20 Best Zoodle Recipes from Around the Web (2024)

20 Best Zoodle Recipes

We’ve got oodles of zoodle recipes for you to check out! Read on to discover them all.

Zucchini noodles, or “Zoodles”, are a fun and easy way to add unique textures and shapes to a wide variety of meals. As a stand-in for traditional carb-and-gluten laden noodles, the zoodle offers a garden-fresh, low-calorie alternative that makes the perfect palette for flavorful sauces. Best of all they’re kid-friendly and take just a few minutes to turn out with an easy-to-use and inexpensive kitchen gadget called a Spiralizer.

Today I’d like to share some of the most delicious zoodle recipes from our friends around the web.

Chicken Zoodle Soup

One of the most iconic zoodle recipes, Chungah’s cozy home-style chicken zoodle soup is pure comfort in a bowl. And with just 227 calories per light and delicious serving this protein-rich meal will fill you up without weighing you down. While this recipe calls for chicken breast, chicken thighs would work beautifully as well.

Sausage & Peppers Over Zucchini Noodles

Alyssa at Everyday Maven creates a beautiful and delicious riff on Italian Sausage and Peppers using zucchini noodles. This Paleo-friendly, comfort food meal can be on the table in just 30 minutes.

Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Soup

Slow cooking is a great way to keep your kitchen cool on a hot day. This Latin soup by Gina at SkinnyTaste is Paleo-approved with Whole30 and Instant Pot options.

Citrus Grilled Shrimp & Zoodles

Michele at Paleo Running Momma marries the fresh flavors of wild shrimp, citrus and cilantro for a perfect summertime seafood meal.

Spicy Thai Chicken Zoodle Salad

Asian zoodle recipes are all the rage! Nom Nom Paleo’s Michelle Tam creates a gorgeous Thai-inspired salad with leftover shredded chicken, scallions, cilantro, avocado, sunbutter, sesame and sriracha for an Asian meal that comes together faster than you can order takeout!

Paleo Spaghetti and Meatballs

Danielle Walker from Against All Grain recreates the classic Italian meal with zoodles taking the place of traditional wheat-based spaghetti. And to get the umami typically provided by Parmesan in her grass-fed beef meatballs, she uses two “secret” ingredients: nutritional yeast and fish sauce.

Zoodles & Squoodles Pizza Casserole

Julie at PaleOMG creates a classic casserole with “noodles” from two kinds of summer squash, ground turkey and traditional Italian flavors of tomatoes, oregano and basil. For a heartier twist, try it with crumbled Italian Sausage.

Beef Stroganoff with Zoodles

The carb-laden classic gets a Paleo makeover with grass-fed stew beef, beef broth and coconut cream – all served over zucchini ribbons – from Barbara and John at Gluten Free Homestead.

Keto Zoodles with Avocado Pesto

Martina at KetoDietApp knows how to use her zoodles: to soak up velvety, fat-rich, keto-inducing sauces. The Avocado Pesto would pair perfectly with wild shrimp, scallops or chicken. Just be sure to amp up the sauce to keep a keto composition.

Zoodle Pad Thai

Ali at Inspiralized recreates classic Pad Thai with zoodles. To make it Paleo and protein-rich, I like to swap out the peanuts for almonds, substitute coconut aminos for soy sauce and add in wild shrimp.

Mason Jar Zoodle Salad

Sugar Free Mom creates a gorgeous Greek-inspired Mason Jar salad with zoodles, Kalamata olives and a creamy avocado-spinach dressing. Swap the edamame for pastured chicken or wild shrimp for an ancestrally approved meal-on-the-go.

Kung Pao Chicken Zoodles

Gina at SkinnyTaste lightens up this classic Chinese classic, keeping all of the delicious Asian flavors. To make it Paleo you’ll need to make some easy swaps: trade the peanuts for cashews or almonds, substitute coconut aminos for the soy sauce, use arrowroot for the cornstarch and choose coconut sugar in place of table sugar. And for the Hoisin Sauce, Irena of Eat Drink Paleo has made a delicious version here.

Sundried Tomato Chicken Pesto Pasta

Kristen of Living Loving Paleo combines smoky sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, pine nuts, garlic, nutritional yeast and olive oil for a Mediterranean Paleo meal packed with flavor and nutrition.

Paleo Noodles with Shrimp and Bacon

Med-student Monica Bravo of Bravo for Paleo creates a deliciously satisfying combination of wild shrimp, bacon and butter to crown a nest of zoodles.

Zucchini Fettuccine with Rosemary Butternut Cream Sauce

Sonnet creates fettuccine from zucchini and embellishes it with a velvety rosemary butternut cream sauce. Pair this creamy “pasta” with pan-seared black cod, wild halibut, salmon, scallops or shrimp for a delicious, nutrient-dense meal.

Ground Beef over Zoodles

Sonya, The Healthy Foodie, creates a fast and super simple zoodle meal with grass-fed ground beef as the star. Omit jalapeños for a kid-friendly meal in minutes.

Peanut Chicken Zoodles

Chicken, classic Asian veggies and zoodles mingle in a piquant peanut sauce. To make it Paleo just swap sunbutter for the peanut butter, trade coconut aminos for soy sauce, and choose coconut vinegar instead of rice vinegar.

One Pot Teriyaki Chicken Zoodles

Life Made Sweeter creates a quick and healthy riff on teriyaki, infusing the flavors of pineapple and ginger with chicken, served over a saucy bed of zoodles.

Avocado Alfredo Zoodles with Chicken and Sun Dried Tomatoes

Karina of Café Delights creates a creative, decadent alfredo sauce using pureed avocados and Parmesan cheese. For a dairy free riff, consider this Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo recipe from the Detoxinista.

Paleo Tuna Green Chile Zoodle Casserole

Lindsay at Cotter Crunch recreates the creamy childhood favorite with Paleo and Whole 30-approved ingredients for a comfort food meal that’s on the table in just 30 minutes.

Do you love zoodles? We’d love for you to share your favorite zoodle recipe here!

20 Best Zoodle Recipes from Around the Web (1)

20 Best Zoodle Recipes from Around the Web (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook zoodles so they're not soggy? ›

To avoid soggy and limp noodles, I recommend cooking for only 3-5 minutes (5 if you're cooking more than 1-2 spiralized zucchinis) and tossing frequently. You want a slightly al dente noodle.

What's the difference between a noodle and a zoodle? ›

Overall, zucchini noodles come out ahead in most of the nutritional categories, though pasta is higher in protein. While pasta also has a higher amount of dietary fiber, it is high in soluble fiber while zucchini is high in insoluble fiber. Both are important for a well-balanced diet.

How do you get moisture out of frozen zoodles? ›

My Verdict – Hands down my favorite way to get the moisture out of zoodles! Salting – Place the zoodles on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle the zoodles with sea salt and allow them to sit for at least 20-30 minutes. I typically do this as I'm preparing the rest of my dinner.

Are zoodles unhealthy? ›

Just like other recipes that contain squash, there are many ways to cook a zoodles...or to not cook them at all. Although like any vegetable, cooking zucchini noodles does strip the squash of some of its nutrients, they still make a great low-carb, low-calorie food that tastes great any way you serve it.

Should you salt zoodles before cooking? ›

Add zucchini noodles. Toss with tongs and let the zucchini cook for just a minute or two. Remove from heat and add to sauce or add some salt and eat as is. Note: Don't salt the zucchini before you saute it; the noodles will release more water and they'll end up limp.

Why is my sauteed zucchini mushy? ›

Mushy veggies are also often the result of overcooking. When the interior is loaded with moisture, you have to cook it for much longer to evaporate all of the water and avoid the interior having the unappealing, spongy, raw texture that eggplant and zucchini are notorious for.

Which is healthier pasta noodles or zoodles? ›

Compare two cups of pasta weighing in at 480 calories, 90 grams of carbs, and two grams of fiber with two cups of zucchini zoodles at 66 calories, twelve grams of carbs, and four grams of fiber. Seems like a no-brainer, right?

Are zoodles healthier than pasta? ›

Zucchini is low in fat, sugar, and calories, and high in vitamin C and fiber, making it a great substitute for traditional pasta noodles. Fiber helps to regulate bowels and maintain good digestive health, and vitamin C acts as an antioxidant to protect cells.

What is healthier spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles? ›

A look into essential Vitamins & Minerals, shows that Zucchini Pasta outdoes Spaghetti Squash on every one, except for Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium and Selenium. Information found from SELF's Nutrition Data calculator.

How do you firm up zucchini? ›

Arrange the zucchini pieces into a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (It will stick to the pan if you don't line it first!) Freeze the zucchini for about 1 hour, until it's firm to the touch, then transfer it to an airtight container to preserve the flavor as you store it.

How do you rescue soggy noodles? ›

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add your overcooked pasta. Gently sauté over medium heat for a few minutes until the pasta's texture has firmed up. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes and you'll know it is done when the edges of the pasta have started to crisp and light browning has begun.

Why is my zucchini so slimy when I cook it? ›

This, the outlet asserts, is due to zucchini's high water content: If it cooks too slowly, it will release its moisture before it sears, becoming soggy and sodden. Over high heat, on the other hand, zucchini becomes caramelized on the outside but retains a meaty, firm texture within.

How do you make soggy noodles crispy? ›

Let them dry at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to remove excess moisture. Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium flame. Deep fry boiled noodles in batches until light brown and crispy. Drain excess oil and transfer them on to oil absorbent paper spread on a plate.

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