Whole30 Penne Pasta with Marinara Sauce

Transform your pasta night with this irresistible Whole30 Penne Pasta with Marinara Sauce—a flavorful, grain-free twist on a classic comfort food. This recipe swaps traditional penne pasta for tender, spiralized zucchini noodles (zoodles), making it a guilt-free, gluten-free, and nutrient-packed option for those following Whole30 or seeking a low-carb meal. The homemade marinara sauce delivers bold Italian flavors with a rich blend of crushed tomatoes, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and aromatic herbs like oregano and basil, perfectly balanced with a pinch of red pepper flakes for subtle heat. Quick to prepare and ready in under an hour, this dish is ideal for weeknight dinners or meal prep. Serve your zoodles generously smothered in marinara and topped with fresh parsley for a vibrant, wholesome meal you'll crave again and again!

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 medium Zucchini
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 1 medium Onion
• 28 ounces Canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dried basil
• 0.25 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.25 cup Fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Use a spiralizer to turn the zucchini into noodles (zoodles). If you don't have a spiralizer, you can use a julienne peeler or slice the zucchini very thinly.

Step 2

Finely chop the garlic cloves and dice the onion.

Step 3

In a large saucepan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Step 4

Add the chopped garlic and diced onion to the pan and sauté until the onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.

Step 6

Bring the sauce to a simmer then reduce the heat to low. Let it cook uncovered for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 7

In a separate large skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.

Step 8

Add the zoodles to the skillet and sauté for about 5-7 minutes or until they reach the desired tenderness.

Step 9

Once the marinara sauce has thickened, adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if necessary.

Step 10

Serve the zoodles topped with the marinara sauce and a garnish of fresh parsley.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1834.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	854.7

Total Fat 32.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 5.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.3g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 10847.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 133.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.4g	0%
Total Sugars 101.3g
Protein 22.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 425.3mg	0%
Iron 12.5mg	0%
Potassium 5154.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 32.1%

Protein: 9.8%

Carbs: 58.1%