Spiralizer Beginner's Guide

From which vegetables you can spiralize to the best veggies for pasta, this Spiralizer Beginner’s Guide covers everything you need to know—plus tons of easy spiralizer recipes to get started!

If you struggle with using kitchen appliances, try checking out some of my other guides, like my Beginner's Guide To Using A Stand Mixer, How To Use A Slow Cooker, and How To Use An Instant Pot.

If you are wondering what meals you would make with spiralized veggies, there are so many you could make. 

From replacing noodles with zucchini noodles (zoodles) in Healthy Tuscan Shrimp, to adding noodles to your soups like my Chicken Noodle Soup.

You can also make your own salads by spiralizing your veggies, making it so much easier to make and mix your own recipes. By taking some recipes and finding what you could swap with your own veggies, you make it so much easier on yourself to find a tasty new go to recipe.

How To Make Spiralized Veggies

One of my absolute favorite kitchen tools is my spiralizer - it helps make cooking veggies so much easier and more fun, and is a great way to replace noodles with much healthier options.  In this post on the Spiralizer Beginner's Guide., I’m going to show you how to spiralize a TON of different veggies so you can see how easy it is and maybe get inspired to try them for yourself.

I am using this spiralizer, which comes with several attachments. It’s been awesome and I highly recommend it.

If you don’t have a spiralizer tool, you can also use a "Y" peeler or a regular vegetable peeler to make long, thick strands of many of the vegetables we’ll be working with today. While it’s not quite the same, it’ll still do the trick! So without further ado, let's get on with this Spiralizer Beginner's Guide.

Best Vegetables To Spiralize for Pasta

While you can spiralize all sorts of vegetables, squash, and fruit for pasta, I do have my favorites. The characteristics of what makes a good spiralized noodle include (1) flavor, (2) texture, and (3) nutrition.  Personally, my favorite vegetable to spiralize for pasta is zucchini, but the following list also contains some great options, especially for beginners, as outlined in this Spiralizer Beginner's Guide:

• Zucchini
• Sweet Potato
• Beet
• Yellow Squash
• Carrot
• Bell Pepper
• Broccoli Stems 
• Jicama
• Butternut Squash

How To Spiralize Zucchini

Zucchini is my most commonly spiralized veggie and it couldn’t be easier.  Just remove both ends of the zucchini as straight as possible and then place onto the spiralizer.  No need to remove the peel, as it's edible and nutritious.

I try to find straight wide zucchini for making noodles — this makes it as easy as possible for making the noodles.

Zucchini Spiralizer Recipes

• Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
• Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan
• 15 Minute Healthy Shrimp Scampi
• Low Carb Turkey Burger Bowl with Sriracha Mayo

How To Spiralize Yellow Squash

Just like with zucchini, yellow squash makes perfect zoodles - just remove both ends of the yellow squash in as straight a line as possible and then place onto the spiralizer.  No need to remove the peel, either. This is one of my favs, so I had to add it in this Spiralizer Beginner's Guide.

While some yellow squash have crooked, narrow ends, I try to find yellow squash that are as straight and wide as possible for making noodles — this makes it as easy as possible for making the yellow squash noodles.

How To Spiralize Sweet Potato

Sweet potato noodles are great because they are hearty and hold up very well to cooking.  You can choose to remove the sweet potato skin if you choose, but I often leave it one, especially since it contains high amounts of nutrients and fiber.

Just like with the zucchini and squash, remove both ends as flat as possible and then attach to the spiralizer.  Then, spiralize the sweet potatoes into noodles.

How To Spiralize Cabbage

Using a spiralizer for cabbage, either red or green cabbage, is an easy way to shred cabbage perfectly for coleslaw or as a topping for chili or tacos. Just remove the outer layer of the cabbage and cut the root end so that it’s flat before attaching it to the spiralizer. So flipping easy! 

How To Spiralize Carrots

Carrots can be a little trickier to turn into noodles if you don’t have the right size, since they can get out of alignment with the spiralizer and need to be repositioned.  You’ll want to use wide carrots, if you can, and start with the widest part of the carrot towards the blade.  Then, cut both sides evenly and attach to the spiralizer. Spiralized carrots can be added to raw salads for a tasty crunch.  Plus, kiddos love them as a fun new way to eat their veggies.

How To Spiralize a Cucumber

Spiralized cucumber is perfect for adding to salads and couldn’t be easier.  Just like with zucchini, cut both ends flat and then spiralize. Because cucumbers can be a little soft, you’ll also get quite a bit of juice as it is spiralized, depending on how soft the cucumber is.  English cucumbers work best.

How To Spiralize Bell Pepper

Spiralized bell pepper is great for adding to fajitas, in a quick saute, or omelets.  Make sure the tip of the stem is cut down as flat as possible and then attach the bell pepper, non-stem-side towards the blade.  You’ll need to remove some of the seeds and core once it’s been spiralized, but it’s very easy to do so. Part of this Spiralizer Beginner's Guide is describing which veggies work best and how to find the perfect ripeness in each veggie.

How To Spiralize Broccoli Stems

Do you usually just throw out your broccoli stems?  Turn them into broccoli stem noodles instead!  They’re so good and a great way to make use of a lesser-used part of the broccoli.  You’ll want them to be as thick as possible, then remove any excess leaves, cut both ends flat and spiralize, just as you would a carrot.

How To Spiralize Butternut Squash

Have you ever tried butternut squash noodles?  They’re awesome — like sweet potato noodles, but with butternut squash!  You’ll need to remove the outer skin of the butternut squash using a vegetable peeler since it isn't edible.  Then, slice both ends evenly and attach to the spiralizer.  Try to find the narrowest and longest squash, if you can.

How To Spiralize Beets

Spiralized beets are really pretty and make awesome noodle replacements.  To prep, just slice both ends off the beet to make it as flat as possible.  Then, peel using a vegetable peeler.  You’ll want the beet to be raw, not cooked.  Attach it to the spiralizer and transform it into beautiful beet noodles.  So easy. 

How To Spiralize Red Onion

Spiralize a red onion or any onion to add as shredded onion in any recipe or as a topping on hamburgers.  Makes sautéed onions a breeze!  To make onion noodles, remove the outer peel of the onion and slice both ends flat so they can easily attach to the spiralizer. So much easier than slicing!

How To Spiralize Jicama

I love jicama in any form, especially when spiralized into jicama noodles.  Just remove the peel using a vegetable peeler and cut both ends flat.  Attach to the spiralizer and go.  Spiralized jicama can be used as a garnish or in a salad for extra flavor and texture.

How To Spiralize Apple

You can also spirals firm fruits, like apples and pears. In this Spiralizer Beginner's Guide, make sure you try with firm fruits if you use softer fruits they might squish or fall apart. To spiral apples, make sure they are as firm as possible - Granny Smith apples work great.  Just remove the step and make the step side as flat as possible and then attach to the spiralizer step side facing toward the blade.

How To Spiralize a Pear

The same goes for firm pears when spiralizing fruit - try to align the core so it gets right to the middle and you don’t wind up grinding any of the seeds.  No need to remove the peel, either.  Sauté spiralized pear noodles with a little coconut oil and cinnamon, and you've got yourself a tasty, sweet treat!