22 healthy Italian recipes

Check out our ideas below, and then take a look at our healthy curry recipes, healthy takeaways and healthy pasta recipes.

Healthy Italian recipes

Chicken traybake with lemon, orzo and olives

This chicken tray bake with lemon, olives and orzo is a great midweek meal for all the family. It's super simple, and low in calories.

Sardine spaghetti

Tinned sardines are a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and essential oils. Let them shine in this quick and easy Sardinian spaghetti dish.

Pasta salad with bocconcini, capers and tomatoes

Pasta gets tossed with tomatoes, olive oil, red wine vinegar and capers here, before being finished off with mozzarella cheese balls and fresh herbs. A great veggie dinner that's ready in 20 minutes.

Baked halibut with fennel, lemon and walnut pangrattato

Take your healthy fish supper to the next level and top baked halibut with a golden, crunchy pangrattato.

Healthy spaghetti bolognese

This spaghetti bolognese has slightly less meat in than usual but no less flavour, and is bulked out with lentils for healthy fibre. You could also use vegetarian mince, if you like.

Healthy sardines on toast

Sweet shallots, plump raisins and sharp capers go perfectly with sardines in this nourishing Sicilian-style dish – pile the lot on toasted bread for a speedy lunch.

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.

Cod, cherry tomato and green olive traybake

This recipe for cod, cherry tomato and green olive tray roast is so quick and easy to prepare but looks impressive when you pull it out of the oven. Serve with a big bowl of buttered orzo.

Italian sausage and veg tray roast

For a low-calorie dinner, try this easy traybake. It's ideal when you're short on time. Just bang it all in the oven and you have yourself a hearty meal.

Healthy prawn linguine with ’nduja

'Nduja is a spicy, spreadable sausage from Italy. It works really well in this healthy prawn pasta, which is super-quick and easy to make, but is packed with big Italian flavours. This is perfect for a midweek meal.

Balsamic lentils with pork fillet

Balsamic offers a tartness to our vibrant pork dish. A great carb-free midweek meal idea. This well-balanced meal is high in protein but low in calories and salt.

Orecchiette pasta salad with prawns, basil, feta and tomato caper dressing

Check out this pasta salad with crumbly feta, prawns, basil and a simple caper and tomato dressing. This quick dish is low in calories and ready in under 30 minutes.

Pasta alla norma

Check out this easy gluten free tomato penne alla norma with aubergine topped with fresh basil. This simple recipe is veggie friendly and low in calories.

Spicy prawn linguine

This spicy prawn linguine has a rich tomato sauce with a good chilli kick. It's great served with a rocket salad on the side.

Vegan bolognese

Check out our meat-free bolognese. This family favourite uses mushrooms and plenty of veg, making it a low-fat, healthy, vegan meal that everyone will love.

Roast chicken panzanella

An unusual take on this famous salad, that makes for a nourishing and filling meal.

Orzo deli salad

Check out this super simple orzo salad recipe with crunchy red onion and sweet SunBlush tomatoes. This vegan salad recipe is easy to make and low in calories.

Vegan risotto

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

Chicken, red pepper and olive cacciatore

This summery Italian one-pot is simple 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.

Tuscan pork steaks

This quick pork dish ticks all the healthy-eating boxes. It's filling, low in fat, low in sugar, low in salt and high in protein.

Cod with tomato bean stew

Make the most of seasonal cod in this quick recipe with a flavour-packed tomato bean stew for less than 400 calories.

Spinach and risotto-stuffed tomatoes

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