The ultimate guide to making zucchini noodles! Whether you like spaghetti, angle hair, fettuccine, or lasagna, we’ll cover how to make all four types of zoodles!
Every spring I get this urge to eat lighter and brighter. Maybe it is something in the air. Or maybe it’s that I connect spring with bringing in summer and I connect summer with fresh produce and I connect fresh produce with very specific fruits and vegetables like peaches and asparagus and tomatoes and zucchini. That all makes sense, right?
Anyways, long story short, I always end up making zucchini noodles (otherwise known as zoodles) this time of year to enjoy with homemade pasta sauce. But these are not the soggy type of zoodles that can be found in market, these are fresh, slurpable (fairly certain that is a word), perfect zoodles!
We’re covering how to make zoodles 4 different ways – spaghetti, angle hair, fettuccine, and lasagna. Feel free to click the links below to jump around to which ever type of pasta you are feeling today.
Not sure about how to pick a good zucchini or if zucchini is right for you? Check out this post, Zucchini Nutrition 101, for all information on this awesome vegetable!
Ingredients for Making Zucchini Noodles
Zucchinis! Obviously you need these to make zucchini noodles but zucchini noodles are a great replacement noodles because they are cheap, easy to get, and easy to work with.
- Zucchini: We typical use green zucchini to make our noodles. They are low in calories and packed with nutrients, win win!
Zucchini Cooking tip
While zucchini noodles resemble pasta noodles, boiling them in water leaches out water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C and B6 in the case of zucchini). Instead, sauté the zucchini noodles on the stove with a touch of olive oil until they are soft.
How to make Spaghetti Zoodles
To make spaghetti zucchini noodles, cut off each end of the zucchini, then cut each zucchini in half to fit in your spiralizer. Place the zucchini half in your spiralizer so that it’s perfectly centered, then spiralize! Apply constant pressure while spiralizing the zucchini to create uniform, long noodles.
Try spaghetti zoodles in these great recipes – Zucchini Pasta with Creamy Avocado Pesto and Zucchini Noodles Vegetarian Meal Prep.
How to make Angel Hair Zoodles
Making angle hair zoodles couldn’t be simpler! Having a julienne slicer is super helpful when making these but you could also use a good knife and your great knife skills to make angle hair zoodles. Simply lay the zucchini on a flat surface (cutting board or plate), then run down the length of the zucchini with a julienne slicer. Continue until there is no zucchini left. You can find a julienne slicer online here!
This spiralized zucchini recipe would be great with our Easy Vegan Meatballs or Pumpkin Pasta Sauce!
How to make Fettuccine Zoodles
Fettuccine noodles are wide noodles that pair great with thick sauces. The extra surface area means they can carry more sauce with each bite! To make the zucchini version of this noodle, trim the top and bottom off of the zucchini. Set a mandoline slicer to its thinnest setting, then run the zucchini lengthwise down the mandolin to create long, thin planks. Use a knife to cut each plank into 4 or 5 strips, creating fettuccine noodles. Easy peasy!
These would be great as a replacement for the noodles in Stovetop Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese or Lemony Gremolata Pasta!
How to make Lasagna Zoodles
Last but not least, lasagna zoodles. To make these classic noodles, trim the top and bottom off of the zucchini. Set a mandolin slicer to its thinnest setting, then run the zucchini lengthwise down the mandolin to create long, thin planks. These follow almost all the same steps as fettuccini noodles minus the last step of slicing them into strips. Woo, less work!
Try these in our Zucchini Lasagna or use them to replace the noodles in this Vegetable Lasagna!
How to Cook Zoodles
When it comes to cooking your zoodles, you have options. But the best way to cook zoodles? Sautéing them!
Sautéing zucchini noodles in a splash of olive oil preserves the texture, flavor, and nutrients. Simply sauté them over medium heat until warm and slightly softened.
You could also microwave zoodles for 2 to 3 minutes if you’re in a pinch. Due to zucchini’s high water content, the microwave will release that moisture, creating steam in the confined space and making it more likely to make the zoodles slightly mushy.
I do not recommend boiling them because it leaches out the water-soluble vitamins and adds moisture to something that is already very high in moisture content (= mushy!).
What to pair with zoodles
Everything. No, seriously, as with most zucchini recipes, zucchini noodles have an incredibly neutral flavor meaning they can go with almost any flavor or dish. Enjoy them with a tomato based sauce or a cheese sauce! Some of our favorite sauces are romesco, marinara, or traditional pesto! And some of our favorite ways to use these zoodles are:
- Pumpkin Pasta has the perfect creamy, flavorful sauce to enjoy on the zucchini fettuccine
- Easy Vegetarian Lasagna is an easy dinner staple that would be great with zucchini lasagna pasta
- Spiralized Zucchini Caprese Salad in a Jar makes lunch a breeze with all the ingredients for a delicious salad kept in mason jars for easy transport
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini
Instructions
How to Cut Zucchini Noodles
- Option 1 Spaghetti Zoodles: Trim the top and bottom off of the zucchini, then chop it in half, hamburger style. Working one at a time, center each zucchini halve on a spiralizer and turn firmly to create the spaghetti noodles.
- Option 2 Angel Hair Zoodles: Lay the zucchini on a flat surface, the run down the length of the zucchini with a julienne slicer. Continue until there is no zucchini left.
- Option 3 Fettuccine Zoodles: Trim the top and bottom off of the zucchini. Set a mandolin slicer to its thinnest setting, then run the zucchini lengthwise down the mandolin to create long, thin planks. Use a knife to cut each plank into 4 or 5 strips, creating fettuccine noodles.
- Option 4 Lasagna Zoodles: Trim the top and bottom off of the zucchini. Set a mandolin slicer to its thinnest setting, then run the zucchini lengthwise down the mandolin to create long, thin planks.
How to Cook Zucchini Noodles
- Option 1 Saute: Heat a splash of oil in a large saute pan over medium/high heat. Add noodles and cook briefly, just until bright green and soft – about 3 minutes.
- Option 2 Microwave: Place zoodles in a microwave-safe bowl or plate, covering firmly with plastic wrap. Microwave for 60 seconds, or until bright green and soft.
Tips & Tricks
Nutrition Information
Got scraps? Dogs can eat zucchini and love licking up the inevitable scraps from your zoodle making!
Leave a Comment