35 Protein Packed Vegetarian Pasta Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best protein to add to pasta? ›

Chicken is an incredibly versatile protein that can work with any kind of sauce or flavor palette. Chicken in a rich, creamy, pasta works perfectly, but so does some cut-up chicken in a red sauce. No matter what kind of pasta you are making, some chopped chicken is a perfect addition.

Even More Protein: For extra protein, you can add cooked lentils or beans to the pot when you're heating the sauce. Or serve with my crispy tofu or panko tofu. It would also be great with vegan meatballs which you could make or use your favorite brand of premade.

The best pasta dishes for vegetarians focus on vegetables such as pasta primavera, ravioli, tortellini, or pasta with plain tomato sauce, which are all Italian dishes that are vegetarian.

1. Whole-Wheat Pasta. Whole-wheat pasta is an easy-to-find nutritious noodle that will bump up the nutrition of your pasta dish. Made from whole grains, every cup of cooked pasta (140 grams) boasts 43 g of carbohydrate, 3 g of fiber and 8 g of protein per serving, per the USDA.

Studies have shown that protein pasta is good for weight loss. This is because eating meals high in protein can help you stay in a caloric deficit by keeping you full for longer.

Among the highest protein vegetables are chickpeas, corn, spinach, artichoke hearts, and edamame. To get all of the amino acids your body needs, aim to eat a variety of foods, such as legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables throughout the day.

Durum Flour: Ground from extra-hard wheat (durum comes from the Latin word for hard), this strong flour is high in protein and finely textured. Its strength means you can use it for shaped pastas, like orecchiette, as well as extruded pasta, such as spaghetti.

The results: Hopefully this article helps to clear up whether you should opt for pasta or rice with your meals. For lower calorie and carbohydrate content, rice comes out top. But if protein and fibre is your aim, pasta wins over rice.

Some of the best sources in the plant world include beans, legumes, lentils, soy like tofu or edamame, seeds and nuts and some whole grains like quinoa. Certain vegetables also contain small amounts of protein like zucchini, kale and collards (think leafy greens).

How to sneak protein into pasta? ›

Adding walnuts to pasta sauce recipes is an easy way to give a dish some added protein and richness in a very simple way. A 1-ounce serving of walnuts, which is about 1/4 cup or 12 to 14 walnut halves, will deliver 5 extra grams of protein to your meal.

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

Well, the short answer is yes! Unless they are vegan (meaning they don't eat dairy products, eggs, or any other products which are derived from animals), some vegetarians do eat eggs and belong to a group known as lacto-ovo-vegetarians which according to the Vegetarian Society is the most common type of meatless diet.

Despite having eggs in them, egg noodles have less protein than pasta. Egg noodles have about 1.3 fewer grams of protein than pasta (per 100 grams). Cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is a fatty substance that you find in animal products like meat fat, dairy, and eggs.

Whole-Wheat Pasta Nutrition

“Dietary fiber is essential to gut health and the digestion process, attributing to satiety and fullness with eating.” Whole grains contain 25 percent more protein than their refined counterparts, according to the Whole Grains Council.

Pasta isn't just carbohydrates. One cup (about 145 grams) of cooked pasta has about 38g of carbohydrates, 7.7g of protein and 0.6g of fats. Plus, there's all the water that is absorbed from cooking and lots of vitamins and minerals.