19 pasta ideas with an added protein boost
Love pasta? These recipes add at least 20 grams of protein to give carbs more staying power, making comfort food feel a little smarter.
Medically reviewed by Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., NASM-CPTNutrition & Fitness Lab Director
Want to get more protein on your plate without defaulting to a big piece of meat? These high-protein pasta recipes make it easy—and genuinely delicious. Each one, triple-tested in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, delivers at least 20 grams of protein per serving, thanks to a smart mix of ingredients like chicken, seafood, cheese, beans, and hearty vegetables.
Beyond protein, these dishes lean on flavourful, nutrient-dense staples—think tomatoes, courgettes, and mushrooms—so you’re building balanced, satisfying meals that deliver on flavour and nutrition. Expect a range of options, from rich, creamy sauces to bright tomato-based classics, plus plenty of pasta shapes to keep things interesting. For an extra boost, try swapping in chickpea or red lentil pasta. With this lineup, pasta night can happen way more than one night a week—and still feel fresh.
Creamy chicken and courgetti spaghetti
Protein per serving: 34 grams
Combining spiralized courgette and spaghetti offers an easy, texturally-interesting way to incorporate more produce into your meal. And tossing it all with a citrusy cream sauce takes it to the next level.
Summer skillet lasagna
Protein per serving: 23 grams
Boiling pasta in chicken broth (or even better chicken bone broth) rather than water slightly boosts the protein in your overall dish—especially when the noodles absorb all the liquid, as is the case of this one-pot lasagna.
Recipe: Summer skillet lasagna.
Chicken Francese pasta
Protein per serving: 55 grams
We turned the lemony chicken main into a full-on feast by cutting the protein into pieces, then tossing it with penne and a super-bright Francese-inspired sauce.
Recipe: Chicken Francese pasta.
Prawn scampi with linguine
Protein per serving: 46 grams
Prawn scampi's signature buttery, garlicky white wine sauce pairs perfectly with a pile of pasta.
Recipe: Prawn scampi with linguine.
Rigatoni alla Norma
Protein per serving: 25 grams
"Alla norma" refers to pasta made with aubergine, tomatoes, basil, and ricotta cheese. Our version takes a few liberties to save you time, including cooking the rigatoni right in the sauce.
Recipe: Rigatoni alla Norma.
Lentil bolognese spaghetti
Protein per serving: 27 grams
This healthier take on traditional bolognese swaps out some of the ground beef for another protein source: lentils.
Recipe: Lentil bolognese spaghetti.
Rigatoni with sausage-style turkey and rocket
Protein per serving: 47 grams
Evoke the flavor of turkey sausage by mixing sweet paprika, chilli flakes, fennel seeds, and garlic into lean ground turkey. This recipe subs in chickpea-based pasta, which also boosts the protein.
Spaghetti and air fryer meatballs
Protein per serving: 34 grams
Frying meatballs on the stove can get messy, but baked meatballs often disappoint. The solution? Use your air fryer, which results in juicy, crispy meatballs without the clean-up and excess oil. Toss 'em with your favourite type of pasta.
Recipe: Spaghetti and air fryer meatballs.
Chicken bolognese
Protein per serving: 36 grams
If you're looking for a meat-based sauce that doesn't have tomatoes, know this simple 20-minute solution exists.
Recipe: Chicken bolognese.
Grilled mushroom and spring onion pasta
Protein per serving: 21 grams
This vegan medley gets an oomph of "cheesy" flavor—as well as protein and B vitamins—from nutritional yeast.
One-pan pepper pasta
Protein per serving: 20 grams
After sautéing peppers and onions, you'll cook the linguine right in the same pan for ultimate ease (and minimal dishes). The best part? The whole process takes less than 30 minutes.
Recipe: One-pan pepper pasta.
Pasta e Fagioli
Protein per serving: 20 grams
Part soup, part pasta, this classic Italian dish is chockfull of comfort. Plus, it's packed with plenty of nutrients courtesy of carrots, celery, fennel, tomatoes, and beans.
Recipe: Pasta e Fagioli.
Creamy miso pasta with walnuts and roasted cabbage
Protein per serving: 23 grams
The key to this craveable cream sauce is red miso, which has a robust, more intense flavor than white miso. Toss it with whole-grain spaghetti and roasted red cabbage for a delightfully decadent, protein-rich vegetarian main.
Orecchiette with white beans and ppinach
Protein per serving: 21 grams
Each cosy bite adds a boost of plant-based protein, like canned white beans and spinach.
Vegan bolognese
Protein per serving: 22 grams
Even without the ground beef, this bolognese packs in plenty of protein, with help from red lentils. Chopped mushrooms help to replicate the meaty texture of a traditional bolognese.
Recipe: Vegan bolognese.
Linguine with rocket pesto
Protein per serving: 20 grams
Each strand is coated with a nut-free pesto featuring everyone's favorite high-protein ingredient, cottage cheese.
Recipe: Linguine with rocket pesto.
Rigatoni with sausage and broccoli rabe
Protein per serving: 30 grams
Sweet Italian sausage is one of our favourite shortcut ingredients. Pre-seasoned, this protein introduces a ton of new flavors to whatever you're cooking up.
Creamy lemon pasta with chicken and peas
Protein per serving: 41 grams
This one-pan pasta dish will please adults and kids alike: It features fun-shaped pasta, plus cooked chicken, peas, and plenty of cheese.
Summer squash, mint and pecorino pasta
Protein per serving: 21 grams
Don't want to deal with spiralizing courgette? This recipe offers an easier way to boost the amount of summer squash in your pasta dish.
Trish (she/her) is the deputy food editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things food, from cooking trends and delicious recipes to top-tested kitchen products and grocery finds. She has more than a decade of experience writing about food for GH, Women’s Health, Prevention, Redbook, Woman’s Day, The Daily Meal and Food Network. When she’s not at the supermarket or trying out a new recipe, you can find her at the beach, in her backyard or on the couch — typically with a glass of wine in hand.
Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition and Fitness Lab, where she oversees all nutrition and fitness-related content, testing and evaluation. She holds a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from New York University, as well as advanced certifications as a Women's Fitness Specialist and a Behavior Change Specialist. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family.
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