One Pot Pasta
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Delicious cherry tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, and salty Parmesan cheese come together to make this absolutely delicious creamy One Pot Pasta! It’s a quick and easy dish that is layered in classic Italian flavors and only takes 20-minutes to make!
Healthy One Pot Pasta Recipe
If you’re in search of a recipe that is both delicious and easy, you can now stop the search and start cooking! This recipe for One Pot Pasta is right up there with my One Pot Spanish Chicken and Rice and One Pot Beef Stroganoff. Except in this case, we are going to take our palates to Italy and leave out the meat.
The recipe is composed of linguine that is perfectly cooked together in the same pot with olive oil, onion, garlic, fresh cherry tomatoes, and some stock. Then garnished with some grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves, and an extra drizzle of oil to serve! It’s simple, amazing, and bursting with flavor.
You will not only love how much time this 20-minute one pot pasta is going to save you in the kitchen but also how much your family is going to love it! Just pair it with a simple veggie side like some Parmesan Roasted Broccoli or Roasted Green Beans with Mushrooms and your work in the kitchen is done!
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Pasta
- Super Easy! It’s a one pot pasta dish, which means no boiling the noodles separately. Everything cooks together making this an effortless recipe with little cleanup.
- Healthy and Delicious! This easy pasta is made using all fresh ingredients as well as olive oil, which is a good fat making this a healthy option and a yummy dinner.
- With lots of garlic, chunks of tomato, fresh spinach, and plenty of cheese this pasta is a delicious vegetarian dish. And to make it vegan just leave out the cheese!
- Family Favorite! Kids and adults alike love noodles! And cheese! So this dish is one that the entire family will enjoy.
- Olive Oil – I find that extra virgin olive oil is the best choice in all pasta dishes.
- Onion – Use brown onion for the most flavor, but any type of onion is fine.
- Garlic – Always freshly mince your garlic. Jarred garlic will work, yet it can have a bitter taste.
- Cherry Tomatoes – Adds freshness to the dish and a little chunky texture. You can also use other types of fresh chopped tomatoes or even drained canned diced tomatoes if you don’t have any cherry tomatoes on hand.
- Salt – No dish would be complete without a touch of salt to bring out the flavors.
- Black Pepper – You can use regular or freshly ground black pepper to your taste.
- Italian Seasonings – Usually it’s a blend of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. But you can also just use any combination of whatever is in your pantry.
- Red Pepper Flakes – Adds a dash of spice to the dish.
- Pasta – I like to use linguine or spaghetti, but most any type of pasta will work.
- Chicken Broth – I prefer to use a low sodium variety to control the level of added salt. The broth helps to both cook and season the noodles. You can also use vegetable broth.
- Parmesan Cheese – Adds a lovely salty Italian cheese finish to the dish.
- Fresh Basil – Used as a garnish and to add another layer of classic Italian flavor.
With no need to boil the noodles separately, this recipe is almost too easy! Just follow these few simple steps and dinner will be ready in under 20 minutes!
Sauté The Onion And Garlic
To get the dish started, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Then add the chopped onions and cook them for about 2 to 3 minutes or until they are both soft and translucent. Now, toss in the garlic and cook for just another 30 seconds until aromatic. It’s important that you do not add the garlic in with the onions to prevent it from burning.
Add The Tomatoes And Seasonings
Next, add the cherry tomatoes to the pot and cook for a minute or so just until they begin to soften. Then add the salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. But don’t forget about the tomatoes cooking. You need to add the seasonings right away once the tomatoes are soft.
Add The Pasta And Cook
Now, it’s time to turn this dish into a one pot pasta! Add the noodles along with the chicken broth to the pot and bring them to a boil over high heat while stirring from time to time. Then cook the dish for about 10 minutes or until the linguini is al dente. Note, you must stir the noodles occasionally to avoid the pasta from sticking to the pot.
Garnish And Serve
Once it’s done cooking, serve the one pot pasta topped with the grated Parmesan cheese, a sprinkle of freshly chopped basil, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. I like to serve this dish with my Caesar Salad for an all-around classic Italian meal.
What Type Of Pasta Can I Use?
I prefer to use linguine or spaghetti noodles. But you can use any type of pasta you like. Just keep in mind that the cooking time may vary.
What Else Can I Add To The Pasta?
You can basically add any cooked meat or veggie you like! Fresh spinach is a good addition as are fresh kale and mushrooms. And for a boost of protein, you can easily top the finished dish with some Easy Grilled Chicken Breast or Garlic Butter Shrimp.
Can I Make Gluten-Free Or Vegan One Pot Pasta?
Yes! To make the pasta vegan, just use veggie broth and leave out the cheese or substitute a vegan Parmesan. To make it gluten-free, simply just use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
Expert Tips
- Use quality ingredients. Simple Italian pasta dishes are all about selecting high-quality ingredients for the most delicious outcome. Using decent olive oil and Parmesan cheese as well as fresh ripe tomatoes makes a big difference.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. Set a timer once the pasta has been added to make sure that you don’t forget and overcook it. Ideally, you should check the noodles about 1 minute before you think they will be done.
- Make it spicy or mild. You can easily omit the red chili flakes or add even more depending upon your preferred level of spice.
Leftovers
This one pot pasta will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. To reheat, simply mix it with a few tablespoons of water, cover it, and then put it in the microwave for a few minutes on medium power. Or, you can also reheat it in a pan on the stove over medium heat.
Other Delicious One Pot Pasta Recipes To Try
- One Pot Chicken and Orzo
- Chicken Fajita Pasta
- One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna
- One Pot Chicken Tetrazzini
- Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo
- One Pot Sausage Pasta
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One Pot Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 12 ounces cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 12 ounces linguine (or spaghetti)
- 4½ cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth, low sodium)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 6 leaves basil (chopped)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until aromatic.
- Add the tomatoes and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the tomatoes just start to soften. Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.
- Add the linguini, chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Cook for another 10 minutes or until the linguini is fully cooked. Make sure to keep stirring to avoid the pasta from sticking.
- Serve garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Equipment
Notes
- Use quality ingredients. Simple Italian pasta dishes are all about selecting high-quality ingredients for the most delicious outcome. Using decent olive oil and Parmesan cheese as well as fresh ripe tomatoes makes a big difference.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. Set a timer once the pasta has been added to make sure that you don’t forget and overcook it. Ideally, you should check the noodles about 1 minute before you think they will be done.
- Make it spicy or mild. You can easily omit the red chili flakes or add even more depending upon your preferred level of spice.
- One pot pasta will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Excellent
Looks great!
Fabulous as is but with vegetable stock, wholewheat spagetti plus extra spinach and mushrooms
This was great! I served it with baked chicken breast and everyone loved it.
Glad you guys enjoyed it!
Even though I used low sodium broth, this dish was super delicious! This is a great recipe for an easy & quick meal on any day of the week when you’re pressed for time. THANKS.
My pleasure, so glad you enjoyed it!