How to Make Zucchini Noodles with Marinara Sauce

Zucchini noodles, also known as “zoodles,” are a delicious and nutritious alternative to traditional pasta. Whether you’re following a low-carb, gluten-free or Paleo diet, these vegetable-based noodles offer a light and healthy way to enjoy your favorite pasta dishes.
One of the best ways to prepare zucchini noodles is with a fresh and flavorful marinara sauce, like in this Zucchini Noodles with Marinara Sauce recipe. Packed with wholesome ingredients, this dish is easy to make and bursting with nutrients.
This Zucchini Noodles with Marinara Sauce Recipe is a great raw recipe full of flavor, fiber and vitamin C. Try this raw recipe for dinner tonight, or make a heated version if you prefer a cooked dish.
Key ingredients
This zucchini noodles recipe is not only tasty, but also highly nutritious. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key ingredients and their health benefits:
Zucchini
A low-calorie vegetable rich in fiber, vitamins C and A, and antioxidants, zucchini helps with digestion, supports eye health and may promote weight loss due to its high water content.
Tomatoes
The base of the marinara sauce, tomatoes are loaded with lycopene, an antioxidant linked to heart health and reduced inflammation.
Garlic
A powerful ingredient known for its immune-boosting properties, garlic also supports heart health and has antibacterial effects.
Olive oil
A heart-healthy fat that contains monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, olive oil can contribute to reduced inflammation and improved cardiovascular health.
Basil
A fragrant herb with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, basil can enhance the flavor and nutrition of the dish.
Sea salt and black pepper
These are common seasonings that enhance taste while providing minerals and aiding digestion.
How to make zucchini noodles
Making zucchini noodles at home is simple and requires minimal ingredients. Follow these easy steps to prepare a delicious plate of zoodles with marinara sauce.
First, put all the ingredients except the olive oil and zucchini in a food processor. This means the regular and sun-dried tomatoes, bell pepper, honey, garlic, sea salt, cayenne, basil, and oregano.
Then pour the mixture into a bowl, and mix in the olive oil.
Next, use a spiralizer to transform the zucchini into zucchini noodles. Put each piece through the spiralizer to get your zoodles.
Put your zoodles in the bowl with the rest of the ingredients, toss it all with enough marinara sauce to coat the zucchini noodle mixture and serve immediately as a cold, raw dish.
What’s great about this zucchini noodles recipe is you can also make it a hot dish if you choose. Here’s how to modify the recipe to make it a hot meal:
- Spiralize the zucchini. Use a spiralizer, julienne peeler or a sharp knife to cut the zucchini into thin, noodle-like strips.
- Sauté the zoodles. Heat a pan with a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the zucchini noodles, and sauté for 1-2 minutes until slightly tender but not mushy. Add the remaining ingredients too to warm them up.
- Prepare the marinara sauce. In a separate pan, heat olive oil, and sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Add marinara sauce, and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- Combine and serve. Toss the zucchini noodles mixture with the warm marinara sauce. Garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese, if desired.
If you want, you can also make your own homemade marinara sauce with this pasta sauce recipe or vegan pasta sauce. This way you can control the ingredients in your sauce to ensure it’s as healthy as possible.
If you’re going with store-bought marinara, opt for the least processed versions you can find without added sugars or harmful ingredients.
Other recommended pasta dishes
In addition to zucchini noodle recipes, here are more healthy, homemade pasta recipes to try:
- Italian-Inspired Macaroni Salad Recipe with Cherry Tomatoes
- Vegan Alfredo
- Tuscan Pasta
- Tuna Pasta Salad with Kalamata Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
- Zucchini Lasagna

How to Make Zucchini Noodles with Marinara Sauce
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This zucchini noodles with marinara sauce recipe is a great raw recipe full of flavor, fiber and vitamin C! Try these zoodles cold or hot for dinner tonight!
Ingredients
- 4 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, minced
- 6 medium green zucchini (peeling optional)
Instructions
- Put all ingredients (except olive oil and zucchini) in a food processor and blend to chunky or smooth. Pour into a bowl and mix in olive oil.
- Transform zucchini into noodles using a spiral slicer.
- Toss noodles with enough marinara sauce to coat well and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can make this a hot recipe by cooking the noodles and heating the marina sauce.
- If you want, you can also make your own homemade marinara sauce with this pasta sauce recipe or vegan pasta sauce. This way you can control the ingredients in your sauce to ensure it’s as healthy as possible.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 271g
- Calories: 216
- Sugar: 12.7g
- Sodium: 482mg
- Fat: 14.6g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12.6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 5.9g
- Protein: 4.8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Comments
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Very interesting subject, appreciate it for putting up.
I need a recommendation on a good extra virgin olive oil. There are so many on the market and I know they are not all of high quality.
Hi Barbara,
I worried about the same thing, especially because I read that a lot of EVOO is fraudulently diluted with inferior oils. Italian olive oil is supposed to be the worst! So now I buy Bragg organic EVOO (from Greece) to pair with their ACV.
Hope this helps!
Can this be kept in the fridge for a few days?
Hi Marly, you can leave this in the fridge for approximately three days.
Wonderful recipe for a healthy meal. Do you have any idea what the calories per serving might be?
I’m working on losing 20 pounds and wish your other recipes had calories per serving listed. I love all you do to motivate us for our health! Thanks Dr Josh!