Barilla Protein+: the pasta you’ve always loved, with a push of protein
17 June 2025
In recent years, people’s focus on a more balanced and functional diet has grown exponentially. In a world where days fly by, as we juggle work with family, sports and personal passions, food is no longer just a source of pleasure: it’s also a way to take care of ourselves.
That’s why it’s important to choose a healthy, balanced diet that includes all the nutrients our bodies need. Among these, proteins play a key role in helping us power through our daily routines. It’s no surprise, then, that protein-rich foods have gone from being niche products to becoming a regular part of our diets.
That’s precisely why we created Barilla Protein+: a pasta that combines all the flavour of our traditional products with a push of protein. A new product made for anyone who doesn’t want to choose between taking care of themselves and the singular pleasure of enjoying a good plate of Barilla pasta.
WHEN PULSES MEET GRAINS
In the growing world of protein-rich products, especially pasta, many options rely solely on flour from pulses. It’s a valid approach, of course, but one that we felt could be taken a step further. That’s why, with Barilla Protein+, we decided to combine the versatility of pulses with the familiar taste of grains.
Made with high-quality durum wheat semolina and enriched with plant-based proteins from peas, Barilla Protein+ offers 20 grams of protein per 100 grams of product. It’s a simple way to help meet your daily protein needs without giving up the texture and unmistakable flavour of Barilla pasta.
The result is a unique product: versatile, quick to prepare and perfectly suited to any diet, whether vegetarian, vegan, flexible or simply focused on balanced nutrition.
A TRULY PROTEIN-RICH PASTA
When we say that Barilla Protein+ is high in protein, we say it with full transparency and confidence. It isn’t just a marketing slogan; it’s a statement governed by clear European regulations. According to EU law, a product can only be called “high in protein” if at least 20% of its total energy value comes from protein.
And Barilla Protein+ meets that standard with ease: each 100 grams of product contains 20 grams of protein, equal to 80 kcal out of a total of 354 kcal, which means that over 22% of the product’s total energy comes from protein. It’s a result that reflects our Group’s commitment to offering nutritionally mindful solutions.
SHAPES FOR EVERY TASTE, RECIPES FOR EVERY OCCASION
Our pasta has always been made to tell a story, one that is renewed with every recipe and every moment we choose to share it with the people we love. From Penne to Farfalle, Spaghetti to Fusilli, each shape is crafted to bring out the best in every sauce, while delivering that familiar comfort that has made Barilla pasta a global symbol of taste.
Today, the Protein+ range includes a generous selection of pasta shapes to suit any dish or dining occasion. From the elegance of Spaghetti to the hearty ridges of Rigatoni, the cheerful spirals of Rotini and Cellentani, and the all-time classics like Penne, Elbows, and Thin Spaghetti, there’s a shape for every preference, and a solution for every meal.
And because pasta is never just pasta—it’s what you make of it—Barilla has paired these shapes with delicious, protein-friendly recipes designed to inspire creativity. Think of a comforting plate of Protein+ Penne with our roasted garlic sauce and rosemary chicken, or a sunny caprese pasta salad perfect for warm-weather lunches; keep it simple with a bowl of Spaghetti tossed in tomato and basil sauce, where the flavour speaks for itself. With Protein+, nutrition and taste meet on the same plate, and every meal becomes a little more powerful.
A DEBUT WORTHY OF AN AWARD
With Barilla Protein+, we’re already looking ahead to the future of pasta, so what better place to launch it than at the very event where the future of food takes shape? In Milan, TuttoFood is the international agri-food fair that, every two years, brings together brands and industry professionals driven by innovation, showcasing how the way we produce and enjoy food is evolving.
At the 2025 event, held from 5 to 8 May, Barilla Protein+ made its official début in Italy at a stand designed to celebrate the joy of food and the art of pasta.
There, we welcomed thousands of visitors with live show cooking and tastings that highlighted the versatility of our new protein pasta. In just a few days, we served hundreds of portions of Barilla Protein+, paired with different varieties of our Pesto, creating an immersive journey into our world.
But it wasn’t just an exciting launch: Barilla Protein+ was awarded the Product Innovation Award in the Pasta category, as part of the Better Future Award. A recognition that reflects our commitment to the future, and our ambition to lead the way in food innovation with solutions that are real, sustainable and genuinely good.
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