should be hot, but not boiling. Cook for another one or two minutes.
Push all the ingredients to the sides of the pot, and crack one large egg into the space you’ve made in the middle. The egg is poached once the whites are solid. Transfer to a bowl, and top with 1 tsp. garlic chili paste.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Serves 1
Calories: 373
Protein: 29 grams
Carbs: 31 grams
Fat: 15 grams
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That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $199.
Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.
Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.
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