18 Pasta Recipes That Can Actually Help You Lose Weight

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley.

If you’re looking to lose weight, you can still enjoy a hearty bowl of pasta. These pasta recipes are low in calories and high in fiber and/or proteina combination that supports healthy weight loss, better digestion and helps you feel fuller for longer. Recipes like our Marry Me Chicken & Spinach Penne Skillet and our High-Fiber Pasta with Tomato Sauce are flavorful, nutritious and will keep you feeling satisfied as you work towards your goals.

01 of 18

High-Protein Roasted Vegetable & Bean Pasta Salad

Credit: Photographer: Diana Chistruga.
Credit: Photographer: Diana Chistruga.

This easy pasta salad is a crowd-pleasing dish for any occasion. Roasted vegetables and white beans add plant-based fiber and protein, while a quick herb vinaigrette ties everything together. If you want to make it more filling, grilled chicken would be an excellent addition.

View Recipe

02 of 18

Marry Me Chicken & Spinach Penne Skillet

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley.
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley.

This easy “marry-me” dinner combines tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and whole-wheat pasta in a creamy, Parmesan-infused sauce. Fresh spinach and basil brighten the rich flavors, making this comforting meal weeknight-friendly yet special enough for company.

View Recipe

03 of 18

This High-Fiber Pasta with Tomato Sauce

Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum, Prop Styling: Josh Hoggle
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum, Prop Styling: Josh Hoggle

This simple pasta features fresh plum tomatoes cooked down into a rustic, chunky sauce with garlic, herbs and a touch of butter for richness. It’s an easy, satisfying dinner that comes together quickly using pantry staples and a handful of fresh ingredients.

View Recipe

04 of 18

Baked Lemon Boursin Pasta with Spring Vegetables

Credit: Photographer: Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.
Credit: Photographer: Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

This easy baked pasta combines creamy Boursin cheese, bright lemon and a mix of spring vegetables into a fresh and comforting dinner. Everything cooks in one dish, allowing the pasta to absorb all the flavors. It’s a simple, veggie-forward meal that’s perfect for spring.

View Recipe

05 of 18

Pesto Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes

Credit: Ali Redmond
Credit: Ali Redmond

This Pesto Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes is a bright, flavorful dish that comes together quickly. Pasta is cooked alongside frozen sweet peas, then tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes and basil pesto for a fresh, herbaceous finish. You can serve it warm or chilled, making it perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks or picnics. A sprinkle of Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon add the perfect final touch.

View Recipe

06 of 18

Creamy Basil-Tomato Chicken Pasta Bake

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist:Hannah Greenwood
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist:Hannah Greenwood

This creamy tomato-chicken pasta bake is comfort food at its finest. Tender chicken breast is baked along with juicy cherry tomatoes and creamy Boursin cheese for a rich, herby sauce. The chicken is shredded and returned to the dish with cooked pasta and fresh basil, then baked with fontina cheese on top until bubbly. This easy pasta bake is a complete meal that delivers big flavor.

View Recipe

07 of 18

High-Protein Pasta Salad

Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

This high-protein pasta salad is a satisfying dish packed with plant-based protein from chickpea pasta and chickpeas, with an extra boost coming from fresh mozzarella cheese pearls. Tossed with fresh veggies and flavored with zingy za’atar seasoning, this salad is perfect for meal prep, a quick lunch or a satisfying dinner.

View Recipe

08 of 18

Creamy Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.

This Brussels sprouts spaghetti is comfort food at its finest. The pasta simmers directly in broth for a starchy, full-bodied base that gets coated in a creamy Asiago sauce with a subtle kick of red pepper. Brussels sprouts and shallots add caramelized sweetness and earthy depth, while fresh basil brightens the final dish. It’s a one-pan dinner that’s perfect for a weeknight meal when the cozy vibes are calling.

View Recipe

09 of 18

High-Protein Pasta with Peas

Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

This one-pot pasta with peas is packed with plant-based protein and a healthy dose of fiber. The chickpea pasta is cooked with vibrant green peas and tossed with fragrant basil and a rich pesto sauce for fresh flavor in every bite. Nutty toasted pine nuts provide the perfect crunch, adding depth and texture.

View Recipe

10 of 18

Creamy Caramelized Cauliflower Pasta

Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

This creamy cauliflower pasta is the ultimate comfort food—rich, velvety and flavorful. With simple ingredients and quick prep, it’s a satisfying dish that feels fancy without the fuss and is the ideal meal for a cozy weeknight dinner. Add a squeeze of lemon or a pinch of chile flakes to elevate this easy, comforting classic even more!

View Recipe

11 of 18

Baked Creamed Spinach Pasta

Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

This baked creamed spinach pasta is comfort in a bowl—creamy, cheesy and utterly delicious! This crowd-pleasing dish combines the velvety richness of creamed spinach with tender pasta, all baked to bubbly perfection. It’s an easy, satisfying meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Serve it with a crisp green salad and some garlic bread for a dinner that everyone will rave about.

View Recipe

12 of 18

Pasta with Garlicky Tomato Sauce & Bay Scallops

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

This scallop pasta is an easy yet elegant dish that delivers restaurant-quality flavor without the fuss. Sweet, tender bay scallops are lightly seared to perfection and combined with a fresh, garlicky tomato sauce simmered with zucchini to deepen the flavors. When buying scallops, look for ones that are dry-packed and don’t feature artificial preservatives.

View Recipe

13 of 18

Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta

Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Natalie Ghazali
Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Natalie Ghazali

You’ll only have to dirty one pot in this easy pasta recipe that cooks chicken and vegetables right along with the noodles. Plus, by using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

View Recipe

14 of 18

One-Pot Spinach, Chicken Sausage & Feta Pasta

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

A little bit of Sunday meal prep goes a long way in this one-dish pasta recipe. Cooking the pasta ahead and refrigerating it saves time here—or use any leftover cooked pasta you have on hand. Chicken sausage with feta is especially good in this recipe.

View Recipe

15 of 18

Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta

If you’ve ever wanted to make a meal out of warm spinach and artichoke dip, this creamy pasta is for you. And here’s what’s almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

View Recipe

16 of 18

Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Natalie Ghazali
Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Natalie Ghazali

This chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a meal that’s garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it “Mom’s Skillet Pasta,” and she called it “Devon’s Favorite Pasta.” Either way, it’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It’s a simple dinner the whole family will love.

View Recipe

17 of 18

American Goulash

Credit: Photographer: Brie Goldman Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Credit: Photographer: Brie Goldman Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can be made in just one pot.

View Recipe

18 of 18

Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

Credit: Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
Credit: Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

This easy inside-out ravioli lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food—no layering or mixing bowls required. Feel free to swap in ground turkey for the beef. Look for fresh mozzarella balls (also called “pearls”) in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store.

View Recipe

Comments are closed.