If you’re like, well, just about everyone, you have a favorite pasta dish (or two or three) that you just never gets old.
For me, it’s usually something creamy and savory like an Alfredo or stroganoff, but sometimes all it takes is a simple spaghetti dish to hit the spot.
Whatever your tastes, you’re going to find something in these pasta recipes that whets your appetite…and you’re going to love how “diet-friendly” they are, too. No having to eat an entire day’s worth of fat in one sitting!
Most of these dishes can be made with zero cooking skills as well, and while you can’t go wrong with staples like the bolognese, pesto, and vodka sauce, you can also get quite creative with combinations of meats, vegetables, and spices.
For example, check out the Lemon Ricotta Parmesan Pasta with Spinach & Grilled Chicken for a surprisingly low-fat main course, the Pulled Pork Pasta Bake for a quick weeknight dinner, or the Grilled Corn & Avocado Pasta Salad if you want something vegetarian.
Bon appétit!
When you brown butter in a saucepan, it adds extra dimensions of flavor, so a little goes a long way. Make it in advance – a quick, easy process – and you can use it for weeknight recipes that you throw together on the fly. You’ll get more buttery flavor without adding extra fat once it’s browned, making it a great trick for healthy pasta dishes like this spaghetti with sweet potato alfredo sauce.
364
Calories17 g
Protein50 g
Carbs11 g
Fat2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, browned
1 medium sweet potato, cubed 2”
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1 3/4 cups water, divided
1 cup (about 4 oz.) freshly grated Parmesan
1 lb. spaghetti
1/4 tsp. cayenne
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Get the RecipeDon’t have a jar of pasta sauce on hand? It helps to know some simple pasta dishes that don’t rely on tomato sauce. This one uses tons of fresh mushrooms, plus other ingredients that are easy to keep on hand like garlic, onion, and sherry. It’s finished with goat cheese and hazelnuts, but would be just as good with gorgonzola and walnuts, or Parmesan and pistachios.
331
Calories13 g
Protein45 g
Carbs12 g
Fat3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
26 oz. wild mushrooms, sliced
1 red onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. sea salt
2 Tbsp. sherry cooking wine
2 1/2 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
1 lb. dry linguine
6 oz. goat cheese
3/4 cup reserved pasta cooking liquid
Salt to taste
1/4 cup hazelnuts, chopped
Get the RecipeThis is a great pasta recipe whether you have leftover grilled chicken, or need to cook some in a skillet while the pasta is boiling. Either way, it comes together fast once you have those two things ready, and you won’t need alfredo or tomato sauce like most chicken pasta dishes rely on. Simply toss al dente pasta with olive oil, lemon juice, ricotta, and Parmesan. Add the grilled chicken with some spinach, and serve.
410
Calories24 g
Protein46 g
Carbs15 g
Fat1 lb. grilled chicken breasts, sliced into strips
1 lb. dry linguine (or spaghetti)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup reserved pasta water
6 oz. fresh baby spinach, steamed until just wilted
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tsp. lemon zest
2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 cups part-skim ricotta
1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
Get the RecipeHave leftover noodles from a quick dinner the night before? You can turn it into a new dish with an easy pasta recipe like this. And if you use your favorite jar pasta sauce instead of making marinara from scratch, this healthy dinner can be prepped in just 10 minutes. Then you can chill for a half hour while your home-cooked meal finishes in the oven.
531
Calories31 g
Protein58 g
Carbs22 g
FatMarinara:
1 1/2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups diced red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
1 Tbsp. pure honey (or sugar)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
Pasta:
8 oz. dry penne
1 1/2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. chicken sausage, sliced
4 to 6 cups baby spinach
1 1/2 cups (about 6 oz.) shredded mozzarella
Chopped parsley, for garnish
Get the RecipeWhen you think of meaty pasta, ground beef or grilled chicken are probably what come to mind. But with this recipe, you can use pulled pork as the base of easy pasta dishes that are loaded with protein. Start by making your favorite pulled pork, which you can do in advance and freeze for later. Then when you’re hungry, keep it simple with a minimal baked pasta dish. This one takes just three ingredients: pasta, pulled pork, and cheese.
565
Calories43 g
Protein55 g
Carbs18 g
Fat1/2 lb. pulled pork
4 ½ cups (8.8 oz.) dry macaroni
1 cup (about 4 oz.) shredded cheddar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Get the RecipeWhen you think of Italian pasta dishes, what comes to mind is probably tomato sauce. But there are other ways to enjoy classic Italian flavors. This easy Tuscan pasta casserole puts the Parmesan in the sauce for a creamy alfredo. Then there’s sun-dried tomatoes, which have a sweet, rich flavor without overpowering the simple pasta dish. And using rotisserie chicken means you can get the protein you need without doing extra cooking.
619
Calories34 g
Protein73 g
Carbs21 g
Fat1 lb. dry rotini pasta
1 jar (22 oz.) alfredo sauce
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups diced rotisserie chicken
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 jar (4 oz.) roasted red peppers, drained
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and minced
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup (about 4 oz.) shredded mozzarella
Get the RecipeThis Crock Pot pasta dish is almost as easy as microwave mac and cheese, but way more satisfying. Want to make it fancy? Use a blend of cheese like smoked gouda and cheddar, or fontina and Parmesan. And if you need even more calories, serve with a protein-packed breadstick. Try this recipe made with almond flour and unflavored whey isolate like Legion WHEY+.
244
Calories11 g
Protein24 g
Carbs8 g
Fat1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
2 egg whites
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 cup (about 4 oz.) low-fat sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups dry whole-wheat penne
Get the RecipeEven if you’ve had your fair share of pasta salad, you haven’t had one like this. It’s already one of the best ways to enjoy pasta in the summer. And this pasta salad captures even more seasonal flavors with grilled corn, fresh basil, and creamy avocado. This pasta side dish will have everyone at the barbecue begging for the recipe – or at least asking you to make it again.
389
Calories5 g
Protein48 g
Carbs22 g
FatPasta:
8 oz. gluten-free rotini
2 ears sweet corn, shucked
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 avocado, chopped
1/4 small red onion, minced
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
Chili-Lime Dressing:
6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
1 Tbsp. pure honey
1/2 tsp. chili powder
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Get the RecipeIt’s not hard to make basic Italian pasta with tomato sauce into a vegan dinner. Yet this recipe gets creative with the concept, using black beans instead of classic marinara. For a low-carb version, this vegan pasta dish also goes great with spaghetti squash. That not only reduces calories and carbohydrates, but adds more protein and antioxidants.
416
Calories20 g
Protein77 g
Carbs4 g
Fat1 large onion (sweet or white)
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups water
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 bay leaf
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Salt to taste
12 oz. dry pasta
Get the RecipeOne of the best pasta dishes is baked ziti. Not only is it comforting and delicious, but it’s easy to make. For a low-fat version, substitute turkey sausage instead of pork, or just look for anything that’s marked extra-lean. Then use half-and-half in place of the heavy cream, and choose a part-skim mozzarella.
665
Calories35 g
Protein55 g
Carbs35 g
Fat1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. Italian pork sausage, casings removed
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 large can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
12 oz. dry ziti
3/4 cup (about 3 oz.) grated Parmesan
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup (about 4 oz.) shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
Get the RecipeWho knew quarantine cooking could be so tasty?
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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 live in the UK, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Puerto Rico, or Guam, your order ships free when it’s over $199.
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We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
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 $299.
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.
We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
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