A one pot pasta dinner – just dump everything in one pot and 10 minutes later, dinner!
Have you seen those One Pot Pasta Dinner recipes on the internet? I mostly see them passed around on Facebook. There are lots of different variations and I always wondered whether they really worked because, really, it sorta seems a little too good to be true doesn’t it?
I mean can you really just dump all your ingredients in a pot, bring it to a boil, and 10 minutes later have a pasta dinner all ready to serve?
Well, I was having trouble believing it would work so I decided to experiment. If you’ve ever wondered about those recipes, think of it as a public service from me to you. You’re welcome.
I really did dump everything into one big pot and cooked it for about 10 minutes or until almost all the water was absorbed. Here’s what I decided – 1) the onion still tasted just the tiniest bit raw – maybe that’s because I normally saute the onion in olive oil for my pasta sauce – and 2) the finished dish had a starchy mouthfeel. I’m sure the starchiness is a result of not having an opportunity to drain off the pasta cooking water. It’s all still right there in the pot.
Having said that, however, it wasn’t too bad! It would definitely work for a night when I’m just too tired to think about what else to cook or when I’m in a huge rush to get dinner on the table. It definitely won’t take the place of my usual freshly made tomato sauce, though :-)
If you want to give this one-pot method a try, here’s my recipe. There are also quite a few more linked at the bottom of the post. Let me know what you think!
A one pot pasta dinner - just dump everything in one pot and 10 minutes later, dinner! Click To Tweet
How to Make One Pot Pasta Dinner
Put all ingredients except the olives and about 1/4 of the fresh basil in a large pot. Cover and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes. Stir frequently. Cook until almost all the liquid has evaporated.
Near the end of cooking, stir in the olives and the remaining basil. Continue cooking just until the olives are heated through.
Taste and adjust for salt if needed. Serve topped with Parmesan.
Enjoy!
More Pasta Recipes on Never Enough Thyme:
- Summertime Pasta Salad
- Pasta d’Arrabiata
- Pasta with Sausage and Leeks
- Creamy Shrimp and Pasta
- Pasta Puttanesca
- Pork Chops and Pasta
One Pot Pasta Dinners from Other Bloggers:
- One-Pan Pasta from Lottie + Doof
- One Pot Zucchini Mushroom Pasta from Damn Delicious
- One Pot Sausage and Mushroom Pasta from Budget Bytes
- Amazing One Pot Pasta (Tomato Basil) from Chew Out Loud
- One Pot Farmer’s Market Pasta from The View From Great Island
Pin to Your Pinterest Pasta Board!
One Pot Pasta Dinner
A one pot pasta dinner - just dump everything in one pot and 10 minutes later, dinner!
Ingredients
- 12 oz. pasta (spaghetti, linguini, penne, fusilli)
- 15 oz. can whole Roma tomatoes with their juice
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp. dried oregano
- 10-12 large basil leaves, julienned
- 32 oz. vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup water or white wine
- 2 tblsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 cup pitted, chopped Kalamata olives
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Put all ingredients except the olives and about 1/4 of the fresh basil in a large pot.
- Cover and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook for about 10 minutes. Stir frequently. Cook until almost all the liquid has evaporated.
- Near the end of cooking, stir in the olives and the remaining basil. Continue cooking just until the olives are heated through.
- Taste and adjust for salt if needed.
- Serve topped with Parmesan.
Notes
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 449Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 1443mgCarbohydrates: 67gFiber: 5gSugar: 14gProtein: 11g
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Lana Stuart is the author, photographer, cook, and occasional traveler at Never Enough Thyme. A former IT professional, she enjoys time in the kitchen and the art studio.
Paula - bell'alimento says
I’m all for one pot everything! Love this.
Kelly says
Ummm. LOVE THIS!! Definitely want to give this a try.
Kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox says
I keep seeing these recipes and want to try them. So easy!
Nutmeg Nanny says
One pot is my favorite type of pasta! So easy and delicious!
Melissa from HungryFoodLove.com says
I think this idea is brilliant and I must try it one of these days!
Meseidy says
I’ve been wanting to make a one pot pasta dinner! This looks great!
Angela {Mind Over batter} says
As I was reading this post I wondered about the starchy mouth feel of the pasta. That said, your photos look wonderful! I might try this one night when I’m just too tired to cook and my crew is hungry!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
I’ve seen them, but I’ve never tried them. Glad you did and gave it your stamp of approval. I must try yours soon. Love the ease for busy days. Thanks, Lana!
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
I am absolutely loving the one pot meal lately. So easy and fast! Your version is definitely on my list to try!
Lora @cakeduchess says
I have seen them (I think mainly that one gorgeous photo…is it from Martha Stewart?) and I wonder, one day I’ll try! Yours looks great, Lana!!!
Liz says
Nice and easy recipe. Thank you.
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
I made something similar to this once and it was sooo good. Yours looks amazing!
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
I love the idea of these pastas, but I agree that the onion would taste better sautéed a bit. I’ve done them a few times with Asian flavors tough and I think it works better that way. :)
Lana Stuart says
That’s interesting, Lauren. I’ll have to look around for an Asian version!
Stephanie @ Back For Seconds says
I love love love one pot meals! This one looks like a winner!
Sues says
OK, I’ve never even heard of making pasta like this. Crazy! It looks super quick and simple, though I’d probably still prefer to dirty a couple extra dishes :)
Lana Stuart says
I thought it was really interesting, Sues. I wouldn’t do it every time, either :-)
[email protected] Mom says
Love me some one pot meals and I absolutely love those kalamata olives!
Lana Stuart says
Kalamata are my favorite!
Ginny McMeans says
Yes! One pot, and quick and tasty! That’s my motto and it looks great!
Lana Stuart says
Some days you just need a quick, easy option. This was a good one!
Amanda @The Kitcheneer says
I love one-pot dinners! This looks delicious!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
Sign me up! one pot is easy!
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite books says
I love pasta dishes! Pinned to save!
Lana Stuart says
We always enj0y a good pasta dish, Melissa. It appears on our dinner table at least once a week in some form.
Rebecca {foodie with family} says
One pot pastas are so much fun! Thanks for sharing this version.
Lana Stuart says
This was my first time trying one, Rebecca, but won’t be my last. Lots of fun for sure.
Amy @Very Culinary says
I have seen several of these one-pot pasta dishes. And I want to make them all…including this one! Printed!
Lana Stuart says
There are several that I want to try, too, Amy. So easy!