Veggie noodles are an awesome alternative to pasta — they’re great if you have a gluten sensitivity and avoid it or if you want to add more vegetables to your family’s diet. Plus, the kids can help make them, which is always an added bonus! There are so many reasons why I love to make veggie noodles.

They’ve been popular for a while now, and you can even buy them in the store. But they’re so easy (and fun!) to make at home. My family has fun experimenting with different veggies in the spiralizer. 

Some of our favorite noodle recipes for quick weeknight dinners are stir-fry, ramen, and other traditional noodle dishes. It’s also a great way to make your favorite takeout versions a little healthier — Asian, Chinese, Italian, there are so many possibilities.

Why Veggies?

Even if you aren’t gluten-free or eating a diet low in carbohydrates, veggie noodles are a great alternative to traditional pasta or stir-fry noodles. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, these vegetables are a powerful swap or addition to any recipe you already make. And since they’re fun to make, your kids will want to help. When my kids help cook our dinner, they’re more likely to try new foods.

A good rule of thumb is to use vegetables that are typically cooked to make hot or cooked noodle dishes. Vegetables that are served cold make beautiful salads. Veggie noodles have a quick prep time and also cook quickly (if they need to be cooked at all) because you don’t have to boil water or turn on the oven. The total time for dinner is fast, which makes them a great option for quick weeknight dinners.

How To Make Veggie Noodles at Home

As I mentioned, you can buy vegetable noodles at the store, and they’re great if you’re in a time crunch. But making them at home is easy and cost-effective.

The easiest way to make noodles out of vegetables is to use a spiralizer. There are a few different options to choose from. The Kitchenaid Spiralizer attachment is a super easy way to get noodles quickly, especially if you already have a Kitchenaid. But this countertop version is another great option too. Both options come with several blades to create different types and sizes of noodles.

To make noodles at home, start by washing and trimming the ends of your vegetable of choice. Some need to be peeled, so do that before spiralizing (sweet potatoes and butternut squash are the main ones).

Next, center the vegetable on the blades and make sure it’s secure. Then, let the machine do its work! If you have the countertop version, you simply turn the handle in a circular motion. With the Kitchenaid attachment, it does the work for you. It’s so much fun to watch a vegetable turn into a noodle.

If I’m spiralizing zucchini noodles, I like to set aside a colander to drain them in the sink for a few minutes since they have more water in them than other veggies.