24 Healthy Italian Dinner Recipes That Don't Skimp on Flavor

Pressure Cooker Ziti with Italian Chicken Sausage

Bye-bye, baked ziti. We've moved on to Instant Pot ziti. "Baking" the healthy Italian sausage recipe in the handy appliance means you can have the easy, cheesy meal ready to dish up in less than 30 minutes.

Zoodle Bowls with Tomato Sauce and Sausage

Paleo-friendly pasta does exist. Swap regular spaghetti for zucchini noodles and—voila!—you have a carb-smart base that will hold all the tasty toppings, including chicken sausage, tomatoes, and lots of fresh herbs. For a twist on this healthy Italian recipe, try it with beans, shredded chicken, or shrimp instead of the sausage.

Italian Barley and Sausage Casserole

Scoop up a Sunday dinner-worthy dish any night of the week. Instead of white rice or pasta, whole grain barley is the base of this vegetable-rich healthy Italian sausage recipe. Because each casserole serving cooks in a ramekin, portion control is automatic and easy.

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Ravioli Lasagna with Baby Kale and Italian Sausage

Reduce prep time and infuse even more flavor into your next lasagna dinner by substituting standard lasagna noodles with cheese-filled ravioli. The puffy pillows are a breeze to layer with satisfying chicken sausage and piles of kale (we see you, vitamin K). Pair this healthy Italian pasta recipe with a side salad for a well-balanced, restaurant-quality meal.

Lightened-Up Spaghetti Pie

Indulge your carb cravings with a slice of this healthy spaghetti pie—each slice clocks in at only 256 calories! Three key steps lighten the recipe: folding in lots of veggies, choosing lean ground turkey over regular beef, and topping the savory pie with reduced-fat cheese. Easy as (spaghetti) pie!

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Looking to cut the calories and carbs from your pizza? Try a cauliflower and cheese crust as the base to your healthy Italian meal. The texture is surprisingly like regular pizza dough and, once topped with marinara, plenty of vegetables, and a light sprinkle of cheese, you won't even know the difference.

Italian-Style Turkey and Penne Toss

Penne, you've never looked better. Toss multigrain noodles with herb-packed tomato sauce, iron-rich baby spinach, and lean turkey breast for a healthy Italian dinner that's ready in just 35 minutes. Even more tempting news than that speedy timeline? A generous 2-cup serving of the easy, healthy Italian recipe ranks in at only 301 calories.

Lemon Scallops

If you have 15 minutes, you have time to cook this fancy-looking (yet simple-to-execute) healthy Italian meal. Crisp seared scallops are coated in a white wine-citrus sauce and finished with fresh herbs—close your eyes, take a bite, and you'll feel instantly transported to the Italian coast.

Zoodle Pizza Casserole

When you hear pizza and casserole, you're probably more likely to think of comfort food than calorie conscious. But here's the good news: This spiralized zucchini recipe satisfies all those wants. The easy, healthy Italian recipe features the perfect ratio of melty cheese topping, mini pepperonis, and pastalike zoodles.

Meatballs, Greens, and Orrechiette

It can be our little secret: No one needs to know that these lean meatballs are hiding zucchini for an added boost of nutrition and moisture. To give this healthy Italian pasta recipe more fiber, opt for whole wheat pasta.

Italian Meatball Rolls

These aren't your regular meatball subs—they're better! Chow down on fresh cremini mushrooms, protein-packed turkey meatballs, and Italy's quintessential duo of balsamic and mozzarella. Loads of added flavor comes from herbs, garlic, and vinegar—not fat and salt.

Italian Roasted Chicken and Veggie Toss

Here's the good news: A gluten-free Italian entrée is possible. Load up a sheet pan with chicken and veggies, roast, then pile the toasty ingredients on a bed of leafy greens. Drizzle with a balsamic vinaigrette and your healthy Italian chicken recipe is officially done.

Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Pies

Go ahead, enjoy a double fix of spaghetti. This healthy Italian pasta recipe calls for reduced-fat Italian cheese and a lighter, sugar-free version of your favorite tomato-basil sauce so you can feel good about going back for seconds. Two mini pies come in at under 300 calories.

Italian Pesto Pasta Salad

Stretch four servings of pasta to serve 10 people (yes, 10). The secret? A slew of other fiber-filled, tasty ingredients. Mix the mac with hearty canned beans, punchy basil pesto, and peppery arugula for quite possibly the freshest pasta salad recipe you'll ever taste.

Roasted Salmon with Broccoli and Tomatoes

So much flavor for 276 calories per serving! Basil and parsley infuse this sheet-pan supper's finishing sauce with fresh Mediterranean flavors. Make a double batch of the light lemon drizzle and use one portion in this healthy Italian recipe and the other over tomorrow's lunch salad.

Tutto (Everything) Pizza

What do we love about this good-for-you pizza? Everything! The healthy Italian recipe starts on a hearty whole grain crust and is like the best supreme pie you'll ever taste. A whole lot of marinara, artichokes, olives, and banana peppers balance out a bit of pepperoni and sausage.

Spring Minestrone

Prep your spoons. After seeing how easy it is to make a big batch of this soup, you'll want to add it to every week's meal plan. With a healthy dose of fiber from the green veggies and plenty of protein from beans, each 300-calorie serving will keep you full for hours.

Gazpacho Shrimp Salad

This seafood supper is half salad, half soup, and completely delicious. Everyone around your table will agree: The light and refreshing shrimp recipe is a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. If you have fresh parsley, basil, or marjoram on hand, use them to garnish the already-healthy Italian dish.

Make-Ahead Chicken-Spinach Calzones

Snag some refrigerated pizza dough and roll it out into a party-worthy calzone dinner, These nutrition-packed versions ooze with melty (skim) mozzarella, chopped chicken, and garlicky spinach. Plus, these healthy Italian baked chicken calzones can be made up to a month ahead and frozen until a craving hits.

Lasagna Rolls al Forno

Single-serving pasta spirals for the win! Creating these individual rolls with lasagna noodles makes portion control so easy—and they'll taste jut like the classic dish. Roll each noodle around a scoop of our veggie-loaded sausage Bolognese for a healthy Italian dinner recipe.

Whole Grain Panzanella

Calling all carb fans: This healthy Italian recipe includes bread and potatoes. And yes, it's good for you! Instead of white bread, this entrée salad calls for cubes of whole wheat baguette and diced potatoes to pack more nutrition into every bite. To make it more of a meal, toss in a handful of protein-rich grilled chicken.

Farfalle with Mushrooms and Spinach

Olive oil, garlic, spinach—this healthy Italian pasta recipe is jam-packed with all sorts of Mediterranean diet delights. Plus, it can be made in minutes with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Cut mushrooms into thick slices for more of a meaty texture in this vegetarian entrée.

Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs

A few simple swaps—like using spaghetti squash instead of pasta—helps cut calories and fat to transform traditional spaghetti and meatballs into a totally healthy Italian dish. Multitask by roasting the "noodles" as you make the meaty topping. For better-for-you meatballs, incorporate a scoop of fiber-rich bulgur and opt for lean ground beef.

Vegetable Lasagna

Go on, give in to your love of lasagna. Our veggie-packed version features all the melty mozzarella goodness you love, plus layers of fresh mushrooms, spinach, and broccoli keep it low-cal and full of vitamins. To cut down on prep time, rely on a mix of fresh and frozen vegetables.

Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare ingredients and assemble the lasagna over the weekend or on an evening you have some extra time, then refrigerate for up to two days before baking (and devouring).