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.

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.

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.

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.

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