15 Healthy Pasta Sauce Recipes

Pasta night doesn’t have to be indulgent — in fact, any plate of spaghetti can be part of a nutritious, balanced and delicious diet. With the help of these healthy pasta sauce recipes, you can satisfy your next craving for carbs and hit your health goals all in one delicious bowl of herby pesto or classic marinara.

The key to any nutritious pasta sauce is a good base of veggies — think spaghetti loaded with roasted vegetables (cauliflower! broccoli! onions!) or penne packed with fresh herbs, in-season tomatoes or heaps of leafy greens. Try lasagna layered with protein-rich cashew cream or traditional tomato sauce loaded with light, flavorful ingredients like fennel, capers, olives and more. Topped with a filling protein like creamy white beans, lean chicken or any number of meatball recipes, pasta can be a perfectly balanced plate of protein, veggies, healthy fats and carbs.

Looking to ramp up the nutritional value of dinner even more? According to a GH nutritionist, the healthiest ways to eat pasta include enjoying whole-wheat pasta (which boasts a heartier, nuttier flavor than traditional pasta) or trying bean- and legume-based noodles. You can also break out your spiralizer to try vegetable-based “pastas” (hello, zoodles!) that offer a low-cal alternative. Many of these recipes adhere to nutritionist recommendations, like doubling up on the veggie serving and cutting the pasta by a half or third. Grab a fork, because it’s pasta for dinner tonight!