Healthy Italian recipes

Looking for healthy Italian recipes? Want a light pasta or pizza recipe? Check out our ideas below, and then take a look at our healthy takeaway ideas. 

Healthy Italian recipes

Low-calorie pizza

Craving pizza but trying to be extra healthy? This pizza has a thin and crisp base, a rich but light tomato sauce and is topped with creamy mozzarella, rocket and a little parmesan, making it the perfect low-calorie alternative.

Healthy aubergine parmigiana

An absolute Italian classic, made that little bit healthier by using a few clever tricks. It’s high in protein, low in salt and calories, and delicious to boot.

Vegan risotto

Fennel, courgette, peas and parsley make for a wonderfully green risotto. Flavoured with nutritional yeast in place of parmesan and less than 350 calories a portion, it’s a lovely and light version of this Italian favourite.

Healthier lasagne

Marinated summer veg antipasti

Our antipasti recipe uses a colourful combination of summer veg. It’s a healthy mix of aubergines, peppers, courgette and mushrooms – serve with crusty bread to mop up the juices.

Courgetti with pesto and balsamic tomatoes

Try swapping out pasta for spiralized courgette in this low-calorie meal with baby plum tomatoes, garlic, pesto and pine nuts.

Grilled sardines with lemon

The best way to cook sardines is to lightly grill them, as we have here. This recipe makes for a healthy meal idea using just three ingredients – sardines, olive oil and a squeeze of lemon – and is ready in a flash. The taste of summer on a plate.

Tuscan pork steaks

Tuscan bean and barley stew

This stew is a perfect one to have on hand for a quick and healthy dinner. It’s ready in 30 minutes, serves four and is under 200 calories. You can use any leafy greens for this, just whatever you have around.

Primavera salad

This lemon and herb-infused veggie primavera salad is a great healthy meal idea. It’s packed full of delicious ingredients such as asparagus, goat’s cheese and zesty lemon and made even better with a mix of grains and orzo, which gives it a lovely silky texture.

Spicy prawn linguine

This spicy prawn linguine has a chilli kick to keep it interesting. It’s so delicious you’ll forget you’re being virtuous.

Sicilian-style fish stew

Here, white fish is gently simmered in a tomato and couscous sauce and topped with zesty gremolata. A filling and healthy dinner idea that has fewer than 250 calories a portion but is still packed with protein.

Cannellini bean, avocado and prosciutto salad

Use canned beans to boost a fresh tomato salad. With prosciutto and avocado, this is Italian-style healthy eating that’s ideal for a midweek meal.

Antipasti rigatoni

This is a great Italian-inspired recipe for a healthy dinner. Using the best Italian antipasti ingredients and combining it with pasta makes for a speedy, low-calorie meal.

Panzanella (Tuscan bread salad)

This quick, no-cook salad of ripe tomatoes and crunchy cucumber is a great way to use up stale bread for a healthy, low-calorie meal.

Spinach and risotto-stuffed tomatoes

This is a simple, healthy meat-free dinner made from leftover risotto, pine nuts and lots of spinach.

Butternut squash lasagne

This vegetarian take on a family favourite is perfect if you’re trying to pack in more veg to mealtimes. It’s ready in just 30 minutes, too.

Lentil ‘meatballs’ with fresh tomato sauce 

Lentils are a great way to make a meal vegetarian. Here, they’re used to create an alternative to traditional meatballs and are served with pasta, Italian style. Plus, they’re low-calorie and ready in just 40 minutes.

Chicken, red pepper and olive cacciatore

This summery Italian one-pot is easy to make and freezes brilliantly, plus, it’s a great healthy dinner idea and gluten-free. The recipe is easily halved if you only want three or four portions.