15 Easy and Healthy Noodle Recipes for Weeknights

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What’s one carb we can never get enough of? Noodles!

These are extremely versatile and used in cuisines all around the world, particularly in Asia. Plus, these healthy noodle recipes are so easy to prep dishes with – you just need to add some veggies, and your choice of protein, then you’ve got an entire healthy meal ready for the family. It’s that simple!

While you might find some people coming at you for how such dishes are “unhealthy,” it’s time to cut out that toxicity from your life. Kidding aside, you’ll be surprised to know that there are numerous noodle recipes that are delicious and good for you. And if you’re worried about the meal prep difficulty, many recipes actually take less than 45 minutes to make.

We’ll be sharing our love for noodles in this post as we list down the best recipes to satisfy your cravings without the guilt.

 

More delicious and healthy recipe ideas for you:

• 20 Easy and Healthy Weeknight Dinners
• 15 Best Healthy Chinese Recipes You’ll Want To Try
• 20 Easy and Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work
• 15 Easy and Healthy Breakfast Ideas For Busy Mornings

 

Pin this healthy noodle recipe image to Pinterest!

 

1. Hot & Sour Coconut Noodle Soup

When you’re short on time or want to avoid a pile of dishes (totally understandable!), this one-pot recipe is ideal for chilly weather. It’s not only delicious but also caters to vegans, featuring vegan noodles and protein-rich fried tofu.

Crafted with Thai chilis, lime zest, coconut milk, and vegetable broth, this dish offers a spicy warmth complemented by tangy, creamy notes. The vibrant flavor? It’s all thanks to the lemongrass and vegetables!

 

2. Easy Vegetable Udon Noodle Soup

Struggling to find vegan udon in your area? No worries, this udon recipe is just what you need. It’s user-friendly, whether you’re a kitchen expert or a cooking novice, and you can whip up a hearty bowl of soup in just 20 minutes, bypassing the need for takeout.

The vegetable medley is delightful, but it’s the umami taste that really steals the show. Ingredients like miso paste, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce create a deeply flavorful broth that’s low in calories. The thick udon noodles are perfect for soaking up these delicious flavors, ensuring every mouthful is thoroughly enjoyable.

 

3. Easy Fried Noodles

Craving for a flavorful Asian-inspired dish but crunched for time and tired from a day’s work? Are you OBSESSED with Asian cuisine like us? Then this is an excellent dinner option, whether you’re out of time, have no idea what to eat, or just want to make something easy that everyone will surely love.

It’s so easy to make, only taking 15 minutes! That’s right, 15 minutes and easy-to-find ingredients without artificial flavorings or preservatives. You can tweak the recipe however way you want it, whether you need to make it gluten-free (skip the cornstarch and use gluten-free soy sauce), or vegetarian (use mushrooms instead of meat).

 

4. Stir Fry Noodles

Many of us tend to associate Asian dishes with oily ingredients filled with MSG from food courts or Chinese takeout. But Asian food is so much more than that, and you can elevate your experience with this healthy stir-fry noodle dish. It’s incredibly simple and you can customize the ingredients to the veggies and protein you have in the kitchen.

The secret to the flavor comes from hoisin, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and the sweet, spicy kick of Sriracha. It only takes 30 minutes to make and you can whip up larger batches to meal prep for the week.

Don’t eat meat? Turn the dish into vegetarian stir-fry noodles by using tofu or omitting the protein altogether.

 

5. Homemade Healthy Ramen Bowl

You can’t expect us to make a list of the best noodle recipes without adding one of our personal favorites from Japanese cuisine: Ramen noodles!

But this isn’t your ordinary bowl of ramen. It’s an easy vegetarian meal because it will use instant noodles, but discard the seasoning! You’ll be creating a much healthier sauce filled with carrots, mushrooms, ginger, jalapenos, and vegetable broth.

Top it off with soft-boiled eggs and your choice of meat, and you bet it will taste close to authentic without much effort.

 

6. Drunken Noodles

Drunken Noodle is a famous Thai stir-fried dish, known as Pad Kee Mao. Why the name? It’s thanks to the spicy sauce, which is said to “tear through any drunk person’s dulled tastebuds.”

You don’t need to head out to multiple Asian specialty stores to buy spices one by one. This healthy recipe uses ingredients you can easily find in your local grocery store and takes about 35 minutes to finish. It doesn’t contain too much oil or calorific ingredients, making it a suitable addition to your diet.

 

7. Shirataki and Creamy Peanut Sauce

Just because you’re on a low-carb diet doesn’t mean you have to give up on noodle dishes completely. This recipe uses shirataki noodles, which are made of glucomannan from the konjac root. These contain 97% of water and 3% fiber, thus being low in calories and carbs.

Toss this with a simple yet special peanut sauce, and you’ve got a rich, creamy meal filled with healthy fat and protein.

 

8. Healthy Chicken Pad Thai

Need a bowl of Pad Thai ASAP but don’t want the calorie-dense dish from the local Thai takeout joint? You can make your own chicken pad thai without all that unhealthy stuff going on!

Not only is it filled with veggies, to brighten the dish’s appearance, but the recipe uses fewer ingredients you can find in the store. There are plenty of veggies in the here and it is low in sodium. You can even cut the protein and add more bean sprouts and tofu for a vegetarian version of the recipe.

 

9. Vietnamese Noodle Salad

Now, who doesn’t love Vietnamese food? Their dishes are so fresh and vibrant, with this recipe being no exception. Expect a crunch to this dish thanks to the fresh vegetables and herbs, complementing the savory and tangy Vietnamese dressing.

You can serve this salad cold, either as an appetizer or main dish if you’re looking for something light. We love its versatility because you can add whatever vegetables and protein you fancy, meeting YOUR tastebuds.

 

10. Quick and Easy Chinese Noodle Soup

This is another one-pot recipe for those crunched for time and who don’t want to deal with the dishes. Why? Because this recipe only takes 20 minutes and serves two people, perfect for those dining solo.

You get a rich, authentic Asian flavor from the sauces, along with your needed share of vegetables from all that bok choy, mushroom, and carrots! This soup will surely fill you up without the calorie overload.

 

11. Healthy Japchae

Whether you’re a K-drama, K-pop, or K-food fan, we didn’t forget about you! Japchae is one of the most famous Korean dishes known for its refreshing appearance and interesting texture from glass noodles.

Expect every bite to be nutrient-filled with lots of veggies and tofu. Within 30 minutes, you’ll have a filling meal to pair with other Korean favorites, like kimchi stew or bibimbap.

 

12. Egg Roll Noodles

This recipe is an elevated version of instant noodles, so the kids will love it, too. Go out of your comfort zone and skip the steps on your ramen package, throw away those seasoning packets!

Instead, add a truckload of yummy veggies to add more color and crunch, then add some pork (or tofu and mushrooms for vegetarians) for added protein. The sauce is also amazing, for something lower in sodium. Garnished with green onions and a drizzle of sesame oil seeds for that mild nutty flavor and crunch, it’ll be a hit for the whole household.

 

13. Chicken Noodle Soup

Imagine this – You’re a kid again down with the flu, so you get to skip classes and snuggle under your blankets the entire day. What does your mom or dad usually bring in to help with the blues? A warm, comforting bowl of chicken noodle soup, of course!

Don’t go for the canned stuff, you can easily make a huge batch for you and the family in about half an hour! One generous serving only has about 250 calories and is colored with vegetables like celery and carrots. And let’s not forget the lean protein from chicken.

 

14. Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles Pasta

If you’re going low-carb, there’s no need to cry over missing pasta. You won’t miss it at all because there’s a handy nutritious ingredient you can make into a fine noodle: Zucchini!

That’s right, zucchini is a close substitute to your usual pasta and doesn’t contain a ton of carbs or calories. It’s quick and easy to do (just have a spiralizer on hand) and filled with nutrients from the zucchini noodles you’ll use.

Oh, and did we mention how delicious it is? The garlic, tomatoes, basil leaves, and parmesan will have you feeling like you’re having your usual pasta. Cue that chef’s kiss and you’re good to go!

 

15. Healthy Chow Mein

We love the infamous Chinese takeout brand’s chow mein, but what we don’t love is its oily, calorific contents! But not to worry, as this is one recipe you can make over and over again to satisfy the need for chow mein without taking too much time or your daily calorie allowance.

Filled with cabbage, celery, carrots, and a tasty (MSG-free) homemade sauce, you can indulge in this dish when craving a huge bowl of chow mein. Two cups of this dish contain less than 200 calories!