13 Popular Low Carb Pastas, Ranked Worst To Best

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There's nothing quite as comforting as a warm bowl of pasta covered in a delicious sauce. The only downside of this delectable dinner is that it can be pretty high in carbohydrates since traditional pasta is made using white flour. Here at Mashed, we're all for indulging every so often, but if you want to enjoy pasta on a regular basis it can be helpful to seek out more carb-friendly alternatives. Some people may also need low-carb pastas to fit into their nutritional plan or special diet like those with celiac disease who aren't able to enjoy regular pasta because of its flour content.

Whatever the case, low-carb pastas have become increasingly popular in recent years. This has allowed many brands to be creative with their ideas and recipes, and ultimately it has given us a long list of tasty pasta alternatives to choose from. Some of these pastas are designed to taste just like the real stuff, while others are intentionally given a unique flavor and texture. We combed through the most popular low-carb pastas available and found the ones you should be seeking out of the grocery store, as well as the ones you should leave on the shelf. Here are some notable low-carb pasta products, ranked from worst to best.

Miracle Noodle is another brand that makes multiple low-carb pastas. Their products are actually shirataki noodles, which are made from the Konjac plant and enjoyed throughout Japan (via Healthline). It's a little hard to judge how tasty these noodles are because their flavor depends heavily on how they're prepared. They're pretty much tasteless on their own. No pasta has a ton of flavor when eaten dry, so we can't dock them any points for this.

However, the texture of this pasta is where it loses out again. These noodles have a gelatinous feel and can be hard to get used to. There's just enough bite to keep us interested, but don't have real pasta in mind when you nosh on these. Miracle Noodles work well in cold noodle dishes and many Asian dishes, which makes sense considering how popular they are in Japan. However, we don't think these would hold up to a heavy cream sauce or a dish with too many ingredients. This pasta is okay for people who don't mind the texture, but it's not our first pick for a low-carb alternative.

Like most of America, we love Trader Joe's. From their plethora of refrigerated dips to their never-ending snack section, there's something for everyone at this grocery store chain. Trader Joe's is all about following current food trends, and it wasn't long before they jumped on the low-carb pasta train. TJ's currently offers quite a few alternative pasta options including this red lentil sedanini pasta.

The pasta holds its shape well and doesn't get mushy after cooking, which we appreciate. However, the flavor is a little strong and not ideal for people who don't enjoy the taste of lentils. "It's a bit too dry and lentil-y as a dinner...you def[initely] need to add something else to it rather than just the sauce," wrote one contributor to Trader Joe's Reviews. With so many other great pasta options at Trader Joe's, we'll leave this one on the shelf.

Hearts of palm refer to the inner core of some types of palm trees. This fibrous vegetable is quite tender and can be easily shredded to resemble strands of pasta. Palmini linguine has minimal flavor and relies heavily on the sauce to give it flavor. The texture is pretty firm and doesn't really have the mouthfeel of pasta but it isn't gross either. (Many reviewers suggest soaking the noodles in water or milk before warming in your sauce to help soften them up.) But with only 20 calories and 4 grams of carbs per serving, it may be worth the sacrifice.  

"Great alternative to pasta if you are low-carb," one person wrote on Influenster. Have used [these] in ramen dishes to red sauce pasta to Alfredo."  Overall, this is a good option if the texture isn't an issue for you and if you have a killer sauce to pour on top.

Explore Cuisine makes several low-carb pastas and their edamame spaghetti is one of their most popular products. As the name suggests, this is spaghetti made using the familiar green immature soybean. In fact, the only ingredient in this pasta is edamame bean flour. These soybeans are popular in Asian cuisine and also happen to be high in protein and fiber. Using them makes this pasta an excellent source of protein and fiber as well. While the texture isn't perfect, but the product is impressive overall. "The texture is very satisfying. It's definitely different from a flour pasta's texture, a bit chewier, but in a good way," noted Well and Simple Health. "Especially where it's a fine spaghetti, the chewy, almost meaty texture is nice and give you that full mouth feel."

This pasta has a slight earthy flavor, so it's best complemented with additions like mushrooms, olive oil, and cheese. The natural green color of this product may be an issue to those with young picky eaters, but not necessarily a deal breaker. Overall, we think this is a great pick.

Cappello's Fettuccine ticks off two important boxes for this list: It's gluten-free and grain-free. Although it is made from almond flour, the texture is remarkably similar to white flour pasta. Fans of almonds may even think this fresh pasta tastes better than the regular stuff. It cooks well and does not get mushy when it's overcooked for a couple of minutes (none of us are perfect in the kitchen, okay?).

"I have tried numerous gluten-free pastas and they either taste like cardboard or the pasta gets so mushy that it loses its appeal. Cappello's fettuccine is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME," a reviewer on Amazon gushed. Our only gripe with this product is that it tends to be pricier than many other low-carb pastas on the market. However, given the fact it's gluten-free and has a delicious taste that doesn't make you feel like you're missing out on anything, it may be worth the extra few dollars.

Fiber Gourmet makes several low-carb pasta options including linguine, penne, and rotini. But their best product is their elbows, which take us right back to our childhood. They contain 50% fewer calories than standard wheat pasta but boast more protein and fiber. And the best part? They taste remarkably similar to the regular stuff. "Other pasta impersonators were as tasteful as rubber bands!" wrote a customer on Amazon. "This pasta has the texture and mouthfeel that regular pasta has, THAT is the big deal of this pasta!" 

The texture is slightly less firm than regular pasta but still holds up well, even when it's reheated. This pasta can even be frozen and thawed without totally ruining the texture. These elbows are perfect for making Instant Pot mac and cheese or adding to a vegetable soup. For anyone on a low-carb diet, the entire Fiber Gourmet brand is a lifesaver. We recommend trying their different pasta variations for all your noodle needs.