Who doesn’t want a guilt-free bowl of pasta every once in a while?  We all do!  And when that yummy and healthy bowl of pasta can be whipped up in a jiffy and will please the whole family, it’s a dream come true!

That’s why you’ll flip for this Guilt-Free Balsamic Roasted Red Pepper Pasta.  You can whip it up for a quick lunch or just double, triple or quadruple the recipe depending how many are eating.

The key to keeping this guiltless is going for the whole grain pasta, using healthy nutrient-packed delicious ingredients and keeping the portions in check.  This pasta is so yummy you’ll never even know you’re getting 4 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein, all for under 193 calories!

Go ahead, dive in – and it’s completely OK if this becomes a staple in your menu repertoire!

Guilt-Free Balsamic Roasted Red Pepper Pasta 

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1 oz whole wheat pasta, dry weight
• 1 light cheese stick
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 3 tablespoon roasted red pepper (packed in water), chopped
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Directions:

First, cook the pasta according to the box’s directions. While it’s cooking, cut the cheese stick into ¼ inch pieces. Then, chop the roasted red pepper.

Drain the pasta, then put it back into the pot. Skip the rinsing step to keep the pasta warm!

Mix in the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and basil. Then mix in the peppers and cheese stick. Can be served hot or cold! Enjoy!

Nutritional Information:

The entire recipe provides 193 calories, 7g fat, 10mg cholesterol, 24g carbohydrates, 4g fiber and 11 g protein!

Thanks to our intern Jillian O’Neill for creating this recipe.