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I’ve gathered amazingly delicious one-pot pasta recipes in one place for you. They’re filling, full of flavor, and budget-friendly too. You cook everything in one-pot from start to finish. And dinner is ready!
Published Feb 2021/updated Oct 2023
Pasta has been a staple in my house for as long as I can remember. I’ve grown up eating all sort of pastas, from traditional Italian pasta recipes to super quick pasta dishes, and everything in between, of course!
Today, I’ve rounded up scrumptious one-pot pasta recipes that are absolutely amazing for when you just need to get dinner on the table in no time.
And yes, you’ll have ONLY one pot to wash.
Easy to whip up, nourishing, and convenient, these simple recipes truly make the perfect family one-pot meal on busy weeknights.
Think of pots full of warming pasta with vegetables, protein-packed beans, lentils or chickpeas. But there are also recipes for more indulgent creamy spaghetti and tomato pasta with ricotta. You’ll be spoilt for choice!
Scroll on down to see more terrific recipes to make when you are SUPER busy or for when you just crave a bowl of nourishing pasta.
After, don’t forget to check out these flavorful meatless pasta recipes and vegan pasta recipes. For more pasta inspirations, try one of these yummy creamy pasta recipes or penne pasta recipes.
Dinners have never been so good and easy!
Enjoy. x
Video: white bean pasta
One-Pot Pasta Recipes
One-Pot Creamy Spaghetti
This delicious spaghetti is made with just a handful of ingredients and the entire recipe starts and ends in the very same pot. You'll love how the creamy sauce is like a silky blanket that covers the noodles and is so yummy with grated parmesan on top.
One-Pot White Bean Pasta
This recipe is everything you want in a pasta dish: it’s deliciously filling, full of fresh ingredients, protein, and it’s no fuss. It's the perfect, mouthwatering one-pot meal for the whole family. You’ll have everyone asking for seconds!
One-pot Mac and Cheese
Amazingly delicious and creamy, this super easy one-pot mac and cheese is ready in less than 20 minutes and perfect to feed a hungry crowd.
The best pasta with lentils
This Italian recipe is one of the best family meals you can cook in one pot. You need just a few inexpensive pantry staples like lentils and chunky pasta to make this wonderul pasta dish full of nutrients.
Creamy Broccoli Pasta (1-Pot)
In this recipe all you have to do is cook the pasta, add broccoli florets in the final 5 minutes of the cooking time, and finish with the cheese mixture until everything looks coated and delicious!
One-Pot Tomato basil Pasta
This is another scrumptious one-pot pasta recipe that requires mininal effort. The pasta absorbs all the flavor from the tomato sauce. The fresh basil, creamy ricotta, and grated parmesan cheese take it over the top!
One Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta
This is a terrific quick mid-week meal that you can get on the table in just over 15 minutes. It's creamy, delicious and perfect for a hungry family at the end of a busy day.
Pasta with Cannellini Beans (1 pot)
Fancy a family meal full of plant-based protein and big flavor? This pasta with cannellini beans is the perfect weeknight dinner, it uses pantry staples and it's on the table in less than 20 minutes.
Penne with Pesto
In this pesto pasta the trick is to cook the chunky penne pasta with mushy potatoes in one pot until they are well combined. Finish with delicious pesto and cherry tomatoes to make a fresh and flavorful pasta dish.
One-Pot Potato Pasta
This scrumptious pasta with potatoes from Southern Italy is proper comfort food. Short-cut pasta and diced potatoes cook in the same pot until the potatoes get soft, fluffy and make a deliciously thick broth for the pasta. Kids love it too!
Pasta with Peas
You need only 5 ingredients and 1 pot for this wonderful pasta dish! You’ll love how the starch and the melted cheese will cover every bit of pasta and tender peas. This is sure to be a hit with the whole family.
One-Pot Pumpkin Pasta
In this easy delicious recipe, all you have to do is cooking the pasta in one pot along with pureed pumpkin, vegetable broth, and sage. Finish with with savory parmesan cheese, a pinch of nutmeg for extra flavor, and dinner is ready.
Pasta Fazool (pasta fagioli recipe)
This is another delightful pasta dish that’s easy to prepare in just one pot! A perfect combination of pasta, fluffy beans, vegetables, and thick, flavorful broth. Wholesome ingredients, everything cooked in one pot. What's not to love?
Vegetable Pasta - One Pot!
Here is a super yummy vegetarian pasta loaded with broccoli, corn, zucchinis, peppers, onion, and smothered in a garlic herb tomato sauce. All made in one pot, ready in 20 minutes, and SO good.
Red Lentil Pasta Recipe
This pasta dish is perfect blend between chunky pasta and smooth soup. It's slightly spicy, packed with protein. and creamy with those little red lentils that melt into soup deliciousness. Serve with some crusty focaccia and everyone will be back for seconds.
Tomato Soup with Pasta
Simple to make, yet rich and full of tomato flavour, this recipe turns some tomato sauce and short-cut pasta into an amazing one-pot family meal. Delicious served with some black pepper focaccia on the side.
One Pot Penne Pasta
Veggies, herbs, and lemon make this one-pot pasta full of fresh flavor and filling. The perfect easy meal for busy weeknights.
One Pot Fall Vegetable Orzo with Chickpeas.
Glorious autumn vegetables come together with orzo pasta and canned chickpeas to create a scrumptious dish that is loaded with flavors and many veggies too!
One Pot Asparagus Mascarpone Pasta.
In this recipe we have pasta and asparagus combined with the lemon, garlic, mascarpone and pecorino. It tastes like a big bite of spring, so delicious and easy to whip up in one pot.
Why to love one-pot pasta recipes
Let see why these one-pot pasta recipes are a game changer:
- Firstly, one of great things is that you have only one pot to wash. You don’t cook and drain your pasta separately as all the ingredients are cooked in the same pot. Perfect for those busy nights!
- You can add plenty of nutrients.
These versatile one-pot pasta recipes can be easily adapted and transformed into balanced meals with the addition of more veggies and plant-based protein. And If you switch to whole-grain pasta you’ll get more natural fiber and micronutrients!
- Cooking all in one pot let the delicious flavors mingle together!
The pasta absorbs all the flavor from the liquid which can be either garlic tomato sauce or broth infused with herbs and diced vegetables (soffritto).
Plus, the pasta releases its starch making the sauce deliciously thick and glossy. - Another great bonus about these one-pot recipes is the convenience.
Most of these recipes require cupboard staples or inexpensive fresh ingredients (apart from the parmesan cheese, a bit expensive but totally worth it!). These recipes are also very easy to whip up.
How to cook pasta in one pot
Here what you need to make sure that your one pot pasta is cooked properly:
- Pasta to broth ratio is important. Too much water and you’ll end up with a soup, too little water and the pasta will stick miserably to the bottom of the pot. My advice is to follow the recipe, and add a touch of water only if needed.
- Use good-quality durum wheat semolina pasta. I wouldn’t use alternative pastas like gluten-free or chickpea for these recipes as they absorb water differently.
- Use a thick and heavy pot if possible (e.g. Dutch oven), that helps to transfer the heat evenly.
- Use a burner that is close in size to your pot for the same reason mentioned above.
- Use a consistent simmer throughout the cooking time, that prevents the pasta from getting soggy.
- Stir frequently and keep the lid on to trap steam.
Pasta brands matter!
Not all pasta is created equal. When you chose pasta, check the label and go for durum wheat semolina pasta made with brass or bronze dies. This premium quality pasta is more resilient and keeps its texture and firm bite for long, while basic pasta gets overcooked way too easily, especially in one-pot recipes.
More pasta recipes you’ll love!
- Garlic butter pasta
- Zucchini pasta salad
- Fried spaghetti and scrambled eggs
- Lemon garlic pasta
- Healthy spaghetti
- Lemon caper pasta
- White wine pasta
- Bucatini cacio e pepe
I hope you’ll enjoy these one-pot pasta recipes as much as we do! And let me know if you have any questions, I would love to hear from you.
And for more recipe updates, follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.
15+ One-Pot Pasta Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, plus more to drizzle
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ or ⅛ tsp chili flakes*
- 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, or Great Northern beans
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 ½ cups (600 ml) water or low sodium vegetable broth*
- ½ tsp fine salt, or according to taste
- 8 oz (220 grams) short pasta shapes (fusilli, penne, bow ties…)
- 4 oz (120 grams) baby spinach, washed
- 4 oz (120 grams) cherry tomatoes, cut into halves
- 2 oz (60 grams) freshly grated parmesan, plus more to serve
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant and smells good, about 45 seconds.
- Add paprika, chili flakes, beans, black pepper, and give a good stir.
- Add hot water or low sodium vegetable broth, salt, turn to high heat and bring to the boil.
- Stir in pasta, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover with a lid and cook stirring frequently. The amount of liquid is enough to partially cover the pasta (but keep an eye on it to make sure the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot, and add a touch of water if needed).
- In the last 2 minutes of the pasta's cooking time, add fresh spinach, a handful at a time, and cherry tomatoes. Stir until the spinach is wilted, it takes a couple of minutes.
- Turn off the heat, finish the dish with freshly grated parmesan, and give a good stir until the cheese melts and the pasta looks well combined (taste and adjust the season according to your taste if needed).
- Serve immediately with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, more freshly ground black pepper and parmesan cheese if you like. Enjoy!
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