Paleo AIP Pasta Substitutes and 42 Recipes

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Last Updated on May 3, 2023

Wondering how you can still enjoy pasta on the autoimmune protocol? These AIP pasta recipes are sure to hit the spot! You’ll be surprised at all the ways you can make a delicious AIP compliant pasta.

Pasta

In my house growing up, we rarely used the word “pasta”. In fact, other than the terms “pahst-n-peas” (pasta and peas) or  “pahst-a-fa-zhole” (pasta e fagioli), I do not remember even hearing that word until I got older and, what my mom referred to as “peasant food” suddenly became chic (such as polenta). Yay for peasants!

The word of choice used in our home was “macaroni”. I can still hear my mom saying in her Brooklyn accent “Jennifah…ya want some moah macaroni?” And don’t even get me started on the “sauce” vs. “gravy” debate…

So fast forward my life about 20-ish years (perchance a few more but I’m in denial), and – thanks to autoimmune disease – there’s no macaroni (or sauce for that matter) for yours truly.

There I go again. I need a moment…

Ok. I’m back. Honestly, I’d rather be sans macaroni and meat sauce than writhing in pain from an autoimmune flare. Truth!

AIP Pasta

Surprisingly, there are quite a few substitutes that can be used in the place of macaroni (or pasta if you must). And for what is macaroni essentially used – but to be a vehicle for delicious sauce?

In my newfound AIP life, “sauce” no longer refers to nightshade heaven, but there are a number of delicious sauces that beautifully compliment macaroni substitutes.

Truly. I am not lying. And as an aside, it took me a long time to get on the “zoodles” and “nomato sauce” bandwagon. There are some types of squash that make a great AIP pasta, like spaghetti and zuchinni.

You can search through our spaghetti squash recipes for the ones that are AIP compliant, or to use as inspiration to come up with your own ways to cook spaghetti squash.

Best Vegetables to Spiralize Into Pasta

• zuchinni (zoodles)
• butternut squash (squoodles)
• spaghetti squash
• carrots (coodles)
• sweet potatoes (swoodles)
• parsnips (poodles)
• turnips (toodles)
• rutabaga
• celeriac
• other root vegetables are a breeze to spiralize

Zoodles

Check out this post called “Zoodles 101: Everything You Need to Know” for helpful tips on making, storing, and cooking zucchini noodles.  As a side-note, the recipes she shares at the end of the post are not AIP-compliant.

AIP Pasta Recipes

Finding delicious pasta recipes when you’re on an autoimmune protocol diet isn’t easy. These yummy recipes are a great way to enjoy a pasta dish even when you have food allergies.

AIP Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Sweet Potato Gnocchi (Heal Me Delicious) – This divine recipe uses simple ingredients like sweet potatoes and cassava powder to create a meal your whole family will love. The pasta cooks in a large pot of water for about a minute after you’ve put the gnocchi together.

Butternut Squash Noodles

How to Make Butternut Squash Noodles (Savory Lotus – replace ghee with avocado or coconut oil) – Did you know that you can make noodles from butternut squash? They’re a great addition to your meal plans!

Sweet Potato and Spinach Ravioli

Spinach-Stuffed Raviolis (Heal Me Delicious) – If you’re craving pasta, then try this delicious sweet potato ravioli that’s stuffed with spinach. It’s a great dish that everyone in your family will enjoy.

Ginger Garlic Parsnip Noodles

Crispy Fried Parsnip Noodles (Meatified) – One challenging part about having an autoimmune disease is having to avoid night shades. This tasty dish has lots of flavors!

AIP Jar Pasta Sauce

Sometimes you want to bypass the whole process of making a nomato sauce for your AIP pasta. I’ve tried quite a few nomato sauce recipes and was delighted to find an AIP legal sauce for my pasta from KC Naturals.

This traditional tomato-free pasta sauce is the closest I have found to tomato marinara, but made with AIP compliant ingredients: carrots, beets, tart cherries, white balsamic vinegar, blackstrap milasses, granulated onion, extra virgin olive oil, granulated garlic, sea salt, basil, rosemary, thyme and fresh garlic.

They also make a carrot marinara, but I didn’t like that as much as this.

AIP Pasta Dishes

Are you looking for some delicious recipes that your whole family will love? These tasty recipes use whole foods. So add the ingredients to your shopping lists and plan to enjoy some amazing AIP pasta dishes this month.

Zucchini Noodles with Anchovies

Aglio e Olio  Zucchini Noodles with Anchovies, Garlic, and Olive Oil (My BIG FAT Grain Free Life) – Make sure that you cook the zucchini noodles in this recipe until they’re al dente. The best part is that it’s a simple recipe without a lot of meal prep needed.

Zucchini Pasta with Chicken and Scallion Avocado Sauce

Zucchini Pasta with Chicken and Scallion Avocado Sauce (Paleo Running Momma – omit red pepper and ground mustard) – (Paleo, Whole 30) Serve a delightful chicken and scallion avocado sauce on top of some delicious zucchini mock noodles. The creamy sauce will be a hit with family and friends!

Pot Noodle

Pot Noodle (Healing Family Eats) – (AIP, GAPS, SCD, Paleo, Whole30) – Cook up a flavorful pot noodle to enjoy with your family. The dish is a great way to use up any leftover meat you have in your refrigerator.

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce (Heal Me Delicious) – Are you looking for a nightshade-free spaghetti recipe? Then check out this tasty meal! You’ll serve a nomato sauce on top of cassava flour pasta.

AIP Zoodle Recipes

Zoodles are noodles made from zucchini. These inviting recipes are not only perfect for people with food sensitivities but tasty enough to become part of your family traditions.

Smoked Salmon Salad

AIP/Paleo Smoked Salmon Salad with Zucchini Noodles (A Squirrel in the Kitchen) – This simple meal uses smoked salmon and fresh herbs like cilantro to create a family meal that’s fit to serve a king! You will need lemon juice and coconut milk to create the dish.

Chicken Zoodle Stir Fry

One Pot Chicken Zoodle Stir Fry (Strictly Delicious) – Serve your family a dish with the extra veggie they need. This yummy chicken stir fry is served with zucchini noodles, bok choy, and caramelized carrots.

Cheesy Chicken & Green Zoodles

Cheesy Chicken & Green Zoodles (The Castaway Kitchen) – (Paleo, AIP, Keto, Whole30) This recipe uses nutritional yeast to create a cheesy chicken and green zoodles dish. This tasty dish will become a permanent part of your meal plans.

Garlicky Greens with Zoodles

Garlicky Greens with Zoodles (My BIG FAT Grain Free Life) – Saute up some kale and garlic to create a pasta dish everyone in your family will enjoy a whole lot. Make sure to have some extra virgin olive oil on hand before you begin cooking.

Chilled Zucchini Pasta Salad

AIP Chilled Zucchini Pasta Salad (It’s All about AIP) – (Paleo, AIP, Whole30, Keto) An autoimmune protocol diet doesn’t mean that you need to skip pasta salads. This divine salad uses zucchini zoodles as the pasta. Plus, you can change it up by adding meat or varying the veggies.

AIP Noodle Bowls

Have you been craving a yummy noodle bowl? Then you’ll adore this collection of delish bowls that are AIP compliant. Plus, they’re meals you can serve every day of the week without complaint.

Thai Been and Veggie Noodle Bowl

Thai Beef and Veggie Noodle Bowl (Grazed & Enthused) – Cook up some ground beef and veggies to create a delectable Thai noodle bowl. You’ll get the taste of Thai food without any nightshades or soy sauce!

Asian Pad Thai Noodle Bowl

Paleo Asian Pad Thai Noodle Bowl (Beyond the Bite) – Combine ingredients such as sea salt, shrimp, rice vinegar, and fresh ginger to create a tasty dish to serve your family tonight. It’s a recipe that deserves a five-star rating!

Veggie Noodle Bowl

Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl (Unbound Wellness) – (Whole30, Paleo, AIP) Make a scrumptious meal tonight that will ensure your family gets the extra veggies they need. Make sure you have zucchini, cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables on hand before you begin.

Antipasto Noodle Bowl

Antipasto Noodle Bowl (Lichen Paleo, Loving AIP) – This sugar-free noodle bowl requires artichoke hearts and kale along with sweet potato noodles. It’s a fabulous meal to enjoy when you’re in the mood for a noodle bowl.

Korean Stir-Fried Glass Noodles

Korean Stir-Fried Glass Noodles (Gutsy By Nature) – This recipe calls for sweet potato glass noodles, garlic powder, and apple cider vinegar. You’ll end up with a tasty dish to eat with family and friends.

AIP Pasta Recipes

If you’re looking for autoimmune protocol pasta recipes, then you’ve come to the right place. You don’t even need artisan pasta makers to make the pasta because these delicious dishes use vegetables to create the noodles.

Meatballs with Gravy

Paleo Meatballs with Gravy (Noshtastic – omit almond flour and pepper) – (Paleo, Whole30) Make sure that you skip the almond flour and pepper in order to make this delicious recipe AIP friendly. You can use leftover meatballs to make this for a quick meal.

Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata with Zucchini Noodles

Chicken Piccata with Zucchini Noodles (Strictly Delicious) – Enjoy a divine chicken piccata that’s AIP and paleo-friendly. You’ll cook up the piccata and serve it over zucchini noodles.

Zucchini Noodles with Scallops and Bacon

Zucchini Noodles with Scallops and Bacon (Meatified) – Serve up a meal that everyone will devour using sweet scallops and salty bacon. Then add a touch of lemon to create a perfect dish!

Chicken Alfredo Pasta Casserole

Chicken Alfredo Pasta Casserole (AYCE to Better Health) – (AIP, Paleo, Dairy-Free) Amazing as it sounds, you can create a fabulous chicken alfredo casserole without any dairy or grains. Instead, you’ll use spaghetti squash, nutritional yeast, and coconut oil.

Beef Stroganoff

Paleo Beef Stroganoff (Instinctual Wellbeing) – This yummy dish actually gives you two recipes! The cream of mushroom soup is delicious in and of itself. Then combine it with the beef, onion, and ‘noodles’ to serve a heavenly beef stroganoff to your family.

Pork Belly “Ramen” Noodle Bowl

Pork Belly “Ramen” Noodle Bowl (Strictly Delicious) – Use parsnips and a pork belly to create an enjoyable “ramen” noodle bowl for your family to eat. Be sure to add red cabbage and portabella mushrooms to the bowl!

AIP-Compliant Recipes for Pasta

If you’re looking for pasta recipes you can eat on an AIP diet, then you need these recipes. The recipes are perfect for people with food allergies and will appeal to a primal palate as well.

Chicken Zoodle Faux Pho

Chicken Zoodle Faux Pho (Eat Heal Thrive) – (21DSD, AIP, Paleo, Whole30) Mix up some chicken bone broth, coconut milk, and fish sauce to create a faux pho your whole family will love.

Salmon Primavera

Salmon Primavera (Phoenix Helix) – (Paleo, Whole30, AIP, GAPS, WAHLS) Whip up this quick tasty meal on a busy weeknight. It’s not only fast but easy to clean up afterward since the recipe only requires the use of one skillet.

Bacon Herb “Pasta” Salad

Bacon Herb “Pasta” Salad (The Curious Coconut) – This paleo pasta salad will hit the spot at a picnic or potluck. It combines spaghetti squash, bacon, and herbs to create a yummy portable meal.

Avocado, Lemon, & Dill Zoodles

Simple Avocado, Lemon & Dill Zoodles (My Healthyish Life) – With only five ingredients, this delicious AIP pasta dish is super simple to make. You’ll create an avocado sauce in a food processor and serve it over zoodles.

Beef Stroganoff

Dairy Free Beef Stroganoff (Domestic Soul) – Combine red onion, ground beef, and shitake mushrooms to create a divine beef stroganoff that doesn’t require any dairy products. Serve the delectable sauce over a delicious spaghetti noodle.

Pasta Substitutes for AIP Diet

Do you need some scrumptious pasta substitutes for your AIP protocol diet? Then these pasta recipes are what you need. They use alternatives so that you can enjoy allergy-free diets with your family and friends.

Zucchini Pasta with Bacon Pesto

Zucchini Pasta with Bacon Pesto (Autoimmune Wellness) – Use a food processor to create a yummy bacon pesto to serve over a simple zucchini pasta. The best part is that it uses easy-to-find ingredients that you can purchase at most grocery stores.

Avocado Pesto

Avocado Pesto (Detoxinista) – (Nut-free, Dairy-free, AIP) There’s no cooking required to make this savory avocado pesto. Consider serving the pesto over zoodles to create a summer dish.

Roasted Veggies, Bacon, and Pan-Fried Figs

Roasted Veggies, Bacon, and Pan-Fried Figs (Key Ingredient) – Pull out a sheet pan to cook up this appetizing meal. It’s sure to be one your family asks you to serve again!

Chicken No-Noodle Soup

Chicken No-Noodle Soup (My BIG FAT Grain Free Life) – Nothing beats coming home to a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup on a cold winter day. This chicken no-noodle soup uses zoodles to create a grain-free soup that’s AIP-friendly.

Asian Garlic Beef Noodles

Asian Garlic Beef Noodles (Paleo Flourish) – (AIP, KETO, Paleo) Serve up garlic beef over shirataki noodles or zoodles. You’ll need to have some coconut aminos to substitute for the tamari sauce to keep the dish AIP.

Spaghetti Squash Pasta

​If you’re tired of using zucchini noodles for every pasta dish, use spaghetti squash instead. The squash pairs nicely with a wide range of sauces, so it will allow you to reproduce family favorites without breaking protocol.

Chicken, Bacon, Kale, & Spaghetti Squash Hash

Chicken, Bacon, Kale & Spaghetti Squash Hash (Sweet Treats) – Serve yourself p a healthy serving of spaghetti squash hash. It uses simple ingredients that are a great way to stay on your AIP diet while satisfying your craving for pasta.

Spaghetti Squash Chicken Chow Mein

Spaghetti Squash Chow Mein (Unbound Wellness) – (AIP, Paleo, Whole30) Cook up this easy weeknight dish that your entire family will devour. It combines a wide range of vegetables and chicken to recreate a sumptuous chicken chow mein.

Crispy Swoodles with Bacon

Crispy Swoodles with Bacon (nom nom paleo – omit black pepper for strict AIP) – Be sure to skip the black pepper in this dish to stay on a strict AIP diet. You’ll spiralize the carrots, onion, and sweet potatoes to create this yummy meal.

Caramelized Onion Spaghetti Squash

Caramelized Onion Spaghetti Squash (The Almond Eater – sub coconut oil for butter and omit black pepper for strict AIP) – You will need to adapt this recipe to make it AIP, but that only requires substituting coconut oil for the butter and skipping the black pepper and parmesan cheese. Don’t worry. This delicious recipe will end up being a regular dish on your meal plans.

No’mato Pasta Sauces

Are you worried about how you will avoid tomato sauce when you’re on a nightshade-free diet? Don’t! You’ll use a no’mato sauce instead, allowing you to make an AIP spaghetti sauce to serve your family and friends.

No’Mato Sauce

AIP Friendly Paleo ‘No’mato Sauce (Castaway Kitchen) – (Whole30, AIP, Paleo) Make this no’mato sauce in your instant pot. It’s not only great for marinara but also a great substitute for tomato sauce in ketchup and bbq sauce as well.

Nomato Bolognese

Nomato Bolognese (Sweet Treats) – Are you craving a bowl of spaghetti? If so, cook up this marvelous nomato sauce to serve over spaghetti squash. Plus, you can freeze leftovers to make dinner easy on a busy night!

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Paleo Spaghetti and Meatballs (How We Flourish) – (AIP, GAPS intro) Your whole family will enjoy this spaghetti and meatballs recipe that uses an AIP spaghetti sauce. You won’t need to worry about food sensitivities or night shades since this meal is perfect for an AIP diet.

Bolognese Sauce with Chicken Livers and Zoodles

Bolognese Sauce with Chicken Livers and Zoodles (Healing Family Eats) – (AIP, GAPS, SCD, Paleo) You can use the oven, a crock pot, or the stove to cook up this savory bolognese sauce. Be sure to serve it over zucchini!

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

Butternut Squash AIP Pasta Sauce (Naked Avocado) – Be sure to skip the black pepper in this tasty pasta sauce that combines butternut squash and avocados. It’s amazing when served over vegetable noodles.

Paleo AIP Recipes for Pasta

Be sure to add these incredible and unique pasta recipes to your shopping list this week. Friends and family will gush over how tasty the recipes are, and you’ll be asked to serve them again!

Alfredo with Caramelized Leeks & Bacon

Paleo Alfredo With Caramelized Leeks & Bacon (Meatified) – Serve this delectable alfredo recipe with sweet potato noodles and caramelized leeks and bacon over the top. It’s a delicious way to add some vegetables to your family’s diet while staying on an autoimmune disease protocol diet.

Smoked Clam Linguine

Smoked Clam Linguine (Autoimmune Wellness – come to Mamma!) – This yummy smoked clam pasta uses both apple cider and balsamic vinegar in the creamy sauce. Be sure to garnish the dish with curly parsley before you serve it.

Citrus-Bison Meatballs with Crispy Sweet Potato Noodles

Citrus-Bison Meatballs with Crispy Sweet Potato Noodles (Autoimmune Wellness) – Have you ever tried bison? If not, you’re missing a flavorful ingredient that’s used to make these mouthwatering meatballs with sweet potato noodles.

Scallops with Citrus Vinaigrette

Sizzling Scallops with Citrus Vinaigrette (Joanna Frankham) – Cook up an amazing scallop dish that’s not only full of nutrients but tastes divine as well. A lime and lemon vinaigrette is used to give the zucchini extra flavor.