16 Low-Carb Recipes For People Who Constantly Crave Pasta (2024)

FAQs

What type of pasta is lowest in carbs? ›

What type of pasta is lowest in carbs? "Vegetable-based pastas, such as zucchini noodles or hearts of palm noodles, tend to be lowest in carbs and calories," says Sassos. "They are also packed with nutrient-dense vitamins and minerals and are naturally gluten-free.

Zucchini is a popular noodle substitute because its texture makes it easy to spiral out into spaghetti-like shapes. This summer squash, also called a courgette, consists of about 95% water and has just about 25 calories in each small zucchini. It's also virtually fat-free and cholesterol-free.

The carbs from the glucomannan in the konjac root are not digestible which is why most shirataki noodles have zero net carbs. In Japanese, the word “shirataki” means “white waterfall”, which is how these water bearing white noodles got their name.

Whole-Wheat Pasta

Also called whole-grain pasta, this type of pasta keeps the bran, endosperm, and germ of the grain together. It's filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This helps you feel full longer and keeps your blood sugar from spiking.

In broad terms, a low-carb diet focuses on proteins and some nonstarchy vegetables. A low-carb diet generally limits grains, legumes, fruits, breads, sweets, pastas and starchy vegetables, and sometimes nuts and seeds. But some low-carb diet plans allow small amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Though guidelines can vary, low carb diets typically limit foods high in carbs or added sugar. A low carb diet restricts carbohydrates, such as those found in pasta, bread, and sugary foods. It's high in protein, fat, and vegetables.

For lower calorie and carbohydrate content, rice comes out top. But if protein and fibre is your aim, pasta wins over rice. That said, both can play a part in a healthy diet - and as the nutritional differences are quite small, it often comes down to which you would prefer.

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.

What can I replace pasta and rice with? ›

You could try grains like couscous, quinoa and barley to introduce a new flavour to your favourite dishes. Barley and quinoa are both low-GI foods, and quinoa is also a source of protein and fibre, and works particularly well in salads.

Egg noodles' nutritional content is similar to that of regular pasta but slightly lower in calories, carbs, and protein ( 1 , 2 ). They're also often enriched, meaning that certain vitamins and minerals have been added, increasing their nutritional value.

Shirataki noodles are long, white noodles that consist of a type of starch known as glucomannan. The body does not digest this starch, making shirataki noodles very low in calories and carbohydrates. Shirataki noodles are a popular part of Japanese cuisine.

While bread is typically made from grains, which contain carbohydrates, it is challenging to find bread that is entirely carb-free. However, there are options available that are very low in carbs, such as: Cloud Bread: Made predominantly from eggs and cream cheese, cloud bread is a popular low-carb alternative.

Since a typical 4-ounce (oz), or 113-g, serving of shirataki noodles contains about 1–3 g of glucomannan, it's essentially a calorie-free, carb-free food.

You can still make your favorite dishes from chicken noodle ramen to creamy pesto pasta by using a great alternative — keto noodles. Keto, low-carb pasta can be made from a variety of vegetables including zucchini, spaghetti squash, and kelp. Or, look to alternatives like shirataki noodles and low-carb flours.

Traditional pasta is high in carbs, but alternatives like zucchini noodles or shirataki noodles can be keto-friendly. Explore various recipes using these alternatives, and don't forget to prioritize healthy fats and proteins in your meal.

To make sure pasta is truly made from whole wheat, look for 100 percent durum whole-wheat flour as the first ingredient on the nutrition label. This will be the best option for diabetics.

Though pasta is versatile and inexpensive, it's also high in carbs. Choosing a whole wheat variety is typically lower in carbs. Just 1 cup (151 grams) of cooked spaghetti packs 46 grams of carbs (43 grams net carbs). The same amount of whole wheat pasta provides 45 grams (39 grams net carbs).