Is Penne Rosa from Noodles Healthy? A Full Nutritional Breakdown

November 23, 2025 •

2 min read

With a regular-sized portion containing nearly 800 calories, the classic Penne Rosa from Noodles & Company can be a calorie-dense meal. This significant number raises a crucial question for many diners: is penne rosa from noodles healthy? The straightforward answer is that while the dish is packed with flavor, its standard nutritional profile is far from what most health-conscious individuals would consider 'healthy' for regular consumption.

Quick Summary

The standard Noodles & Company Penne Rosa (now Rigatoni Rosa) is high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium due to its creamy sauce and portion size. This makes it an indulgent meal rather than a healthy choice, though it can be modified or prepared at home with healthier ingredients to improve its nutritional profile significantly.

Key Points

Nutritional Profile: The standard Noodles & Company Penne Rosa (now Rigatoni Rosa) is high in calories (~790), saturated fat (~19g), and sodium (~850mg).
Healthy Modifications: You can significantly improve the dish's nutritional value by substituting traditional pasta with zucchini or cauliflower noodles.
Portion Control: Opting for a smaller portion size can drastically reduce the calorie and fat content.
Homemade Advantage: Cooking Penne Rosa at home allows for total control over ingredients, enabling swaps like low-fat cream alternatives and whole-grain pasta.
In Context: It is best viewed as an occasional treat rather than a regular staple, but can be customized to fit a more health-conscious diet.
Company Initiatives: Noodles & Company now offers dedicated 'Eat Well' options and lower-carb pastas like LEANguini to cater to health-conscious diners.

Understanding the Nutritional Realities of Penne Rosa

Noodles & Company's Penne Rosa, recently renamed Rigatoni Rosa, features a creamy tomato sauce. While tomatoes offer beneficial antioxidants like lycopene, the addition of heavy cream and cheese significantly increases its calorie, saturated fat, and sodium content compared to a simple pasta dish.

Nutritional Snapshot of a Regular Penne Rosa (Rigatoni Rosa)

A regular-sized serving of the standard dish contains approximately 790 calories, roughly 35g of total fat (including about 19g of saturated fat), about 850mg of sodium, and over 90g of carbohydrates.

Making Penne Rosa a Healthier Option

Customization at Noodles & Company can make Penne Rosa a more health-conscious choice. Options include swapping to lower-carb pasta like zucchini noodles ("Zoodles") or cauliflower-infused noodles ("Caulifloodles"), adding extra vegetables, ordering a smaller portion, or requesting less cheese.

Comparing Standard Penne Rosa with a Healthier Alternative


Feature	Standard Penne Rosa	Healthier Alternative (Zucchini Pesto Cream with Chicken)
Approx. Calories	~790	~570
Total Fat	~35g	~9g
Saturated Fat	~19g	~2g
Sodium	~850mg	~2110mg (Note high sodium)
Main Carbohydrate Source	Refined Penne Pasta	Zucchini Noodles
Benefit	Comfort Food, Flavor	Lower Calories & Fat, More Vegetables

The Ultimate Healthy Penne Rosa: Cooking at Home

Preparing Penne Rosa at home offers maximum control over its nutritional content. You can use lighter cream alternatives, incorporate more vegetables, opt for whole-grain pasta, and control sodium and cheese.

Noodles & Company has introduced healthier menu items, including those with zucchini and cauliflower noodles. For precise nutritional information, consult the official {Link: Noodles & Company Nutritional Information https://www.noodles.com/eat-well} page.

Conclusion: It's an Occasional Indulgence, Not a Health Food

The standard Penne Rosa from Noodles (now Rigatoni Rosa) is not considered a health food due to its high calorie, fat, and sodium content. However, it can be enjoyed occasionally or improved through modifications or homemade preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the standard Penne Rosa (now Rigatoni Rosa) is a vegetarian dish. Its main ingredients include pasta, a creamy tomato sauce, mushrooms, spinach, and cheese, without any meat.

To reduce the calories, you can order a small portion, opt for zucchini or cauliflower noodles instead of regular pasta, ask for less cheese, or add extra vegetables.

A regular-sized Penne Rosa contains approximately 19 grams of saturated fat, which is nearly the entire recommended daily limit.

Noodles & Company offers healthier pasta alternatives like zucchini noodles (Zoodles), cauliflower-infused noodles (Caulifloodles), and LEANguini, which have fewer carbs and more protein than traditional pasta.

A homemade version can be made significantly healthier by using lighter cream alternatives (like Greek yogurt or cashew cream) and whole-grain pasta, and by controlling the amount of added sodium and fat.

The tomato sauce is rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to reduced risk of heart disease and some cancers. However, the benefits are offset by the high fat and sodium content in the standard restaurant dish.

While it's difficult to make the restaurant version truly low-sodium due to the sauces, you can request less added cheese and make other modifications. For a low-sodium dish, a homemade version using low-sodium ingredients is your best bet.

In March 2025, Noodles & Company unveiled a reimagined menu, and as part of the update, the Penne Rosa was elevated with a new, richer sauce and changed to rigatoni noodles, and was subsequently renamed Rigatoni Rosa.