12 Healthy Pasta Recipes You Should Make Tonight

One of the easiest ways to get dinner on the table is to make pasta! It’s delicious, pairs well with many flavors, and can be a healthy meal (if you add the right ingredients).

Here are 12 healthy pasta recipes that are perfect for dinner tonight – many of them are recipes full of veggies, chicken, and other good stuff.

They’re great for families with kids or for serving a large crowd as pasta dinners tend to be cheap + filling.

Best Tips for Cooking Pasta

Pasta is cheap and easy to cook, but there are a few tips to follow to make sure your pasta is cooked perfectly!

Plan your recipe so you are cooking your pasta as the last step. You don’t want your noodles done long before the sauce is ready – they’ll get clumpy and cold.
Make sure to salt the water heavily (I recommend using Diamond Crystal Kosher salt) – it’s your one chance to get the pasta salted, but don’t add oil to it – it’ll make your pasta greasy.
Make sure your water is at a roiling boil before adding your pasta.
Stir the pasta occasionally while it’s boiling – this will keep it from sticking together.
Cook your pasta till al dente – your pasta should be firm but tender.
Drain the pasta in a colander but don’t dry it or rinse it with cold water.
Reserve some of the pasta water and add it to your sauce – it’s starchy, so it helps the sauce stick to the noodles.

Healthy Pasta Recipes

Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

This pesto pasta salad recipe is a delicious summer meal. It's heavy on vegetables and has a delicious pesto base.

Creamy Zucchini Pasta

This creamy zucchini pasta recipe is made with half zucchini noodles and half linguini noodles. It has a rich, decadent sauce made from cream, butter, and lemon that's brightened up with fresh herbs.

Butternut Squash Pasta

This butternut squash pasta with toasted panko and sage is a creamy, delicious recipe.

Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta

This burst cherry tomato pasta is a simple recipe that's full of flavor.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

This creamy cauliflower mac and cheese recipe is made with roasted cauliflower, white beans, salsa, and a whole head of roasted garlic. It's a delicious, vegan mac and cheese recipe.

This easy lemon chicken pasta is full of flavor! It’s a delicious, weeknight meal that you will love. The bright flavor of the lemon, mixed with the subtle leeks, spinach, and parmesan is unbelievably good!

Sicilian Pasta alla Norma

Pasta alla Norma is a classic, Sicilian dish that is full of rich flavors. The roasted eggplant and the slowly cooked tomato sauce are an incredibly satisfying combination.

Pasta with Pancetta and Tomato Sauce

The sauce is made from sautéed onions, crispy pancetta, garlic, and tomatoes. Topped with parmesan and herbs, this dish is versatile (it works with any pasta type), hearty, and perfect for a night when you want to eat a real meal but don’t have hours to cook.