One Pot Pasta
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The most simple and flavorful one pot pasta dinner with a short ingredient list. So good and so easy with minimal clean up!
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why i love this one pot pasta recipe
- Perfect weeknight dinner. With one pot to clean up and 5 min prep time, this no-fuss pasta dinner could not get any easier, perfect to keep in your back pocket for those busy weeknights between homework and soccer pick up.
- Great for company. Not only does this come together lightning fast but this is also fancy (and impressive) enough to serve to company. They don’t have to know how easy this really is!
- Short ingredient list. The ingredient list is short, simple and budget-friendly. Not to mention, most of the ingredients are already pantry staples.
What exactly is One Pot Pasta
One pot pasta or one pan pasta is an easy pasta dish where the uncooked pasta cooks alongside everything else – meat, vegetables, herbs and seasonings – in a single pan. As the dish simmers, the starch from the pasta will help transform some of the leftover pasta water into the most lovely saucy consistency, coating the spaghetti so perfectly.
tips and tricks for success
- Use a heavy pot. A heavy bottom pot, such as a Dutch oven, is ideal here for ample space for long pastas (such as spaghetti) and even heat distribution.
- Fresh basil is best. Although you can certainly substitute dried herbs in a pinch, fresh basil is ideal here, delivering the best kind of flavor.
- Halve the recipe. For smaller portions to serve 2 people, this recipe can easily be halved as needed.
- Stir, baby, stir. Be sure to keep an eye on the pasta, stirring as needed, to ensure that everything cooks evenly and to prevent sticking.
- Freshly grated cheese goes a long way. While pre-grated Parmesan cheese will save a few minutes in the kitchen, freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano or domestic Parmesan is highly recommended. This gives the favorited rich, nutty flavors, creating a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Add your finishing touches with a drizzle of high quality extra virgin olive oil, adding a smoother, silkier texture and preventing the pasta from sticking and drying out.
- Mix it up. Use chicken or vegetable broth in place of water (or use half and half) for additional flavor, try different veggies (ex. zucchini for tomatoes) or sub a different kind of pasta such as fettuccine or linguine.
what to serve with one pot pasta
tools for this recipe
Dutch oven
One Pot Pasta: Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all! The beauty of this recipe is that the spaghetti cooks alongside the rest of the ingredients for a true one pot meal.
Yes! Pastas with a similar cook time such as fettuccine or linguine can be used in place of spaghetti.
Pre-packaged shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can hinder their ability to melt smoothly. Freshly grated cheese is best, adding a handful at a time for a smooth consistency.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days, adding a splash of water as needed when reheating.
One Pot Pasta
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cups halved grape tomatoes
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 4 ½ cups water
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat, combine spaghetti, sausage, onion, tomatoes, basil, garlic and water; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked through and liquid has reduced, about 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan.
- Serve immediately, drizzled with olive oil.
Did you make this recipe?
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One pot – love it!! That means there’s like 17 other pots I don’t have to wash, which is you know, typical for most recipes that tend to dirty every dish in the house 🙂 Love one pot meals!
wow,looks very simple and delicious.
It was both. I’ve been raving about it all day.
This looks unbelievably good! I haven’t tried one of these one-pot recipes before. But your addition of the sausage in here is seriously tempting me to. Pinned! : )
do you drain the water when its done cooking or leave it in there?
Sharmane, there really shouldn’t be any liquid left to drain at the end of cooking time.
Yup, i had the same issue. Four and a half cups of water was just too much. I had a delicious soupy noodle mix, over-cooking the noodles didn’t help any. I will try using 2 1/2 or 3 cups next time and see how that goes.
Did you read the instructions? Bring the water to a full boil. Cook UNCOVERED. That allows the water to reduce and cook the pasta. Cook long enough to reduce liquid.
I have made this several times…..PERFECT…..no water left…..if instructions are read…and follow……it will be PERFECT…everytime…
This might be a really silly question but I just made this and there is a lot of liquid left in the pot. I’m not sure what I did wrong. Are you suppose to bring to a boil – uncovered? I brought to a boil covered and then lowered the temp to simmer and uncovered. There was still a lot of water left. Not sure if I should have left it uncovered to boil too? Looks amazing though.
A cover is not needed!