🍳 Fresh recipes every week — simple, tasty & home-made

Noodles & Company Zoodles: Low-Carb Guide (2026)

Noodles & Company Zoodles: Low-Carb Guide (2026)

📋 In this recipe

A noodle restaurant is the last place you'd expect to eat low-carb. But Noodles & Company has a secret weapon: zucchini noodles. Swap them into many dishes and the carbs drop dramatically.

Disclaimer: This is an independent, unofficial guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Noodles & Company. All trademarks belong to their owners. Prices, menu items, deals and hours may change and can vary by location. Please check the official Noodles & Company website or app for the latest information: www.noodles.com

What Are Zoodles?

Zoodles are spiralized zucchini cooked like pasta. At Noodles & Company, you can order them in place of regular noodles in many dishes, usually for a small upcharge or at the same price.

Best Zoodle Dishes (Approximate Net Carbs)

Dish With zoodles With regular noodles
Zucchini Pesto with Grilled Chicken ~10–15 g ~70+ g
Pad Thai with zoodles ~25–35 g ~90+ g
Japanese Pan Noodles with zoodles ~30–40 g ~100+ g
Wisconsin Mac & Cheese with zoodles ~15–25 g ~80+ g
Spicy Korean Beef with zoodles ~25–35 g ~90+ g

Sauces matter: sweet sauces (pad thai, teriyaki) still add sugar. Pesto, alfredo-style and buttery sauces are the lowest-carb choices.

Cauliflower Pasta

Noodles & Company has offered cauliflower-infused pasta (such as a cauliflower rigatoni). It's lower in carbs than wheat pasta but not keto; it's still pasta.

Gluten-Sensitive Options

Zoodles are naturally wheat-free. Noodles & Company also offers gluten-sensitive options and a gluten-sensitive guide, but kitchens use shared equipment.

Best Healthy Orders

  1. Zucchini Pesto with Grilled Chicken – the top low-carb pick.
  2. Mac & Cheese with zoodles – comfort food with fewer carbs.
  3. Salads with grilled chicken – light and filling.
  4. Half zoodles, half noodles – a compromise many fans love.

Kids' Options

Kids' meals can often be made with zoodles too, which is an easy way to add vegetables.

Building the Best Low-Carb Bowl at Noodles & Company

Zoodles open up a lot of menu options, but the sauce and protein you choose decide whether the bowl stays truly low-carb.

Low-carb building blocks

  • Base: zucchini noodles instead of pasta.
  • Sauce: pesto, butter-garlic or creamy sauces tend to be lower in sugar than sweet Asian-style sauces.
  • Protein: grilled chicken, steak or shrimp (where available).
  • Extras: parmesan, spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes.

Sauces to watch

Pad thai, teriyaki and other sweet sauces contain sugar, which raises carbs even with zoodles. If you love those flavors, ask for light sauce or sauce on the side.

Half-and-half bowls

If you aren’t strictly low-carb, ask for half zoodles and half regular noodles. You keep the familiar pasta texture while cutting a large share of the carbs.

Kids and picky eaters

Zoodles can be a fun way to add vegetables for kids. Mix them into a mac and cheese or buttered noodle dish; many kids don’t notice the swap.

Leftovers

Zoodles release water as they sit, so they’re best eaten fresh. If you have leftovers, reheat quickly in a hot skillet rather than the microwave to avoid a watery bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Noodles & Company have zucchini noodles?

Yes. You can swap zoodles into many dishes.

How many carbs are in Noodles & Company zoodles?

The zoodles themselves are very low in carbs; most carbs come from the sauce.

What is the best low-carb dish?

Zucchini Pesto with Grilled Chicken.

Is cauliflower pasta keto?

No. It's lower in carbs than regular pasta but still contains flour.

The Bottom Line

At Noodles & Company, zoodles + pesto or creamy sauce + grilled chicken is the winning low-carb formula. Watch out for sweet sauces, and you can enjoy a noodle bowl without the carb crash.

Last updated: October 11, 2026. Net carbs are estimates; check Noodles & Company's nutrition calculator.

Pinterest
Facebook
WhatsApp
Twitter
Print

You’ll love these too