When it comes to pasta night, many of us picture a carb-loaded feast: piles of noodles smothered in sauce and melty cheese — maybe with a baguette on the side.
But it doesn't always have to be that way. By treating pasta as a blank canvas for fresh vegetables, lean proteins and other good-for-you ingredients, you can turn it into a delicious (and easy!) opportunity to load up on nutrients. With the right strategy, it's simple to whip up a produce-packed or high-protein pasta bowl that satisfies.
Take our latest creation from the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen: Ground Turkey and Snap Pea Pasta. Created by food producer Tina Martinez, this dish is equal parts nourishing and satisfying — and comes together in just 25 minutes. Each serving delivers 25 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, making it a weeknight win.
Ready to build your own better-for-you pasta bowl? Here's how to get started:
Pick a fun pasta shape
Whether you love long strands or short, twisty types, there are plenty of pasta shapes to explore. Wider noodles like pappardelle stand up to hearty, slow-cooked sauces like pork ragù. Orzo and ditalini work well in soups and scenarios where you want a little pasta in every spoonful.
This recipe uses campanelle, a ruffled, bell-shaped pasta with a hollow center that catches sauce and small ingredients. Its size also pairs nicely with sugar snap peas, offering great texture in every forkful.
Looking to boost the nutrition? Try swapping in a legume-based or high-protein pasta to increase the fiber and protein content of your dish — no extra steps required.
Respect your pasta water
There's a reason many of our recipes call for reserving at least a cup of pasta cooking water before draining. That starchy liquid is liquid gold — and a splash can make a huge difference when it comes to creating a silky, cohesive sauce. Instead of draining pasta in a colander, try using tongs or a spider to transfer noodles directly from the pot to the skillet. This keeps extra starchy water on hand for finishing your dish.
And don't skip the salt! Salting your pasta water provides a way to build flavor from the beginning, since the pasta absorbs this seasoned water as it cooks.
Want to level things up? Try cooking your water in bone broth or stock instead of plain water. It's an effortless way to infuse flavor and sneak in extra protein — especially in one-pot pastas where all the liquid gets absorbed.
Embrace efficiencies
Since you've already got a pot of boiling water going, put it to good use to save time (and dishes!): Add quick-cooking vegetables to the water during the last minute or two of cooking. In this recipe, we throw in sugar snap peas for the final 60 seconds — just enough to get them tender-crisp and vibrant green.
Other great add-ins include frozen peas, green beans and corn kernels. If you have a steamer basket, you can place that over the pot to steam broccoli florets while the pasta cooks below.
Now is also the time to think strategically about your ingredients. If pasta is your blank canvas, not everything has to be made from scratch. Have leftover steak and random cooked veggies in the fridge? Slice them up to toss with your go-to noodle and a spoonful of jarred marinara.
Don't overlook no-cook add-ins either. Try shredded rotisserie chicken, canned beans or tinned fish for protein; bagged spinach and grated zucchini will wilt nicely into hot pasta. Even grated fresh tomatoes can become a no-cook sauce in peak season (read: summer).
Use a skillet to build flavor
That said, some cooking will often take your pasta to the next level and a large skillet is your best friend for sautéing veggies that can benefit from cooking at a higher temp (think: onions that caramelize or peppers that get a nice char). It’s also ideal for searing proteins like chicken sausage or lean ground turkey.
Bonus: If your skillet is roomy enough, you can add the cooked pasta directly to it and toss everything together — no extra bowl required.
Finish with flair
Sometimes it's the final touches that make the dish. A sprinkle of Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper is a classic move. For our Ground Turkey and Snap Pea Pasta, you won't want to skip the lemon zest and generous sprinkle of fresh herbs — basil and parsley — which add brightness.
With just a few smart swaps and strategies, you can turn pasta night into so much more than pure comfort. It's a flavorful, budget-friendly way to pack in more veggies, lean protein and whole grains — all in one satisfying bowl.
