The best Banza alternative depends on why you are leaving. Pete's Pasta gives you real wheat taste with more protein, Kaizen has the most protein and fewest carbs, Jovial is a gluten-free pick with a wheat-like bite, and Veggiecraft is gluten-free with added vegetables. Prices below were read from brand shops where one was shown.
Banza makes its chickpea rotini from chickpeas, pea starch, tapioca and xanthan gum, and its page lists 20g of protein. Common complaints include a narrow window between al dente and mushy, a legume taste, and gas or bloating.
The picks below cover different reasons for leaving, so start with yours and work down.
How we picked these brands
- Real prices on the brand's own site. Prices were read from the brand's own shop where one was shown, so you can check them yourself.
- Specs from the brand where available. Protein, fiber and carb figures are cited to the brand's page where we give them.
- A different reason to leave Banza. The list covers texture, digestion, carbs, gluten, price and taste.
- Certifications only where the brand shows them. That includes GFCO, USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified.
Stay with Banza if
Short shapes and creamy sauces are forgiving, and Banza scored 8/10 in a Camille Styles taste test. If your only complaint is the chickpea flavor, Banza also sells a wheat protein pasta (6-pack $35.99 on its shop). For more pantry ideas beyond pasta, see our best DTC food brands.
At a glance
| Brand | Best for | Price | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pete's Pasta | Wheat-pasta taste, more protein | $8.99 a box (penne) | Durum pasta with 17g protein, 27g fiber on the penne page |
| Kaizen | Lowest carbs, highest protein | $10.49 single box, $39.99 4-pack | Lupini bean pasta, 20g protein, 6g net carbs |
| Jovial | Gluten-free, closest to wheat bite | $5.69 a box | Organic brown rice pasta made in Italy |
| Veggiecraft | Gluten-free with veg and legumes | $15.00 listed | Pea, lentil and cauliflower flour pasta, 15g protein |
| Giadzy | Short-ingredient gluten-free | $8.00 a box | Giada De Laurentiis's Italian-made corn and rice pasta |
| Explore Cuisine | One-ingredient bean pasta | $19.99 for 2.2 LB (edamame) | Organic edamame and black bean spaghetti |
| Miracle Noodle | Near-zero carb | $5.99 a pouch (konjac) | Konjac and egg white noodles since 2006 |
| Sfoglini | Organic artisan wheat pasta | $5.99 for 16 oz | Brooklyn bronze-die pasta, whole-grain range |
| Cappello's | Grain-free gnocchi | Not listed | Almond flour gnocchi, GFCO gluten-free |
| Lotus Foods | Gluten-free noodle bowls | $5.29 for 8 oz | Organic rice and soba noodles, B Corp |
1. Pete's Pasta
Pete's Pasta makes durum semolina pasta in Majella, Italy, and its penne page lists 17g protein, 27g fiber and 7g net carbs per serving. A box of penne is $8.99, shipping is free at $50+, and the brand advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Camille Styles gave it 8/10 for traditional pasta flavor, with a long cook time. It contains wheat, so take Jovial or Giadzy instead if you need gluten-free.
2. Kaizen Food Company
Kaizen makes lupini bean pasta with 20g protein, 15g fiber and 6g net carbs on its fusilli page. It is gluten-free (GFCO) and made in the USA.
A 2-pack is $20.99, a 4-pack is $39.99, and a single box is $10.49. Camille Styles rated it 6/10 and called the texture gummy, so pick it for the numbers, not for a wheat-like bite. Lupini is a legume in the same family as peanuts, which the brand flags on its page.
3. Jovial Foods
Jovial makes organic brown rice pasta in Italy with two ingredients, brown rice flour and water, in a dedicated gluten-free facility. Its page lists GFCO, USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified.
Brown rice fusilli is listed at $5.69. Camille Styles gave it 8/10 for the best taste and texture among alternatives, with minimal protein. If you want extra protein, Kaizen or Pete's is the better fit.
4. Veggiecraft Farms
Veggiecraft makes gluten-free pasta from vegetable and legume flours. The cauliflower rotini uses pea, lentil and cauliflower flours and lists 15g protein and 210 calories per serving.
The site says the whole lineup is certified gluten-free and the pasta is vegan. Pasta products list at $15.00 (pack size isn't shown). It suits shoppers who want extra vegetables, and less so anyone watching the budget closely.
5. Giadzy
Giadzy is Giada De Laurentiis's brand. Its gluten-free mezzi rigatoni is 90% corn flour, 10% rice flour and water, made in Lombardy, Italy.
A single box is $8.00, with free shipping on US orders over $85. Yahoo Health picked it as its best gluten-free option. The page gives no protein number, so look at Kaizen or Veggiecraft for protein.
6. Explore Cuisine
Explore Cuisine sells single-ingredient bean pastas. The edamame spaghetti is organic edamame flour only (it contains soy), and the black bean spaghetti is the brand's most popular pasta.
The 2.2 LB edamame pack is $19.99, though it showed as sold out when we checked. Shipping is free at $50+ in the US. The black bean version is described as dense, so it works best with pesto or olive oil, not a delicate sauce.
7. Miracle Noodle
Miracle Noodle has sold konjac and egg white noodles since 2006, founded by dermatologist Jonathan Carp, MD. The konjac spaghetti is 97% water and 3% konjac flour, in a 7 oz pouch for $5.99.
The egg white spaghetti lists 10g protein, 45 calories and 1g carb. Expect a different bite from wheat pasta. The brand offers a 60-day money-back guarantee and free shipping on every order.
8. Sfoglini
Sfoglini started in July 2012 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and makes sixteen organic durum semolina pastas plus a New York State grain line. Pasta is bronze-die extruded and slow-dried for sauce cling.
Trumpets in 16 oz are $5.99. It makes no protein or low-carb claim, and it contains wheat. Choose it if you want better pasta, and choose Kaizen or Pete's if you want a macro swap.
9. Cappello's
Cappello's makes grain-free, gluten-free comfort food. The gnocchi is potato, almond flour, eggs and tapioca starch, and it is GFCO certified.
It is sold at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Instacart and Thrive Market as well as its own shop. It contains almond and egg. Pick it for pillowy gnocchi or filled pasta, not dry spaghetti.
10. Lotus Foods
Lotus Foods makes rice noodles and ramen from organic, heirloom and whole-grain rice, and is a B Corp. The buckwheat and brown soba noodles are $5.29 for an 8 oz bag and cook in 8 minutes.
They are GFCO gluten-free, USDA Organic and vegan. Yahoo Health picked them as the best soba. These are noodles for bowls, pho and ramen, not red-sauce nights.
How to choose a Banza alternative
- Mushy or crumbly pasta. Jovial scored 8/10 for best taste and texture among alternatives at Camille Styles, and Pete's got 8/10 for traditional pasta flavor.
- Gas or bloating. Jovial is made from brown rice flour and Giadzy from corn and rice flour, so neither uses chickpeas. Kaizen, Explore Cuisine and Veggiecraft are legume-based.
- Fewest carbs. Kaizen lists 6g net carbs and Pete's lists 7g. Miracle Noodle's egg white spaghetti lists 1g carb.
- Gluten-free. Jovial, Giadzy, Veggiecraft, Cappello's, Lotus Foods and Kaizen. Pete's and Sfoglini are wheat.
- Most protein. Kaizen (20g), Pete's (17g) and Veggiecraft (15g), plus Miracle Noodle's egg white noodles at 10g for 45 calories.
- Price. Listed prices are for different pack sizes: Jovial $5.69 (brown rice fusilli), Sfoglini $5.99 (16 oz), Lotus Foods $5.29 (8 oz), Giadzy $8.00 (single box), Pete's $8.99 (penne) and Kaizen $10.49 (single box).
If you are swapping other pantry staples too, see our best snack brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Banza?
It depends on your reason. Pete's Pasta is the pick for wheat taste with more protein, Kaizen for the most protein and fewest carbs, and Jovial for gluten-free pasta with a wheat-like bite.
Why is Banza pasta mushy?
Banza has a narrow window between al dente and too soft, and it is worst on thin shapes like spaghetti and linguine. Penne, rotini and elbows are more forgiving, and reheating in the microwave can make it mushy.
Does chickpea pasta cause gas and bloating?
It can, because chickpeas contain oligosaccharides, which are more noticeable with IBS or a low-FODMAP diet. Many people adapt over a few weeks, but if it persists, a non-chickpea pasta like Jovial is a simpler swap.
Which Banza alternative is gluten-free?
Jovial, Giadzy, Veggiecraft, Cappello's, Lotus Foods and Kaizen list gluten-free products. Kaizen is a lupini legume pasta.
Which alternative has the fewest carbs?
Kaizen lists 6g net carbs and Pete's lists 7g, each on its own page. Miracle Noodle's egg white spaghetti lists 1g carb.
Does Banza make a wheat pasta?
Yes. Banza sells a wheat protein pasta in rotini, penne and elbow, at $35.99 for a 6-pack.
Is Banza still worth buying?
Yes, for short shapes and creamy sauces, where it scored 8/10 at Camille Styles. If you want more variety in your cart, see our picks for brands like immi.
