A 2 oz dry serving of Barilla Protein+ Penne lists 190 calories, 10 g protein, 38 g carbs, and 5 g fiber on the nutrition facts panel.
If you’re scanning the box for a quick read, here’s what matters most: the serving size on the label is dry pasta (2 oz/56 g), the protein comes from wheat and pulses, and the numbers below reflect the uncooked weight. Once cooked, volume changes, but the macros per serving stay the same.
Barilla Protein Plus Penne Nutrition Facts At A Glance
These label numbers come straight from the product panel for a 2 oz (56 g) dry serving. They’re a handy baseline when you’re logging meals or planning a balanced bowl.
| Nutrient | Per 2 oz (56 g) Dry | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 190 | 10% |
| Protein | 10 g | 20% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 38 g | 14% |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 g | 18% |
| Total Sugars | 2 g | — |
| Total Fat | 1 g | 1% |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Sodium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Iron | 2 mg | 11% |
| Magnesium | 40 mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 261 mg | 6% |
Barilla also highlights “17 g protein per 3.5 oz” on its product page, which lines up with the 10 g shown here at 56 g (about 18 g per 100 g). That’s a solid bump over standard penne while keeping the classic bite.
Protein+ Penne Nutrition Facts And Label Tips
Barilla lists the serving as dry pasta. That’s key. Two ounces of uncooked penne delivers the nutrition you see on the box. After boiling, the pieces swell with water and weigh more, but the serving’s calories and macros don’t change. If you batch-cook, measure dry portions first or weigh your cooked pasta, then divide by the number of dry servings you used.
Cook time sits in the typical range: 8–10 minutes for al dente texture. Taste a piece near minute eight; pull it once the center turns tender with a slight snap. Rinse only if you’re building a cold pasta salad. For hot dishes, keep the surface starch so sauces cling.
Ingredients And Allergens
This shape is a blend of golden wheat and plant proteins from lentils, chickpeas, and peas. The line is 100% plant based, with enrichment for B-vitamins similar to traditional enriched pasta. The product contains wheat. If you manage allergies, always check your current box for the most precise ingredient and allergen statement before cooking.
Serving Size, Label Math, And Cooked Yield
The label’s serving is 2 oz (56 g) uncooked. Once boiled, that amount turns into roughly 1 cup of cooked pasta, give or take a little based on time in the pot and sauce waiting in the pan. If you’re tracking intake, stick to dry measures for clean math.
You’ll also see protein presented two ways across brand materials: 10 g per 56 g dry, and 17 g per 3.5 oz (100 g). Both are the same ratio, just different reference sizes. Use whichever lines up with your food diary or recipe planner.
Where The Protein And Fiber Come From
The extra protein lands in the dough from pulses (lentils, chickpeas, peas) and wheat. That combo also nudges fiber up to about 5 g per 2 oz dry—useful when you want a fuller plate that still feels like classic pasta. If your goal is a higher-fiber build, pair the noodles with vegetables and a bean-forward sauce to stack the numbers without changing the flavor lane too much.
How It Compares To Regular And Whole Grain Penne
Here’s a quick side-by-side using common label values per 2 oz (56 g) dry. Numbers can vary slightly by brand run, so always defer to your box if it differs.
| Pasta (Per 2 oz Dry) | Protein | Fiber |
|---|---|---|
| Barilla Protein+ Penne | 10 g | 5 g |
| Barilla Regular Penne | 7 g | 2 g |
| Barilla Whole Grain Penne | 8 g | 6 g |
Protein+ sits well above regular penne on protein and lands in the same ballpark as whole grain for fiber. If you crave the classic taste of semolina but want more protein on the plate, this shape threads the needle nicely.
Practical Ways To Hit Macros With Protein+ Penne
Quick Builds Under 20 Minutes
- Herby Tomato Skillet: Finish pasta in a pan with olive oil, garlic, crushed tomatoes, and basil. Top with grated cheese. Extra protein: toasted pine nuts or a scoop of ricotta.
- Chicken And Broccoli Toss: Sauté bite-size chicken, steam broccoli, and fold into the pasta with a spoon of pesto. Brighten with lemon.
- Spinach And White Beans: Warm cannellini beans and spinach with chili flakes and a splash of pasta water. Shower with Parmesan.
Meal-Prep Bowls That Reheat Well
- Roasted Veg And Feta: Roast peppers, zucchini, and red onion. Toss with penne, feta, and a red-wine vinaigrette. Packs nicely for lunches.
- Turkey Marinara Bake: Layer cooked penne with lean turkey marinara and mozzarella in a casserole. Bake until bubbly; portion into containers.
Micronutrients You Actually See On The Panel
Beyond macros, the label shows iron, magnesium, and potassium. Iron lands around 2 mg (about 11% DV) per serving. Magnesium sits near 10% DV, and potassium around 6% DV. If you’re aiming for more of these in a day, add leafy greens, beans, or a meat sauce to nudge the totals higher without changing your pasta routine.
Reading The Box Like A Pro
Dry Vs. Cooked
Nutrition facts are for uncooked pasta. Cooked weight changes with water uptake and time in the pot. That’s why “2 oz dry” is the clean, repeatable measure.
Protein Claims
Different reference sizes can appear across packaging and websites. If the panel shows 10 g per 56 g dry, a 100 g reference will read around 17–18 g. Same pasta, different denominator.
Ingredient Snapshot
Expect semolina and enriched wheat flours paired with pulse flours or concentrates. The mix keeps texture close to classic penne while raising protein and fiber.
Cooking Notes For Best Texture
Use plenty of boiling, salted water. Stir in the first minute to keep pieces moving. Start tasting at minute eight and pull once the center is just tender. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining; that starchy liquid helps sauces coat the ridges without turning gummy.
Who Should Pick Protein+ Over Regular Penne?
Pick it when you want extra protein at the same portion size, or when you’re building meat-free meals and still want a fuller macro profile from the noodles. If fiber is your top target, whole grain penne edges it by a gram. If texture and classic flavor sit at the top of your list, Protein+ delivers a familiar bite with a helpful macro bump.
Barilla Protein Plus Penne Nutrition Facts In Everyday Meals
Here’s how the Barilla Protein Plus Penne nutrition facts play out on a plate. A standard 2 oz dry portion brings 10 g protein on its own. Add 3 oz grilled chicken and a handful of spinach, and your bowl jumps into the 30-plus gram range while keeping fiber near 6–7 g with veggies in the mix. Swap chicken for white beans, and you’re still sitting on a balanced profile with all-plant protein.
Straight From The Source
Want the brand’s own line on this shape? See the official Protein+ Penne page for the callouts and cooking time. If you’re ever unsure about serving size math, Barilla’s pasta serving size guidance explains that the panel reflects dry pasta and that 2 oz dry is the standard reference.
Final Take
If you like classic semolina texture but want a protein nudge without changing your sauce playbook, Protein+ Penne earns a spot in the pantry. Keep the serving size straight, salt your water, and match the shape with sauces that grip its ridges. You’ll get the numbers you want and the taste you expect.