13 Healthy Pasta Recipes for the Mediterranean Diet By Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Wimberly is EatingWell's Editorial Fellow. As a food and mental health blogger, Camryn explores how food and cooking can help improve mental health and also be an avenue to connect with one's culture and heritage. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 4, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is the senior nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer If you’re a fan of pasta, then you’ll want to add these delicious recipes to your menu! Each of these dishes aligns with the Mediterranean diet, which is considered one of the healthiest diets around. With a focus on fresh vegetables, healthy fats, lean meats and whole grains, the Mediterranean diet has plenty of benefits like reducing inflammation, supporting heart and brain health and supporting healthy weight loss. Try options like our Creamy Caramelized Cauliflower Pasta and Baked Creamed Spinach Pasta for a nourishing meal that will leave you feeling satisfied. Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for EatingWell. 01 of 13 High-Protein Penne with Ground Turkey & Mushrooms Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Lean ground turkey teams up with cottage cheese, which not only boosts protein but also adds creaminess without relying on heavy cream. Mushrooms bring a savory depth of flavor while being low in calories, and whole-grain penne adds fiber for a hearty and balanced meal! View Recipe Save 02 of 13 Creamy Caramelized Cauliflower Pasta Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer With simple ingredients and quick prep, this creamy cauliflower pasta is a satisfying dish that feels fancy without the fuss. Add a squeeze of lemon or a pinch of chile flakes to elevate this easy, comforting classic even more! View Recipe Save 03 of 13 Baked Creamed Spinach Pasta Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This crowd-pleasing dish combines the velvety richness of creamed spinach with tender pasta, all baked to bubbly perfection. Pair it with a crisp green salad and some garlic bread for a dinner that everyone will rave about. View Recipe Save 04 of 13 Baked Brie, Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Pasta Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Creamy, melted Brie creates a velvety sauce that fills in the ridges of fusilli pasta, ensuring the sauce clings to every bite, while Parmesan cheese adds nutty, savory depth. Sun-dried tomatoes bring a tangy sweetness that balances the richness, and wilted spinach adds earthy notes and nutrients. View Recipe Save 05 of 13 Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Natalie Ghazali You’ll only have to dirty one pot in this easy pasta recipe that cooks chicken and vegetables right along with the noodles. Plus, by using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results. View Recipe Save 06 of 13 One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan This hearty pasta dish with bright, fresh flavor is ideal for busy weeknights. The Parmesan adds welcome saltiness and notes of umami, and you get added texture from the slight crunch of broccoli and whole-wheat noodles. Add some shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp or crispy chickpeas to punch up the protein. View Recipe Save 07 of 13 Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Natalie Ghazali This chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a meal that’s garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. It’s a simple dinner the whole family will love. View Recipe Save 08 of 13 Spaghetti with Baked Brie, Mushrooms & Spinach Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Addelyn Evans Melted Brie cheese coats pasta and roasted veggies in this rich vegetarian pasta dish. We bake the Brie on a square of parchment paper so you can remove it from the oven early if it’s melted before your vegetables are done. White-wine vinegar and balsamic glaze add tang and a hint of sweetness in this easy weeknight dinner. View Recipe Save 09 of 13 Burrata Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes & Spinach Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This luscious weeknight pasta dish features burrata cheese—a soft cow’s-milk cheese that looks similar to fresh mozzarella but features a creamy center that melts beautifully. Serve with crusty garlic bread and a green salad on the side. View Recipe Save 10 of 13 One-Skillet Salmon with Fennel & Sun-Dried Tomato Couscous Sun-dried tomato pesto and lemon do double duty to season both the salmon and the couscous in this healthy one-pan dinner recipe. Serve the salmon with extra lemon wedges and a dollop of plain yogurt, if desired. View Recipe Save 11 of 13 One-Pot Pasta with Tuna Joy Howard Use the one-pot pasta cooking method to make this tuna pasta recipe that calls for just 5 ingredients and is ready in just over half an hour. For extra crunch and a tuna-noodle casserole feel, sprinkle this speedy pasta dish with toasted whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs. View Recipe Save 12 of 13 One-Pot Spinach, Chicken Sausage & Feta Pasta Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel A little bit of Sunday meal prep goes a long way in this one-dish pasta recipe. Cooking the pasta ahead and refrigerating it saves time here—or use any leftover cooked pasta you have on hand. Chicken sausage with feta is especially good in this recipe. View Recipe Save 13 of 13 Italian-Style Turkey & Penne Skillet This delicious one-skillet pasta meal-for-two is ready in just 35 minutes! Turkey—seasoned with a spicy Italian-seasoning blend—is served with tomato sauce and wilted spinach over multigrain pasta. View Recipe Save Explore more: Healthy Recipes Main Dish Pasta Main Dish Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit