Love pasta but hate the calories? Zucchini Noodle Carbonara to the rescue! Easily make zucchini into spaghetti-style noodles then toss with a low-fat delicious cream sauce complete with bacon! It's a delicious lighter take on the creamy Italian classic. A low carb, totally satisfying comfort food dinner. Omit the peas and it becomes the ideal keto dinner too.
Zucchini noodles make a tasty low carb substitute for pasta
I'm a pasta lover for sure but I know too much pasta is not good for all of us watching our weight and our health. So I have become a convert to zucchini noodles or, as it is now more commonly known by, zoodles. Love that name! They really are good with just about any sauce you would normally put on pasta but this carbonara sauce is out of this world. In fact, you can put this carbonara sauce on just about anything and it would be divine!
This pasta carbonara with zucchini noodles can be served "as is", for your once a week meatless meal, or you can add chicken to the sauce like I did. Chicken is one of the higher protein, lower fat meats and makes this an excellent choice for a healthy, low cal dinner. Don't want to add chicken right to the sauce? OK, it could just as easily be drizzled over the top of pan-sauteed chicken breasts and it would be just as delicious. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions about Zoodles
How do you make zucchini noodles less watery?
Spiralize zucchini then pat dry with paper towel. Place in a colander and salt liberally. Let sit at least 15 minutes then rinse, squeeze as much moisture out as you can then pat dry again.
Can you eat zoodles raw?
Most definitely! I prefer them raw myself or just slightly warmed in a hot dish. They retain more of their nutrients and have that al dente pasta texture.
If you prefer to cook them, toss into a pot of boiling water for 1 minute then drain and serve with butter or your favorite sauce.
Are zoodles healthy?
Yes, very much so! They are low in calories and carbohydrates, high in antioxidants, provide fiber, potassium and Vitamins A & C and are also gluten-free.
Can you freeze zucchini noodles?
It is not recommended. They tend to get very mushy and sticky when thawed. If you do need to freeze them, use them from the frozen state in soups and stir-frys.
More healthy zucchini noodle recipes
Bruschetta Chicken Skillet with Zoodles
Italian Chicken Noodle Casserole
Skillet Zucchini in Cream Sauce
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ZOODLES CARBONARA
Ingredients
- 2 large organic zucchini
- 5 slices nitrate-free bacon, diced
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 cup non-fat half & half
- ½ cup Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 large chicken breasts, cooked & cut into thin strips
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
Instructions
- Wash zucchini well. Slice into thin spaghetti like strips with either a mandolin or a spiralizer.
- Place in colander and sprinkle well with salt. Don't worry, the salt will be washed off prior to cooking. Let sit for at least 15 minutes to somewhat dry out the zucchini.
- After sitting, rinse well, then squeeze out as much moisture as possible while still keeping zoodles intact. Set aside until ready to use.
- In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add onion and garlic to bacon fat and cook until onion is browned, just 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly add in half & half and cheese and stir until well incorporated. Season to taste.
- Add chicken, thawed peas and zoodles and stir until just heated through, about 3-5 minutes.
- Serve with a tossed salad for a healthy and hearty meal.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions about Zoodles
How do you make zucchini noodles less watery?
Spiralize zucchini then pat dry with paper towel. Place in a colander and salt liberally. Let sit at least 15 minutes then rinse, squeeze as much moisture out as you can then pat dry again.Can you eat zoodles raw?
Most definitely! I prefer them raw myself or just slightly warmed in a hot dish. They retain more of their nutrients and have that al dente pasta texture. If you prefer to cook them, toss into a pot of boiling water for 1 minute then drain and serve with butter or your favorite sauce.Are zoodles healthy?
Yes, very much so! They are low in calories and carbohydrates, high in antioxidants, provide fiber, potassium and Vitamins A & C and are also gluten-free.Can you freeze zucchini noodles?
It is not recommended. They tend to get very mushy and sticky when thawed. If you do need to freeze them, use them from the frozen state in soups and stir-frys.Nutrition
