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20 Healthy Sides for Spaghetti – Low-Calorie and Delicious

spaghetti with tomato sauce and meat

20 Healthy Sides for Spaghetti – Low-Calorie and Delicious

Spaghetti is one of those family classic meals. The ingredients are relatively cheap, and many people enjoy Italian cuisine! One of the characteristics of a good spaghetti dinner is that it can be delicious all on its own or with a side of garlic bread. However, sometimes you are looking for that specific kick, one side that will take your dinner to the next level. It also helps if the side is healthy! This article is going to explore different healthy sides for spaghetti. Get ready to find your next favorite complementary dish this week to add to your dinner list. 

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Healthy Sides for Spaghetti

Whether potatoes, vegetables, bread, or something different, there are many side options to add to your weekly spaghetti night dinner. Since spaghetti is an Italian dish, it pairs well with bread, which we see often with garlic bread sides. However, it can also be delicious alongside a vegetable such as green beans or peas. There are also excellent fruit choices and salad options on this list. Take a look at the great healthy sides for spaghetti below.  

Disclaimer: The approximate nutritional facts for calories, fat, and carbohydrates are below each recipe.

1. Healthy Stuffed Potatoes

  • Calories: 113
  • Fat: 3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 17 g

Although the name itself doesn't sound super healthy, there is just something about these healthy stuffed potatoes! They can be an excellent substitute for bread and are pretty filling. What's more, potatoes come with fantastic health benefits, such as antioxidants and fiber. 

Stuffed baked potatoes with cheese and egg
Stuffed baked potatoes are filling and delicious!

2. Healthy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

  • Calories: 142
  • Fat: less than 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 29 g

Mashed potatoes aren't one of those sides where you automatically think “healthy.” However, these garlic mashed potatoes are lower in calories and fat but still high in beneficial vitamins like potassium and fiber. These healthy garlic mashed potatoes utilize skim milk over heavy cream, making them healthier and allowing you to receive all the fantastic benefits of potatoes. 

Garlic Mashed Potatoes
If you love mashed potatoes, try healthy garlic potatoes.

3. Healthy Lemon Vegetable

  • Calories: 22
  • Fat: 2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 2 g

There's so much to love about this healthy lemon vegetable recipe. For starters, it is low-calorie. Also, the lemon juice and garlic give it a unique and delicious flavor that pairs well with a savory dish. If you are a cauliflower and broccoli fan, try this recipe! 

4. Fall Vegetable Brussels Sprouts

  • Calories: 38
  • Fat: 0.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 8 g

Brussels Sprouts, you either hate them or love them. There is little of an in-between. When cooked just right, brussels sprouts can be a healthy and flavorful side for adults and kids. 

Vegetarian cuisine. Homemade Brussels Sprouts roasted with olive oil on black slate background. Copyspace, top view, flatlay.
Brussels sprouts can be delicious when cooked correctly!

5. Fall Vegetable Broccoli

  • Calories: 113
  • Fat: 21 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18 g

This broccoli side is healthy and tasty, using seasonings, low-sodium broth, and vegetables like mushrooms. Whether you are a fan of broccoli or eat it for the health benefits over the taste, this side dish dresses up the broccoli. This means you can enjoy the flavor and the health benefits all in one! 

2015, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cooking, Crucifers
Broccoli makes an amazing and low-calorie side dish.
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6. Healthy Smothered Greens

  • Calories: 80
  • Fat: 2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 9 g

Smothered greens are a great complement to spaghetti. First, the seasoning and flavor added to this recipe are unique yet flavorful. Second, there are so many health benefits to greens! These include vitamins A, C, and K. These antioxidants carry many benefits, including being beneficial for pregnant women, blood clotting, and heart health. 

Southern Style Collard Greens with Salt Pork
Smothered greens are low-calorie and quite delicious.

7. Healthy Italian Vegetable Bake

  • Calories: 27
  • Fat: less than 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5 g

This Italian vegetable bake combines onions, tomatoes, peppers, okra, and green beans with various seasonings and flavors. The result is a deliciously low-calorie bake that makes an excellent side to any dish, especially spaghetti. With all these vegetables' added health benefits, you can feel good about adding this recipe to your weeknight meal plan. 

the ratatouille, traditional French vegetable stew in a ceramic dish
If you enjoy vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini, try this side dish.

8. Best Healthy Sautéed Green Bean Recipe

  • Calories: 64
  • Fat: Less than 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 8 g

Green beans have plenty of health benefits, yet they can taste quite bland when cooked with no added ingredients. This sauteed green bean recipe plays on the natural flavors of the added ingredients to bring flavor to life, yet the green beans remain healthy and low calorie. This cooking style makes them a delicious and perfect side to spaghetti. 

Overhead view green beans
Green beans are a classic, but they don't have to be bland.

9. Healthy Homestyle Biscuits

  • Calories: 99
  • Fat: less than 3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15 g

Sometimes, the best side dish to spaghetti is bread. Whether you love garlic bread or biscuits, this side can be hard to beat! If you are craving carbohydrates yet want to keep it relatively healthy, try these healthy homestyle biscuits. The recipe uses 1% buttermilk, giving you a healthier version of the classic biscuit. 

Freshly Baked Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
Homemade biscuits can be healthy and delicious.
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10. Healthy Rainbow Fruit Salad

  • Calories: 96
  • Fat:  1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 24 g

Fruit is among the best sides if you or your family have a sweet tooth. The natural sweetness of many fruits can satisfy that craving for sweets, yet the calories stay down, and the benefits increase. This healthy rainbow fruit salad will delight your kids; they may want you to make it every night! 

Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is a family favorite!

11. Crisp Summer Broccoli Salad

  • Calories: 498
  • Fat: 41 g
  • Carbohydrates: 24 g

Broccoli, bacon, onions, what's not to love about this delicious and crunchy summer broccoli salad? The refreshing bite and the tastiness make the perfect side dish to eat with anything, especially spaghetti! 

Broccoli_Salad
Broccoli salad is crispy and tasty.

12. Sweet and Healthy Fruit Salad

  • Calories: 140
  • Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 38 g

This fruit salad is another excellent addition to your family recipe book. The sweetness keeps your kids returning for more, yet the added health benefits of the apples, grapes, and yogurt benefit the entire family. 

Autumn_Fruit_Salad
Add yogurt to this sweet fruit salad.

13. Greek Salad

  • Calories: 179
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Carbohydrates: 7 g

More popular healthy sides for spaghetti include salad. Change your salad up a bit and try this Greek salad recipe. With various ingredients such as onions, tomatoes, cheese, olives, and lemon juice, your taste buds will love the flavor! Additionally, greek salad is relatively low calorie and contains plenty of vitamins and minerals that we need daily. 

Greek Salad
Greek salad is a classic and always remains tasty.

14. Crunchy Coleslaw

  • Calories: 140
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Carbohydrates: 12 g

There are many versions of coleslaw out there that can be both healthy and unhealthy. However, the cabbage in coleslaw will give you plenty of nutrients like fiber and vitamin C. Therefore, adding it to your weekly meal plan can improve your health! 

Cajun_Coleslaw
Coleslaw can be both healthy and unhealthy, depending on the ingredients.

16. Cobb Salad

  • Calories: 770
  • Fat: 55 g
  • Carbohydrates: 40 g

Another popular salad that is healthy and quite filling is the Cobb salad. Packed with protein like chicken, tomatoes, onions, bacon, and hard-boiled eggs, many nutrients are crammed into one little bowl! You can feel good about adding this salad alongside your spaghetti because you will supply yourself and your family with protein, iron, vitamin D, and potassium. 

Cobb salad is a great choice if you are craving a filling and delicious salad.
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17. Cherry Tomato Salad

  • Calories: 192
  • Fat: 5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5 g

If you are a cherry tomatoes fan, try this salad! With tomatoes, lettuce, bacon, and a handful of seasonings, you and your family will love the unique flavor. Additionally, it requires minimal ingredients and seasonings that you most likely have on hand, making it a simple recipe to make as well! 

Fresh summer vegetable salad with mozzarella cheese, green arugula leaves and cherry tomatoes on wooden table background.
Tomato salad is quite tasty and easy to make!

18. Caesar Salad

  • Calories: 94
  • Fat: 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 9 g

Caesar salad can be understated. While it may appear simple, this salad contains fantastic flavor with added seasonings and liquid flavorings like lemon juice and Worcester sauce. If you are in the mood for simple yet healthy, try this Caesar salad recipe today. 

Caesar-Salad-1
Caesar salad is simple but a yummy classic.

19. Carrot Raisin Salad

  • Calories: 176
  • Fat: 61 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g

Carrots and pineapple may seem odd, but this recipe takes simple ingredients and turns them into something unique. While it does contain added powdered sugar, the additional health benefits of the pineapple, carrots, and raisins make this a healthy and flavorful salad to try at least once in your life. 

Carrot Salad
Carrot raisin salad may be unique but carries many health benefits!

20. Low Carb Garlic Bread

  • Calories: 29
  • Fat: Less than 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 4 g

Of course, you cannot have spaghetti without having garlic bread. However, garlic bread doesn't have to pack on the calories. This low-carb garlic bread allows you to reap fantastic health benefits, keep the carbs low, and enjoy a classic. It's a win-win! This is a great choice if you are craving healthy sides for spaghetti that include bread.

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