11 Delicious Veggie Pasta Recipes for Zoodle Lovers

11 Creative Low-Carb Noodle Recipes

A plate of steaming spaghetti holds a special place in our hearts, but the truth is, those carbohydrates make us feel bloated and tired immediately after devouring them. We knew there had to be a better way to get our noddle fix, so we scoured the web for the best ways to cut and prepare faux noodles. From zucchini “zoodles” to Paleo puttanesca, these 11 inventive recipes will keep your carb count in check while still delivering delicate strands of deliciousness.

RELATED: 7 Delicious Low-Carb Pizza Recipes

11 Low-Carb Noodle Recipes

Rainbow-Raw-Pad-Thai

1. Rad Rainbow Pad Thai
Takeout has nothing on these nutrient-dense, colorful veggies. Thinly slice, julienne or spiralize zucchini, carrots, peppers and green onions, and drizzle a nutty almond butter-based dressing on top. If you’re hankering for extra protein, throw on some edamame and tofu. Photo and Recipe: Angela Liddon / Oh She Glows

Spaghetti Squash

2. Spaghetti Squash with Chickpea Tomato Sauce
For a hearty dinner that won’t weigh you down, replace your processed pasta with roasted spaghetti squash. This vegetable has flesh that mimics the consistency of real noodles. Plus, the chickpea-packed tomato sauce bumps up the fiber count. Photo and Recipe: Perry Santanachote / Life By Daily Burn

RELATED: 30-Minute Meals for Quick, Healthy Dinner Ideas

Carrot-Pasta-with-Lemony-Tahini

3. Carrot Pasta with Zesty Garlic Sauce
Got 15 minutes? Then you have enough time to whip up this light, raw treat. A rich source of beta-carotene, carrots also contain vitamin A, an essential nutrient for good eye health. Serve this recipe fresh or store it in the fridge, but only up to 24 hours. (It will get too soggy if you try to save it any longer.) Photo and Recipe: Chris / Tales of a Kitchen

Broccoli and Noodle Stir-Fry Recipe

4. Chicken and Zoodles Asian Stir-Fry
A coating of sticky Asian-style sauce makes this faux pad-thai taste just like your favorite takeout. Score! A bed of spiralized zucchini is topped with broccoli and protein-rich chicken, so you’ll feel satisfied and won’t need to reach for an extra snack hours laker.  Photo and recipe: Alexa Schrim / Life by Daily Burn

Beet-Pasta-Swiss-Chard-Walnuts

5. Beet Linguine with Swiss Chard, Goat Cheese and Walnuts
If you’re feeling ambitious, make your own beet-based pasta (or pick some up at your local natural foods market). Add salty goat cheese, walnuts and Swiss chard to level up the goodness on your plate. Pro tip: Separate the chard stems from the leaves since you’ll want to cook them separately. Stems will take about three extra minutes. Photo and Recipe: Blue Apron

Enoki-Carrot-Noodle-Salad

6. Enoki and Carrot Noodle Salad
Thin Japanese mushrooms add a crisp and mild crunch to this bowl. Ready in five minutes or less, this enoki and carrot mix doesn’t require an oven for preparation, making it a perfect choice for a hot summer day. For a sophisticated taste, don’t forget to add white sesame seeds and Japanese chili powder (or red pepper flakes) on top. Photo and Recipe: Emily / No Pasta for Penguins

RELATED: Meal Prep Like a Pro: 3 Recipes, 1 Batch of Quinoa

Spicy Soba Noodles Recipe

7. Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles Recipe
Want a dish with a kick? This Asian-flavored noodle recipe has you covered. With 10 grams of protein and just 280 calories, a medium bowl of noodles is light yet satiating. Photo and recipe: Emily Miller / Life by Daily Burn 

Paleo-Pasta-Puttanesca

8. Paleo “Pasta” Puttanesca
Put a healthy, Paleo spin on a classic Italian dish, using parsnip noodles instead of the real thing. Capers, anchovies and garlic make for a strong flavor combination, so you might need that after-dinner mint. Photo and Recipe: Rachel Ball / Grok Grub

Cucumber-Carrot-Noodles

9. Cucumber Noodles with Spicy Soy Dressing
Stay cool as a cumber when temperatures rise with this refreshing Asian-inspired salad. A one-cup serving clocks in at only 80 calories! If you like a bit of texture, don’t scrape off the peel of your cukes. Photo and Recipe: Julie / This Gal Cooks

Garlic-Sweet-Potato-Noodles2

10. Garlic Sweet Potato Noodles with Pancetta and Baby Spinach
Iron-rich curls of sweet potato provide over 20 percent of your daily fiber needs. These fiery-hued noodles cook in three minutes, so making a healthy dinner is a cinch — just be careful not to overdo them. Cubed pancetta packs umami flavor for a truly delectable dish. Photo and Recipe: Ali / Inspiralized

Zucchini Noodles and Meatballs

11. Zucchini Noodles and Meatballs
As easy to make as they are fun to say, “zoodles” (zucchini noodles) are a good source of fiber and metabolism-boosting folate. A plate of this faux pasta pairs perfectly with lean turkey meatballs, which have less than half the fat of the ground beef variety. Photo and Recipe: Perry Santanachote / Life By Daily Burn

Originally posted July 2014. Updated February 2016. 

Related Posts

Scroll to Top