If you think zoodles are just a sad replacement, prepare to be proven wrong. 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 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 any recipes, like phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Plus, their subtle flavour means zoodles complement just about any seasoning, sauce, or spice. Discover (or deepen) your love of zoodles and lighten up your favourite pasta recipes with these delicious dishes.
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 from Prevention »
Chicken Alfredo Zoodles
Why head to an Italian restaurant 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!
Get the recipe from Parsnips and Pastries »
Caprese Zoodles
There's nothing like the fresh, crisp taste of a caprese salad. Bring those same beloved flavours 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!
Get the recipe from Delish »
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.
Get the recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod »
Garlic Butter Meatballs with Zoodles
Skip the spaghetti-these zoodles with garlic butter meatballs are all you need. Ground beef is swapped out for chicken mince, but you could also opt for turkey mince 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.
Get the recipe from Delish »
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.
Plated Get the recipe from Well Plated »
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!
Get the recipe from Simply Quinoa »
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.
Get the recipe from Eating Bird Food »
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, flavourful 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!
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest »
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 capsicum, avocado, and baby spinach.
Get the recipe from Delish »
Pan-Seared Fish with Lemony Zucchini Noodles
Topped with pan-seared fish, these lemony zucchini noodles with sweet tomatoes create a colorful dish that'll keep you full and satisfied. YTry it with your favorite seafood (salmon, prawns, etc.) or use tofu. This decadent-looking meal will only take up 30 minutes of your time and each serving is less than 1600 kilojoules.
Get the recipe from Feasting at Home »
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.
Get the recipe from Simple Vegan Blog »
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 720 kilojoules!
Get the recipe from A Sweet Pea Chef »
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 flavour 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!
Get the recipe from Pinch of Yum »
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, rocket, pine nuts, and pesto. This blogger emphasises the important 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 3 days, but add in extra rocket before eating as the previous greens will have wilted a bit.
Get the recipe from Every Last Bite »
Zucchini and Spaghetti 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 spaghetti squash. Once you pour on the finalized bolognese sauce and give it a taste, you'll want to eat the entire batch!
Get the recipe from Flavor the Moments »
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, entree, 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 5 to 10 minutes, you also have a clean kitchen with just one or two dishes to wash!
Get the recipe from Dashing Dish »
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