One-Pot Pasta (no boiling pasta required!) - 20-minute recipe! (2024)

Our One Pot Pasta recipe is literally the easiest dinner you will ever make! Everything gets cooked at once in the pot – even the pasta! Not only is it easy, not only does it take less than 20 minutes to make, but it is also delicious! The perfect weeknight meal!

One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

As a busy mom, I was super excited to learn that I could truly make a one-pan pasta dish! For real one pan – without boiling the pasta first!This was a mealtime game changer for me (and a win on less dishes to clean up!)

What is One Pan Pasta?

So the idea here is that you literally can cook the entire dish in one pot. We could call this a one-pan pasta because we are using a pan, but you get the idea. You don’t need to boil the pasta before you mix it in, you don’t need to strain the noodles, you just make everything in the pot a one time! Dinner ready in just about 20 minutes, one dish to clean, which is a huge win in my books!

If you love one-pot meals, you must try our Creamy Tuscan Chicken! It is one of our favorite dinners and ready in just 30 minutes!

One Pot Pasta Recipe Ingredients

• Chicken stock
• Pasta – we used linguine
• Onion
• Can of fire roasted tomatoes
• Fresh basil
• Garlic
• Lemon
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Parmesan cheese

How to make One Pot Spaghetti

1. Place all ingredients in a large pan (make sure it is wide enough to fit the pasta in there completely.)
2. Bring to a boil and let boil uncovered for 8-10 minutes (stir frequently).
3. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese.

Variations and Add-In’s for One Pot Spaghetti

Feel free to get creative with this pasta dish!

Protein: Add in chicken, shrimp, sausage or tofu.
Pasta: You can use pretty much any type of pasta. We used linguine, but angel hair, penne, fettuccini are all great options too! You can also use gluten-free pasta, but you will want to add about another 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup of either water or chicken stock because the gluten-free pasta tends to be a bit starchier.
Vegetables: We love to load up our pasta with veggies. Some great add-ins are broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, and peppers.
Liquid Base: Experiment with different soup bases. We used chicken stock, but vegetable stock would be yummy too!

One Pan Pasta Tips

• Make sure when you are measuring your basil, that it is measured loosely in a measuring cup. This is also an ingredient that you can add more or less depending on your preferences.
• You can substitute spaghetti or any pasta that cooks to al dente in 8-10 minutes.
• You are able to create a thicker or thinner sauce by letting your pasta sit longer once everything is mixed together. Let it sit longer for a thicker sauce or for less time if you like it thinner.
• Make sure your skillet or pot is wide enough for the length of your linguine. This is not a recipe where you want to break your linguine noodles in half, it will change it completely!
• Any shallow straight-sided skillet will work, avoid deep skillets or stock pots because it keeps water from evaporating and you have overcooked pasta.
• If you add other vegetables or protein into the recipe, you may need to increase the liquid. If you notice the liquid evaporating before the pasta is fully cooked, add in some more chicken stock, broth or water.

How to store

• In the refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to three days.
• In the freezer: Store this pasta in the freezer for up to two months in an airtight container.

What to serve with One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

Truth be told, this dish could easily be served solo. It has veggies, carbs, and protein! So, adding sides is not necessary, especially if you are crunched on time or just looking for the easiest route.

However, if you are like me and love a good side dish, there are lots of options! I love to add a side of bread with this pasta and my Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread or Cheese Stuffed Garlic Rolls are perfect!

They are perfect for scooping up the sauce that’s leftover on the plate. I like to do homemade bread or even just a quick store-bought garlic bread works, too!

Another great option is to serve a side salad with this. It provides even more veggies and is something light that will complement the pasta very well. Whether it’s a big garden salad or a yummy Caesar, you can’t go wrong adding salad as a side to pasta.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

Hamburger Casserole | |Chicken Alfredo Bake |Creamy Beef and Shells |Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole |Easy Stuffed Shells | The BEST Homemade Alfredo Sauce | One-Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta | Italian Chicken Pasta | Baked Feta Pasta | Spaghetti Stuffed Garlic Bread

This is the easiest and quickest, delicious pasta dish you’ll ever make! It makes a pretty large serving size, so when I make it there tends to be leftovers. I have to say, this dish is almost better as leftovers. This is going to become one of your go-to dinner dishes for busy nights!