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Healthy Italian Dishes

Pasta, pizza and eggplant Parm can all be part of a healthy diet. Try these healthier versions of Italian recipes from Food Network.

Food Stylist: Rebecca Jurkevich Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks
Photo: Con Poulos
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Mushroom-Spinach Stuffed Shells

Fill jumbo pasta shells with an irresistible filling of spinach, mushrooms and three cheeses (part-skim mozzarella, low-fat cottage cheese and Parmesan). Then bake in a garlicky, fennel-seed tomato sauce until bubbly.
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Lightened Chicken and Eggplant Parmesan
Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Lightened Chicken and Eggplant Parmesan

Moderate amounts of Parmesan cheese and part-skim mozzarella curb calories. The dish is also great as a sandwich. Simply place a chicken-and-eggplant stack in a toasted, soft whole-wheat hoagie.
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Healthy Spinach and Ricotta Pizza
Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Healthy Spinach and Ricotta Pizza

When it's pizza night at your house, don't dial for delivery. Make pizza at home with a homemade crust (partially whole wheat), herbed tomato sauce, spinach and two kinds of delicious cheese, part-skim mozzarella and ricotta.
get the recipe

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Food stylist: Adrienne Anderson Prop stylist: Leslie Siegel
Photo: Andrew McCaul
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Low-Cal Fettuccine Alfredo

Low-fat cream cheese is the perfect substitute for cream in this lighter Alfredo; it creates a thick, luxurious texture without extra calories.
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Mock Risotto
Photo: Tara Donne ©
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Mock Risotto

Use brown rice and pearl barley for this quick, creamy take on risotto. Finish the dish with asparagus, mushrooms and Parmesan and cream cheeses.
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Close up of Pasta in a white bowl
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Eggplant-Parmesan Pasta

Classic eggplant Parm packs a huge calorie toll, but our lighter version has crisp cubes of eggplant tossed with homemade marinara sauce for a still-satisfying healthy alternative.
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Chicken Cacciatore

In this healthier version of the quintessential Italian dish, skinless chicken breasts are cooked to perfection in an appetizing tomato sauce flavored with onions, peppers, mushrooms and white wine.
get the recipe

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Sausage Lasagna
Photo: Tara Donne ©
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Sausage Lasagna

Just a little turkey sausage and a pillowy part-skim ricotta and cottage cheese layer make this Italian classic as hearty and delicious as the original.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Kale and Pistachio Pesto Spaghetti

Not the usual pesto, this version is packed with nutrient-dense kale along with parsley and pistachios and then tossed with whole-wheat spaghetti.
get the recipe

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Chicken Parmesan

This chicken Parmesan is all about moderation: Saute the chicken in a little oil to get that characteristic crunch, then top with just enough cheese and lots of sauce.
get the recipe

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Chicken Piccata
Photo: Tara Donne ©
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Chicken Piccata

Classic chicken piccata is made with a heavy, butter- and wine-based sauce, but our version uses just a touch of both at the end for bold flavor with fewer calories.
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Food stylist: Jamie Kimm Prop stylist: Marina Malchin
Photo: Antonis Achilleos
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Chicken Parmesan Rollatini

Chicken Parmesan can be super high in calories and fat. Skip the fat but not the cheese or the crunch with this rolled, stuffed version. Serve it alongside creamy polenta.
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FN_FN Kitchens Creamy Spinach Baked Penne.tif
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Cheesy Spinach Baked Penne

Making homemade tomato sauce for this recipe really allows you to control what goes into it. Here, it's mixed up with chunks of mozzarella for extra bursts of cheesy goodness, along with cottage cheese for all the satisfying qualities of ricotta with only a fraction of the fat and calories.
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Halibut with Tuscan Beans

The combination of halibut and cannellini beans gives this elegant dish its satisfying mix of protein (41 grams) and fiber (12.5 grams). Roasted peppers, rosemary and parsley give the meal Italian flavor.
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Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomato, Eggplant and Basil

This chicken dish has the vegetables built right in, so you have a well-rounded meal on one plate. Eggplant and sun-dried tomatoes are simmered with chicken cutlets, which are topped with ricotta cheese.
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Pasta and a Spicy Melange in a White Dish
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Linguine with Tuna Puttanesca

A classic puttanesca sauce made with tomatoes, olives and capers gets a hit of lean protein with the addition of oil-packed tuna.
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Food Network's Chicken Saltimbocca
Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Chicken Saltimbocca

Giada transforms ordinary weeknight chicken cutlets into something special by filling them with spinach and a little bit of prosciutto. Best of all, the recipe takes only 35 minutes from start to finish.
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Turkey Meatballs with Quick And Spicy Tomato Sauce and Whole-Wheat Spaghetti

The spicy kick and multiple herbs in this sauce lend layers of flavor without fat. The carrot, onion and Parmesan add volume and moisture.
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