Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

packed with wholesome ingredients

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 5m
Cook Time: 15m
Total Time: 20m
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (13 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

197
Calories
14.3g
Fat
11.2g
Carbohydrate
10.7g
Protein
7mg
Cholesterol
471mg
Sodium
Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

Recipe Description

I adore this healthy, Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles recipe. It is jam-packed with wholesome ingredients like zucchini, tomatoes, basil, and garlic. If I’m feeling hungry, I swap out half of the zucchini noodles for spaghetti. To make this recipe vegan, simply replace the Parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast or your favorite vegan cheese.

To make this delicious recipe, start by spiralizing zucchini. Heat oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes and add zucchini noodles. Cook until al dente. Add tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan briefly and transfer the noodles, tomatoes, and basil to a serving dish using tongs. Leave the liquid in the skillet. Bring to a simmer and add a cornstarch mixture to thicken. Taste and season and pour the sauce over the zucchini, tomatoes, and basil. Garnish with Parmesan and serve immediately.

To make the Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Spiralize zucchini

    5 min
    Step 1 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

    Trim the end of the zucchini. Spiralize zucchini noodles to the length of spaghetti.

  2. 2

    Heat oil and garlic

    3 min
    Step 2 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

    Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet with 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and ¼ - ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes and heat until the oil begins to bubble around the garlic.

  3. 3

    Cook zucchini

    5 min
    Step 3 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini NoodlesStep 3 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

    Add the zucchini noodles and toss for 5-7 minutes until cooked al dente. Ensure that all the noodles hit the bottom of the skillet.

  4. 4

    Add tomatoes

    1 min
    Step 4 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini NoodlesStep 4 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

    Add 2 medium chopped tomatoes, 1 cup of torn basil leaves, and ½ cup of Parmesan cheese (if using). Cook for one minute.

  5. 5

    Transfer to serving plate

    1 min
    Step 5 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

    Transfer the cooked noodles, tomatoes, and basil to a serving dish using tongs. Leave the liquid in the skillet.

  6. 6

    Make sauce

    2 min
    Step 6 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

    Simmer the remaining liquid in the skillet. Add a mixture of 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 2 teaspoons of cold water. Cook, while whisking for about 1 minute until the liquid thickens.

  7. 7

    Season

    1 min
    Step 7 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

    Taste the sauce and season to taste with salt.

  8. 8

    Add sauce

    1 min
    Step 8 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

    Drizzle the sauce generously over the cooked zucchini on the serving plate.

  9. 9

    Serve

    Step 9 - Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

    Garnish with more Parmesan cheese (if using) and serve immediately.

This recipe for Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles is one of my favorite midweek meals. Wholesome and simple to prepare. Don’t forget to tag #cookmerecipes if you try making this one!

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (13 reviews)
Cheri
April 24, 2025
Verified

I really love this, it’s fast and easy. Another bonus is that it is good as leftovers as well.

Olivia Rossi
October 11, 2024
Verified

Incredible! This dish saved dinner when I forgot the pasta!

Isabella Martinez
June 14, 2024
Verified

This Guilt-Free Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles recipe is simply great. I love how easy it is to make. I served it last week and my friends were impressed.

Natalie Johnson
December 14, 2023
Verified

Superb for dinner. My kids love this recipe, and we make it every week. It’s easy to prepare, and I feel good knowing I'm serving healthy ingredients. A family favorite that makes me happy.

Ella
July 27, 2023
Verified

I tried this recipe on a busy weeknight. My kids loved the noodles and I enjoyed feeling good about the ingredients. I added some chicken for protein and it was great. It's now a regular in our meal rotation. So easy and tasty, I highly recomend it.

Renee
July 26, 2023
Verified

I loved making this dish for a friend’s dinner. It's so simple yet delicious. Swapping out half the noodles for spaghetti made it even more satisfying. A real hit at the table.

Nina Peterson
June 2, 2023
Verified

Superb recipe! My husband loved this dish. We often have it for dinner, and it feels like a treat.

Alice Johnson
January 5, 2023
Verified

Delicious

Olivia Johnson
December 29, 2022
Verified

So fresh and tasty!

Yasmine Ford
August 11, 2022
Verified

Yasss!

Quinn
March 28, 2022
Verified

Superb! These zucchini noodles were a hit at dinner. I added some of my homegrown tomatoes, and it made the dish even better. Can't believe I can enjoy pasta guilt-free. My kids loved it too!

Tina Gordon
December 18, 2021
Verified

Wow! These Guilt-Free Zucchini Noodles are simply fantastic! I made this for dinner last night for my kids, and they devoured it. I felt like a superhero for sneaking in veggies! Definitely a new family favorite!

Athina
August 12, 2021
Verified

I love it! Thanks for sharing!

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