13 Veggie Noodle Recipes So Satisfying You Won't Miss the Pasta

Zoodle Bowls with Tomato Sauce and Sausage
Photo: Blaine Moats

Give them a twirl! Zoodles, butternut squash noodles, and other veggie noodle creations can do anything pasta can do and pack more nutrition into typically starch-filled dishes. Easy to make and fun to eat, spiralized vegetables work well in classic Italian pasta tosses, comfort food casseroles, and Asian-inspired soups where pasta noodles normally rule. Skip the box of spaghetti and grab your veggie noodle maker (aka spiralizer) instead.

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Zoodle Bowls with Tomato Sauce and Sausage

Zoodle Bowls with Tomato Sauce and Sausage
Blaine Moats

This zoodle recipe tastes like summer in a bowl! With zucchini, basil, tomatoes, peppers, and more, this fast and fresh dinner is even better than its carb-filled cousin, traditional spaghetti and meatballs. Prefer green sauce over red? Try this as pesto zoodles and sausage with our fresh Basil Pesto recipe.

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Bahn Mi Noodle Bowl

Bahn Mi Noodle Bowl
Blaine Moats

A banh mi is a quintessential Vietnamese sandwich that is very craveable, true, but it's also high in carbs. So we transformed the pork and pickle recipe into a cozy soup with carrot vegetable noodles. Cilantro, cucumbers, ginger, and rice vinegar lend similar flavors as to the sandwich you know and love.

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Turnip Noodle Bowls with Salmon and Curry Sauce

Turnip Noodle Bowls with Salmon and Curry Sauce
Blaine Moats

Save money, calories, and carbs by creating a classy salmon entrée at home. This high-protein, Paleo-friendly veggie noodle bowl recipe requires just one pan and only 40 minutes to bring to the table. Try it with turnip noodles or substitute carrot noodles or butternut squash noodles for a pretty, monochromatic meal.

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Beet Noodle Bowls with Steak and Chimichurri

Beet Noodle Bowls with Steak and Chimichurri
Blaine Moats

Beets and beef make a dream duo in this creative vegetable noodle recipe. Tangy oranges, zesty chimichurri, and peppery arugula play nicely with the juicy flank steak and sautéed beet noodles. While it taste like a splurge, the entire Paleo dinner recipe has just 14 grams of carbs!

Buy It: 5-Blade Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer, $24.98, Amazon

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Pork and Kohlrabi Noodle Bowls

Pork and Kohlrabi Noodle Bowls
Blaine Moats

We're crushing on kohlrabi. If you're unfamiliar, kohlrabi is a cousin to cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. It spiralizes into a beautiful veggie noodle base (alongside apple spirals) for this Paleo noodle bowl. Since both the pork tenderloin and the produce are sliced thin for quick cooking, this high-protein recipe takes just 30 minutes start to finish.

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Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs

Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs
Andy Lyons

Whip up this family-favorite weeknight recipe with way fewer carbs—but with loads of protein (22 grams!). Since roasted spaghetti squash in naturally shreddable and twirlable, no veggie noodle maker is required. While we explain how to make a homemade tomato sauce, you could use a jarred marinara sauce instead, if you're in a hurry.

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Paleo Spaghetti Shrimp Scampi Bowls

Paleo Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi Bowls
Blaine Moats

Shrimp scampi is often swimming in butter—and calories. With just enough olive oil (3 tablespoons in the entire four-serving recipe!) and spaghetti squash noodles instead of standard angel hair, this Paleo noodle bowl leaves more than enough wiggle room to tack on a Paleo dessert recipe, too. No grill? No sweat. Sauté the shrimp in a skillet on your stovetop until opaque.

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Zoodle Pizza Casserole

Zoodle Pizza Casserole
Andy Lyons

Cooking zoodles doesn't always require sautéing or stir-frying. We're casserole-ing them for this kid-friendly dinner! Pizza and pasta combine in this healthy dish—and no, it's not too good to be true. Zucchini noodles combine with just eight other ingredients for an easy, affordable dinner recipe.

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Veggie Noodles with Cashew-Cilantro Pesto

Veggie Noodles with Cashew-Cilantro Pesto
Jason Donnelly

The star ingredients in this dish take on new roles: Cashews become pesto, and veggies take the place of pasta. (Cucumber, daikon, and carrots are the building blocks of our base recipe, but feel free to try butternut squash noodles, too!) This recipe is also Paleo-approved.

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Noodles and "Zoodles" with Saffron and Cream

Noodles and “Zoodles” with Saffron and Cream
Blaine Moats

For those not totally willing to give up regular pasta noodles in favor of veggie noodles, go halvsies! Noodles and zoodles pair up in this ultrafilling pasta dish. Pancetta and freshly grated cheese make this elegant recipe a great entrée choice for a dinner party.

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Gluten-Free Baked Spaghetti Squash

Gluten-Free Baked Spaghetti Squash
Marty Baldwin

Calling all comfort food fans! Veggie spaghetti noodles made from squash act as the "starch" in this casserole recipe. Mix in some more veggies and top with cheese, then toss the dish in the oven and you're done.

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Roasted Zucchini Lasagna

Roasted Zucchini Lasagna
Andy Lyons

When it comes to nutrition and flavor, store-bought lasagna is no match for this recipe layered with veggie lasagna noodles. Roasting the zucchini brings out even more flavor for this pasta stand-in.

Buy It: Le Creuset Heritage Stoneware Covered Rectangular Dish, $130, Amazon

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Jeweled Spaghetti Squash

Jeweled Spaghetti Squash
James Carriere

Walnuts lend crunch and cherries give sweetness to this easy, healthy veggie noodle pasta. And while it might sound a little crazy, OJ is the secret ingredient that peps up the sauce. (Trust us: The sweet and savory quality of this veggie noodle recipe is outstanding!) Serve the dish as a side, or add leftover or shredded rotisserie chicken to make it a well-balanced dinner.

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