Description
This Nutritious Lentil Pasta Dish is a cozy, protein-packed dinner made with lentil pasta, colorful veggies, and a creamy tomato-garlic sauce. It’s quick enough for weeknights, great for meal prep, and tastes like comfort food while still feeling light and energizing.
Ingredients
8 oz red lentil pasta
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small red onion, diced
1 medium zucchini, diced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup spinach, loosely packed
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp salt (plus more for pasta water), to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook lentil pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 2–3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Add zucchini and bell pepper. Sauté 5–6 minutes until tender-crisp.
4. Add cherry tomatoes and spinach. Cook 2–3 minutes until spinach wilts and tomatoes soften.
5. Reduce heat to low. Stir in tomato sauce, then add Greek yogurt and mix until creamy. Do not boil.
6. Season with oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
7. Add cooked lentil pasta to the skillet and toss until coated. Serve warm, topped with fresh basil if using.
Notes
Lentil pasta can go from perfect to mushy fast—cook just until al dente, then drain right away.
Keep the heat low when adding Greek yogurt so the sauce stays smooth (high heat can cause curdling).
For meal prep, add a splash of water or tomato sauce when reheating so it turns creamy again.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: lentil pasta, healthy pasta, high protein dinner, veggie pasta