Pasta is a tried-and-true comfort food, but for people who are trying to minimize their carb intake, it's not always the healthiest choice. That's why it's great to have some equally delicious low-carb pasta alternatives in your wheelhouse. Enter: zucchini noodles, which are commonly made using a spiralizer or julienne peeler. Affectionately known as "zoodles," zucchini noodles add serious nutrition to many dishes, like phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Plus, their subtle flavor means zoodles complement just about any seasoning, sauce, or spice. Discover (or deepen) your love of zoodles and lighten up your favorite pasta recipes with these delicious dishes.
1
Zucchini-Linguine Bolognese
Two cups of zucchini noodles will save you around 314 calories and 68 grams of carbs compared to traditional pasta. Plus, when it's topped with this sweet, hearty sauce filled with veggies, ground meat, red wine, almond milk, and more, you won't even taste the difference.
Get the recipe for Zucchini-Linguine Bolognese »
2
Caprese Zoodles
There's nothing like the fresh, crisp taste of a caprese salad. Bring those same beloved flavors over to your zucchini noodles using this recipe from Delish, which you can throw together in under 25 minutes for a refreshing and healthy lunch!
3
Zuddha Bowl
The great thing about Buddha bowls is that they're pretty healthy in the first place. But if you really want to lighten up the carbs, just use zoodles as your base. You can power up your lunch even more by topping your Zhudda Bowl with your favorite healthy superfoods, like bell peppers, avocado, and baby spinach.
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4
Garlic Butter Meatballs with Zoodles
Skip the spaghetti—these zoodles with garlic butter meatballs are all you need. Ground beef is swapped out for ground chicken, but you could also opt for ground turkey if desired. The zoodles are cooked in garlic and butter and topped with the meatballs and Parmesan for a hearty meal you can enjoy all week.
5
Chicken Alfredo Zoodles
Why head to Olive Garden when you can make chicken Alfredo at home for much cheaper and a fraction of the calories? The zoodles make for a nutritious base, while a lightened-up Alfredo sauce ditches the heavy cream, butter, and cheese for chicken stock, 2% milk, and less cheese and butter. Pack up any leftovers for a delicious lunch the next day!
6
Spinach Parmesan Zucchini Noodles
Requiring only five ingredients, this zoodle recipe could not be simpler. The zoodles are cooked together with garlic, butter, and spinach for a healthy meal you can easily enjoy on hectic weeknights. This blogger also shares a pro tip: Don't overcook the zucchini noodles, otherwise, they can get soggy, and no one wants that. This recipe yields four servings, so you'll have enough to share with family and friends or stock up for the busy week ahead.
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7
Healthy Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles
Usually, a tasty shrimp scampi translates to heaps and heaps of butter, but this blogger's recipe dials it down to make this meal much more balanced. Low-sodium chicken broth and unsalted butter also help keep the sodium levels much lower than you'd find in the classic dish. At 232 calories and only 10 grams of carbs per serving, this zoodle recipe proves zucchinis are basically magical.
8
Quinoa Pesto Zucchini Noodles
Calling all pesto lovers: You and these zoodles are a match made in heaven. Drenched in a quinoa pesto sauce (using nutritional yeast instead of cheese), this dish isn't just tasty; it's also loaded with protein so you won't have to worry about getting hungry three hours later. To top it all off, this meal takes only five minutes to make!
9
Zucchini Noodle Spaghetti Salad
This recipe is 100 percent veggie and bursting with flavor. This blogger topped hers with a homemade dressing made from apple cider vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard, maple syrup, and spices, but you can also use your own go-to dressing. Best served cold, this zesty zoodle spaghetti salad is the perfect side dish to a savory entree.
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10
Zucchini Noodles with Poached Eggs and Tomatoes
The poached egg takes this simple, 15-minute dish to the next level, mixing with the tomatoes and spices to create a creamy, flavorful sauce for the zucchini noodles, which are tossed in olive oil and kalamata olives. Serve warm and mix it all together to ensure maximum creaminess!
11
Pan-Seared Halibut with Lemony Zucchini Noodles
Topped with pan-seared halibut, these lemony zucchini noodles with sweet tomatoes create a colorful dish that'll keep you full and satisfied. You could also swap out the halibut for your favorite seafood (salmon, shrimp, etc.) or use tofu. This decadent-looking meal will only take up 30 minutes of your time and each serving is less than 400 calories.
12
Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Sauce
If you have 10 minutes and seven simple ingredients, you can make these zoodles, which are coated in a creamy avocado sauce made simply from water, lemon juice, pine nuts, basil, and avocado. This is a raw vegan recipe, meaning no cooking required and no animal products. It's strictly veggies and absolutely delicious.
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13
Slow-Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
You've heard of chicken noodle soup, but how about chicken zoodle soup? This hassle-free dish will give you the same comfort (with less sodium and fewer carbs) on days when you're feeling under the weather or just need a hot soup. The best part is that you can use your slow cooker to prep this meal ahead of time. Plus, one serving is only 172 calories!
14
Spicy Sesame Zoodles with Crispy Tofu
Lathered in a thick, spicy sesame peanut sauce and topped with crispy, pan-fried tofu, these zucchini noodles pack major flavor as well as protein. If you're meal prepping, keep the zoodles and tofu separate until ready to serve so the zoodles don't get watery. You can also enjoy this dish hot or cold!
15
Vegetarian Pad Thai With Zoodles
The next time you're craving Thai takeout, you'll swear off Seamless because you can whip up a full plate of this delicious pad Thai dish in just 25 minutes. This recipe calls for fish sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and chili garlic sauce for the tasty dressing, and zucchini, garlic, eggs, bean sprouts, carrots, edamame, green onions, peanuts, and fresh cilantro for the actual dish. But the beauty of this recipe is that you can swap veggies for ones you have on hand. We also love that this simple dish can be made in larger batches to enjoy the next day.
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16
Vegan Ramen Soup With Zucchini Noodles
Sometimes a warm bowl of ramen is what you need to feel whole again. This comforting noodle dish gets a hearty dose of fiber with zoodles in place of white noodles. It also has spinach, mushrooms, and carrots for an extra boost of antioxidants and nutrients. Chopped green onions, garlic, and ginger infuse this soup with mouthwatering flavor. Plus, it's easy to prepare—just add everything to a pot and let it simmer.
17
Mediterranean Chicken and Summer Squash Noodles With Fried Halloumi
This satisfying salad has the perfect balance of protein, carbs, and fat—and we promise it doesn't disappoint fa. Grilled chicken comes to life with a garlic and paprika-infused marinade, while zucchini noodles are dressed in a green basil sauce made with roasted cashews and fresh oregano, basil, and chives. Fried halloumi cheese rounds out the dish with a creamy and chewy texture. Yum!
18
Pesto Salad with Zoodles, Pine Nuts and Prosciutto
You can always count on pesto to liven up a meal. This dairy-free and gluten-free zoodle salad is topped with crispy prosciutto, arugula, pine nuts, and pesto. This blogger emphasizes the importance of removing excess water from the zucchini noodles before mixing them into the salad, as they naturally release a lot of moisture. You can store these leftovers for up to three days, but add in extra arugula before eating as the previous greens will have wilted a bit.
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19
Zucchini and Yellow Squash Noodles with Turkey Sausage Bolognese
It can be hard to resist the richness of a warm spaghetti bolognese, but this recipe makes it way easier. This blogger swapped out the pork sausage for turkey and used two types of veggie noodles as the base: zucchini and yellow squash. Once you pour on the finalized bolognese sauce and give it a taste, you'll want to eat the entire batch!
20
5-Minute Cheesy Zoodles
You won't feel the slightest bit of guilt when you try these cheesy zucchini noodles, which serve perfectly as a light lunch, appetizer, or tasty side dish. It's also a sheet-pan meal—the zucchini is tossed with lemon juice and seasonings, topped with tomatoes and Parmesan, then baked in the oven. Not only is dinner ready in just five to 10 minutes, you also have a clean kitchen with just one or two dishes to wash!
Alexis Jones
Assistant Editor
Alexis Jones is an assistant editor at Women's Health where she writes across several verticals on WomensHealthmag.com, including life, health, sex and love, relationships and fitness, while also contributing to the print magazine. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University, lives in Brooklyn, and proudly detests avocados.
