Carbs aren't the only thing Italians are good at. These healthy Italian recipes—from zoodle bowls and cauliflower crust pizza to saucy Italian meatball subs—go way beyond pasta and sauce. Plus, each of these protein-packed dishes has less than 400 calories per serving.
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.
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 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-Crusted Pizza
Looking to cut the calories and carbs from your pizza? Try a cheese and cauliflower crust as the base for this healthy Italian recipe. 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 recipe in just 35 minutes. Even more tempting news than that speedy timeline? A generous 2-cup serving of the easy, healthy Italian recipe is only 301 calories.
Zoodle Pizza Casserole
When you hear pizza and casserole, you're probably more likely to think of comfort food than calorie-conscious eating. 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.
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 recipe is officially done.
Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Pies
Go ahead, enjoy a double fix of spaghetti. This healthy Italian 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 ten 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.
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 (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.
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 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.
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.
Test Kitchen Tip
Prepare ingredients and assemble the lasagna over the weekend or on an evening when you have some extra time, then refrigerate for up to two days before baking (and devouring).
More Healthy Recipe Ideas
Healthy Italian recipes are just the start of the good-for-you meals to make if you're goal is to reduce calories in your eating plan.
- Watching your cholesterol intake? These recipes will keep you on track.
- Indulge in your favorite stir-fry meal with only 400 calories a serving. These are 12 of our favorite chicken stir-fries to make that are quick and simple.
- When entertaining a crowd, it can be challenging to find a healthy option, but we've got you covered with 24 Healthy Potluck Recipes, including a fabulous oven-fried chicken.
- If snacks are a must but the calorie counts are a no-no, these healthy snack ideas will make it easy to stay on track.
