Simply Nature Chickpea Penne and Rotini

What do you do when you’re trying to reduce your intake of carbs but you also love pasta? There are plenty of alternatives to traditional pasta these days. You can make zucchini noodles with an inexpensive spiralizer. You can also buy pastas made from healthier ingredients like lentils, brown rice, quinoa, black beans, edamame, soybeans, or hearts of palm.

Aldi sells a variety of pastas made from these ingredients. Here, I’m taking a look at some Aldi pastas made with just one ingredient: chickpea flour.

I found Simply Nature Chickpea Penne and Chickpea Rotini stocked among the Regular Buys at my local store. A Regular Buy is something you should be able to find at Aldi all year. However, I’ve also seen Aldi advertise these as limited-time Aldi Finds, so I’m not completely sure whether they’re available year round. (Feel free to leave a comment below about what availability is like for these at your local Aldi.)

We buy Aldi products with our own funds. I paid $2.69 for each 12-ounce box at my local store in March of 2025. That’s around 22 cents per ounce.

This is sold under the Simply Nature brand. That’s not a company. Instead, it’s the name Aldi puts on organic and/or non GMO products it sells. Products under this brand contain no artificial ingredients or preservatives, according to Aldi.

These are products of Italy.

These are verified non GMO, and they’re gluten free and kosher. The boxes describe them as a “good source of iron” and “excellent source of fiber.”

The only ingredient for each of these is 100% chickpea flour.

This has a good carbs-to-fiber ratio of 4.3:1.

Nutrition information is identical for the penne and rotini. A 3/4-cup serving (56 grams) has 180 calories, 3 grams of total fat (4% DV), 0.5 grams of saturated fat (3% DV), no sodium, 33 grams of total carbohydrates (12% DV), 8 grams of dietary fiber (29% DV), 2 grams of total sugars, no added sugars, and 12 grams of protein.

To cook these, bring water (12 cups of water per 12-ounce package of pasta) to a boil and add salt to taste. Add pasta and stir. Boil for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta in a colander and serve with your favorite sauce.

These chickpea pastas look just like traditional pasta. The texture is a little different, but it’s not so different that it’s a deal breaker. The flavor is also slightly different, but it’s not bad. Some family members who really love pasta were pleased to find this chickpea version that they can enjoy without the guilt.

There is a recipe on the back of each box — Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta on the penne box, and Chickpea Rotini Pasta Salad on the rotini box. I’ve posted each recipe farther down in this post.

I made the recipe for the Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta on the penne box. I haven’t yet made the pasta salad recipe on the rotini box. Instead, I served the rotini with a simple jarred alfredo sauce.

The Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta recipe on the penne box was a hit with my family, and we had no leftovers. It features plenty of onions, tomatoes, garlic, and spinach for a veggie boost, with a sauce that features Greek yogurt or cream cheese as well as parmesan cheese.

Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta:

(This recipe is on the penne box.)

Ingredients — 

• 2 cups uncooked Simply Nature Chickpea Penne
• 3 tablespoons Carlini Olive Oil
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 can Happy Harvest Diced Tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons Happy Harvest Tomato Paste
• 3-4 tablespoons Friendly Farms Greek Yogurt (or Happy Farms Cream Cheese)
• 1 big handful fresh Little Salad Bar Spinach (1 big handful = 200 grams; frozen spinach works, too)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions — 

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. While water is heating, dice the onion and grate or chop the garlic. Add the pasta when water is boiling. Cook 9-11 minutes or until al dente. Do not overcook.
2. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, add the onion and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes or until translucent.
3. Add the canned tomatoes, spinach, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Add tomato paste and Greek yogurt, stirring until dissolved. Add the parmesan cheese.
4. Lower the heat to a simmer. Add pasta and stir together.
5. Stir occasionally for 1 minute. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed, and enjoy.

Chickpea Rotini Pasta Salad:

(This recipe is on the rotini box.)

Ingredients — 

For the salad …

• 1 box Simply Nature Chickpea Rotini
• 1 red onion, diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 cup Emporium Selection Feta Cheese Crumbles

For the vinaigrette …

• 1 1/2 cups Simply Nature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 cup Priano Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Stonemill Italian Seasoning
• 2 teaspoons Stonemill Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Stonemill Sea Salt Grinder
• 1 teaspoon Stonemill Peppercorn Grinder
• 1/2 teaspoon Stonemill Crushed Red Pepper

Directions — 

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse pasta and place it in a large bowl.
2. Add onion, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, and feta cheese to the bowl and set aside.
3. For the vinaigrette, combine all ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour over pasta and vegetables and toss to combine.
4. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

The Verdict:

Simply Nature Chickpea Penne and Chickpea Rotini are made with 100% chickpea flour and nothing else. They have a good carbs to fiber ratio, making them better for you than traditional pasta. They also have decent texture and flavor.