Healthy Tomato & Zucchini Pasta
Easy, Quick, and Healthy Tomato & Zucchini Pasta Recipe – This Tomato Zucchini Pasta Recipe is Effortless, Quick, and Nourishing!
Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the ingredients; This Tomato and Zucchini Pasta recipe is light, healthy, and delicious. Each forkful is overflowing with rich and savory flavors. With no meat or heavy sauce, you get to taste the smooth and yummy combination of natural flavors; sweet and soft tomatoes, sautéed zucchini and a rich yet subtle combo of olive oil and garlic.
This Tomato Zucchini Pasta is well balanced, healthy, and fun. For a nice twist, try adding zucchini in the form of noodles is a great and fun way to include this healthy vegetable in your recipe; especially if you have kids. You can remove the skin if you want to make them look more like noodles and to make them slightly invisible, you can use noodles as your pasta choice.
This Tomato & Zucchini Pasta recipe serves as a great last minute meal when you have no time but still want an easy, tasty and nourishing meal!
What ingredients do I need for this recipe?
8 ounces pasta (choose your favorite shape; you can use whole wheat if desired)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium zucchini (Crescent shaped sliced)
1 cup cherry tomatoes
4 cloves garlic (minced)
½ Italian seasoning
1 garlic powder
½ chili flakes
Salt and pepper ( I used ½ tsp each)
½ cup grated Parmesan
¼ cup fresh chopped basil (optional)
How to make this Healthy Tomato & Zucchini Pasta Recipe?
Choose your favorite pasta shape and cook it according to package instructions. Save aside ¼ cup of pasta water.
Add olive oil (2 tablespoons) to a large skillet set over medium heat. Sauté the crescent shaped zucchini slices until they turn a bit crispy and brown. Take the cooked zucchini out of the pan and place it on a plate.
Cook the garlic in the same skillet then add the cherry tomatoes. (you can keep them whole or sliced in half) and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes; until they turn soft.
Add the seasoning, then pour the pasta water you kept aside and let it cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
Add in the cooked pasta, grated cheese and stir to combine well. Place the cooked zucchini on top and stir lightly to combine.
Top your healthy pasta dish with more Parmesan and some freshly chopped basil if you want. Savor immediately!
Helpful Tips and Variations:
What meat can I add to this Tomato & Zucchini Pasta recipe?. This is a meatless pasta recipe, but it wouldn’t hurt to add your favorite protein to the mix. All kinds of meat work well for this recipe, but I’ve personal tried it with shrimp and it turned out amazing. (I also recommend trying it with grilled chicken or roasted salmon)
Can I use regular tomatoes? Absolutely! Cut them into pieces and toss in the pan. Other than the size, the only difference is that the cherry tomatoes tend to be sweeter.
Which sauce or cream can I use?. The olive oil, garlic, and the liquid from the softened cherry tomatoes serve as a light, healthy and tasty sauce for this recipe. However, you can add a little tomato paste to the pan when simmering. You can also use plain Greek yogurt mixed with parsley and squeeze of lemon juice. Another healthy and yummy option would be Pesto sauce; you can use store bought or make your own at home with pine nuts, cashews, or walnuts.
Can I include other veggies? Of course! You can add any vegetables you want to this recipe; just cut or slice them up and sauté everything in the same skillet. (Bell peppers, mushrooms, peas,…)
How can I store any leftovers? Spoon out the pasta, place it in an airtight container and store in the fridge (up to 4 days). If you’re making this recipe as a meal prep, then spoon out portions into separate meal prep containers. (mine have 3 separate compartments, which allows me to add protein and more veggies; this is so practical for school and work lunchboxes).
How can I serve this Healthy Tomato Zucchini Pasta?
First of all, make sure to garnish this Healthy Tomato Pasta recipe according to taste; using herbs, cheese, or red pepper flakes. (I used grated Parmesan, but you can replace it with crumbled feta cheese).
This healthy pasta recipe can be served as a light dinner. It’s good, tasty, and nourishing on its own; you can pair it however with grilled chicken, garlic bread, steak or baked salmon. You can also serve it as a side dish or appetizer during a holiday meal or a casual family gathering.
Healthy Tomato & Zucchini Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta choose your favorite shape; you can use whole wheat if desired
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium zucchini Crescent shaped sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ Italian seasoning
- 1 garlic powder
- ½ chili flakes
- Salt and pepper I used ½ tsp each
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- ¼ cup fresh chopped basil optional
Instructions
- Choose your favorite pasta shape and cook it according to package instructions. Save aside ¼ cup of pasta water.
- Add olive oil (2 tablespoons) to a large skillet set over medium heat. Sauté the crescent shaped zucchini slices until they turn a bit crispy and brown. Take the cooked zucchini out of the pan and place it on a plate.
- Cook the garlic in the same skillet then add the cherry tomatoes (you can keep them whole or sliced in half) and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes; until they turn soft. Add the seasoning, then pour the pasta water you kept aside and let it cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add in the cooked pasta, grated cheese and stir to combine well. Place the cooked zucchini on top and stir lightly to combine.
- Top your healthy pasta dish with more Parmesan and some freshly chopped basil if you want. Savor immediately!
