21 Comforting and Lightened-Up Pasta Dishes

Take a look at this photo — would you believe that all that cheesy goodness is completely dairy-free? The earth-shattering creaminess comes from pureed cashews and white beans.

This oh-so-creamy, warm, and delicious homemade dish is like a combination of mac and cheese and pesto pasta, but it's much healthier.

Instead of milk, cheese, or cream to give this sauce its velvety texture, boiled cauliflower is combined with a handful of ingredients, resulting in a nutrient-rich alfredo alternative any pasta-lover will enjoy. One heaping cup of whole-grain fettuccine swimming in this creamy sauce is a crave-worthy meal that weighs in at just over 300 calories.

Instead of the traditional stuffed shells, whip up this vegan recipe for a lightened-up alternative that truly tastes like the real thing.

The unexpected addition of pureed squash to the classic dish may raise a few eyebrows, but the surprise ingredient only provides an extra layer of creamy comfort to this butternut squash mac and cheese.

Taste the healthy rainbow — and clean out your crisper! — with this vegetable medley pasta from POPSUGAR Food. In less than 30 minutes, you'll have a perfect weeknight supper.

Heavy layers of meat and cup upon cup of cheese go into classic lasagna, but this recipe for spicy cauliflower lasagna takes a guilt-free twist on tradition.

There's no need to drench pasta in heavy cream, butter, and cheese to create a satisfying supper, and this vegan-friendly spaghetti recipe is proof. Fresh produce keeps this saucy recipe low in calories but rich in vitamins A and C.

This fettuccine alfredo dramatically lightens the load by making wise (low-fat) dairy choices that don't affect the flavor or texture and by skipping the butter altogether. And it's fewer than 350 calories per serving!

Packed with vitamin C and potassium, this broccoli pesto bake takes an inventive spin on traditional pesto recipes. This is perfect for anyone who has a nut allergy.

Traditional recipes for this sweet dish pile the cream, butter, and sugar on heavy — but this lightened-up noodle kugel is an ideal alternative that offers the same nostalgic flavors.

Penne alla vodka is an Italian staple that heavily lays on the cream and calories. Even without the booze and significantly less dairy thrown into the pot, this penne alla "not-ka" brings the same tangy flavor and comforting texture indicative of the original.

If classic carbonara is your favorite dish, then creamy spaghetti carbonara offers the nostalgic flavor and texture you're craving.

A comforting bowl of spaghetti bolognese is often what's needed after a long day (or any day, really). Loading down on beef, however, can leave you feeling heavy and tired. Solve this problem — and cut back on calories, fat, and cholesterol — with this recipe for vegan bolognese.

The first lady's recipe for Sasha and Malia's favorite mac and cheese is a creative and simple way to add cauliflower to your diet. You stir together the vegetable's puree, milk, cheese, and pasta, and bake.

When I'm craving something cheesy, nothing else will do, and this high-protein pasta bake is what my comfort-food dreams are made of. Three types of cheeses, yogurt, and chicken are tossed into the mix to make this a high-protein baked dinner everyone will adore.

Between the chopped pickles and dijon mustard used in this recipe, the flavor of this tangy pasta salad is so tasty no one will miss that fatty mayo.

A big bowl of fusilli with raw tomato sauce lets all this fresh produce in this healthy dish speak for itself.

Spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes is an incredibly simple and elegant pasta delight. And yep — it's vegan!

Treat your taste buds to this Thai-inspired salad made with a smooth and tangy ginger peanut dressing.

For a creamy pasta sauce that's free of dairy, try this bucatini recipe that uses cashew cream.