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One Pot Pasta Recipes – over 20 easy recipes!

6 Comments
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 02/28/2023Updated: 09/18/2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Four images, text reads "20+ one pot pasta recipes."
Collage image of one pot pasta recipes.

One pot pasta recipes are the solution to the question, What am I going to make for dinner tonight? Quick, easy, and with minimal clean up, you’ll be making these one pot pasta recipes your go-to dinner plan.

Four images, text reads "20+ one pot pasta recipes."

My family loves pasta: spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, rigatoni, fettuccine, you name it. There’s something so satisfying about a big bowl of pasta smothered in sauce.

But then the dishes! That big old pasta pot (probably the biggest pot you own, right?), a colander sitting in the sink, a frying pan that you used to sauté the meat and vegetables, maybe a saucepan for simmering the sauce, all stuff you usually can’t stick in the dishwasher.

Aargh! Kind of makes you want to order carry-out, doesn’t it? Hmmm, maybe you should have had that extra glass of wine at dinner after all…

But take heart! These one pot pasta recipes are going to make your life so much easier! They are made in….ONE POT! Did you hear it? One pot! Won’t that make clean up so much easier? You are going to love it! The pasta cooks right in the sauce. 

So, now you may be wondering two things: how do one pot pastas measure up taste-wise, and how are they made? I can assure you that your family will love how these one pot pastas taste.  Read on to find out how you can make a delicious, one pot pasta recipe for your dinner, maybe even tonight!

Best Tips for making One Pot Pasta

Use a good-sized pot. This recipe isn’t for little saucepans. For these recipes, you should grab a Dutch oven or a large deep skillet. You’ll be cooking everything in one pot so it has to be big enough to accommodate all the ingredients, including quite a bit of liquid to cook the pasta.

You’ll need a pan with a lid. This is important. The steam in a covered pot helps the pasta cook evenly even if it’s not all completely submerged in liquid the entire time. 

So here’s a quick run down…

You’ll see more than 20 recipes below but here’s the basic principles:

Sauté meat (ground turkey, ground beef, bite sized pieces of chicken,  sausage, etc.). Add chopped vegetables like onions, garlic, carrots, or whatever you like. Cook until nearly tender. If you like to add greens (spinach, kale, etc.) to your pasta, wait for these. They’ll be added a little later. 

Next, add your sauce ingredients, such as tomatoes, wine, broth, water. It will seem like a lot of liquid at first but don’t worry, the pasta will absorb it as it cooks. Bring it all up to a simmer.

Add the dry pasta of your choice, uncooked. This is the good part: the pasta cooks right in the sauce! You know how a lot of recipes tell you to save a cup or so of the pasta water to put into your sauce? The reason you do this is because the cooking water is full of starches from the pasta. The starch thickens up your sauce and makes it slightly creamy. In one pot pasta recipes, the pasta is cooking in the sauce so that starchy goodness stays right in there. 

Cover the pan. Give your pasta a stir pretty frequently to keep it cooking evenly and to prevent it from sticking together or sticking to the bottom of the pan. At the end of the cooking time, turn the heat off, leaving the pan covered, and let the pasta rest for a few minutes.

Can you boil pasta and vegetables together?

Sauté the firmer vegetables in the pan before you add the sauce and pasta. If you’re adding spinach, or kale, or green peas, put those in the pan the last few minutes of cooking so they don’t get overdone. You can also throw in a few chopped herbs at this point.

Helpful Tools for One Pan Pasta Recipes

You’ll need the right sized pan to make one pot pasta recipes. These recipes just won’t work in a pan that’s too small. Your pasta will boil over and you’ll be cleaning up a big mess on your stove top. We sure don’t want that to happen!

Other than the right sized pan, you really don’t need much else. A nice big strong spoon will be helpful. Maybe you can enlist a big strong person to do the stirring while you whip a quick green salad to go along with your one pot pasta.

  • Dutch oven – The Dutch oven (otherwise known as French oven) is such a workhorse in the kitchen! This is the perfect pot for these types of recipes. A bonus is that they’re often oven-safe, so if you want to broil the top to crisp up pasta or melt cheese, it can go straight from the stove to the oven.
  • Deep, straight sided skillet – You can’t go wrong with one of these pans! I use my deep skillet for so many things, but it’s especially great for one pan pasta recipes.
  • Instant Pot – You’ll notice that some of the recipes are made in an Instant Pot. The great part about those is that you don’t have to stir while the pasta cooks! The pressure in the Instant Pot cooks everything evenly.

What to serve with one pot pasta

The great thing about these recipes is that they usually provide an entire meal (protein, carb, veggies) in one pot, so sides are optional. If you want to choose a side, pasta is endlessly versatile, so it’s easy to find a side that will go great with it. Here are some ideas if you’re looking for side dishes:

  • Classic Garlic Bread
  • Chive Bread (dare I say, I like this better than garlic bread?!)
  • Classic Green Salad with Homemade Healthy Ranch Dressing or Homemade Italian Dressing
  • The Best Arugula Salad Recipe — a very simple, classic salad
  • Tomato Bruschetta
  • Crusty bread served with Bread Dipping Oil

21 One Pot Pasta Recipes

Easy Skillet Lasagna Recipe
Love lasagna but hate fussing with layering everything up? This easy skillet lasagna is going to make your life way easier. It's just as delicious, but with a fraction of the work. 
Check out this recipe
Close up photo of skillet lasagna
American Goulash
Old-fashioned American goulash is a satisfying, one pan dinner made with ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, and paprika. It's economical and easy to make.
Check out this recipe
Close up view of American goulash on a ladle.
One Pan Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
This creamy chicken spaghetti is made in one pan and is endlessly versatile. It's a great clean-out-the-fridge meal! 
Check out this recipe
This creamy chicken spaghetti is made in one pan and is endlessly versatile. It's a great clean-out-the-fridge meal! 
Rasta Pasta
Jamaican Rasta pasta is an easy weeknight dinner packed with color and flavor. It's a one-pot recipe made with tender chicken, bell peppers, and jerk seasoning in a creamy sauce.
Check out this recipe
Rasta past in pan - penne pasta, peppers, and spices.
Instant Pot Pasta with Sausage, Spinach and Tomatoes
A complete pasta dinner made in your Instant Pot! You'll love this Instant Pot pasta with sausage, spinach, and tomatoes. You might have all the ingredients on hand already!
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot pasta with sausage, spinach, tomatoes, in white bowl.
Skillet Gnocchi with Chicken and Tomato Sauce
Cozy and comforting, this skillet gnocchi with chicken and tomato sauce is on your table in under 30 minutes — perfect for busy nights!
Check out this recipe
Overhead of skillet gnocchi with tomatoes and mozzarella, garnished with chopped parsley.
Creamy One Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Zucchini
A steaming bowlful of creamy one pan gnocchi with sausage and zucchini is just what you need for dinner this week. Easy to make and oh, so good!
Check out this recipe
Creamy one pan gnocchi with spinach, sprinkled with cheese.
Pasta Amatriciana (one pan!)
Enjoy a classic Italian pasta dish, pasta Amatriciana, rich with smoky pancetta and fire roasted tomatoes, right in your own kitchen. Even better, you can make it all in one pan!
Check out this recipe
Overhead view of a pan of pasta with tomato sauce, fresh parsley, and grated cheese.
One Pot Vegetarian Orzo with Sundried Tomatoes
Brightly flavored with fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and lemon, vegetarian orzo is creamy and satisfying. Made in one pot, it's the perfect recipe for family dinners or company!
Check out this recipe
Overhead view of vegetarian orzo in a cast iron skillet, topped with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.
Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
A classic boxed meal, made healthier and heartier. And guess what? It’s not that much harder to make! Your whole family will love this healthy homemade hamburger helper.
Check out this recipe
Homemade hamburger helper being scooped in a ladle.
Chicken Marsala Pasta Recipe
All the flavors of chicken marsala in a rich, creamy pasta , and it's made in just one pan! This chicken marsala pasta is perfect for busy weeknights.
Check out this recipe
Chicken marsala pasta with a wooden spoon.
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Spaghetti in one pot, made in about 45 minutes sort of seems like a dream come true, doesn't it? Once you try Instant Pot Spaghetti, you might never go back to the traditional stovetop method!
Check out this recipe
Overhead view of spaghetti and meat sauce in a white bowl, sprinkled with parsley.
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta Recipe
So good it's almost "addicting", Instant Pot crack chicken pasta is an easy one pan pasta dinner that your family will love!
Check out this recipe
Pasta with chicken, cheese sauce, bacon, and green onions, in a white bowl.
Easy Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli – One Pan!
An easy chicken Alfredo recipe with broccoli that's made in ONE PAN and has far less calories than a traditional Alfredo. Does it seem too good to be true? It's not!
Check out this recipe
image of one pan chicken alfredo recipe with broccoli, wooden spoon
One Pan Mediterranean Chicken Recipe
Mediterranean chicken and Israeli couscous is a complete meal made in one pan. Fresh and flavorful, you'll want to try it for dinner tonight.!
Check out this recipe
One pan chicken and couscous in a white skillet.
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs (turkey meatballs)
Spaghetti and meatballs made in one pan, in less than an hour? This dream comes deliciously true with Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs!
Check out this recipe
Overhead view of large white bowl full of spaghetti and meatballs, garnished with fresh basil.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy, and everything you want from mac and cheese. Works great with whole wheat pasta, too!
Check out this recipe
Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese (one pan!)
This copycat Panera Mac and Cheese tastes just like the stuff you buy in the famous bakery but is easy to make at home and only requires one pan!
Check out this recipe
Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese -- made in one pan only! On RachelCooks.com
One Pan Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese with Beer
Fall perfection comes in the form of One Pan Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese with Beer. The flavors are out of this world and it’s even a little lighter thanks to the pumpkin and whole wheat pasta.
Check out this recipe
close view of pumpkin macaroni and cheese beer in white bowl with wooden spoon and a yellow crockpot in the background
One Pan Rigatoni with Creamy Red Wine Tomato Sauce
A weeknight dinner dream come true! A complete meal in one pan. This one pan rigatoni is filling, comforting and full of flavor.
Check out this recipe
Overhead of rigatoni in red Dutch oven, ready to serve.
Pizza Pasta – One pan, 20 minutes!
This pizza pasta is made in ONE pan, with SIX ingredients, in TWENTY minutes. Nutritious, filling, and so tasty! 
Check out this recipe
Pizza pasta being scooped from a pan with a wooden spoon.
Taco Pasta Recipe (One Pot)
In a rush? This 30 minute one pot taco pasta with ground turkey and black beans is here to save the day! It's creamy, satisfying, and the pasta cooks in the same pan as everything else!
Check out this recipe
One pan taco pasta in a skillet.
Instant Pot Pasta with Sausage, Spinach and Tomatoes
A complete pasta dinner made in your Instant Pot! You'll love this Instant Pot pasta with sausage, spinach, and tomatoes. You might have all the ingredients on hand already!
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot pasta with sausage, spinach, tomatoes, in white bowl.
Instant Pot Lemon Pasta with Chicken Recipe
Lemony bright and loaded with fresh herbs, Instant Pot lemon pasta with ground chicken is absolutely delightful, and it's a one pan meal!
Check out this recipe
Overhead view of pasta with ground chicken, lemon, and spinach on a white plate.
One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta
This rich and creamy Cajun chicken pasta is brimming with bold New Orleans flavor. Made with a zesty spice blend, fire-roasted tomatoes, and tender chicken, it's an easy one-pot pasta recipe that's perfect for weeknight dinners!
Check out this recipe
Cajun chicken pasta with a wooden spoon.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Broccoli Recipe
What's not to like about creamy Instant Pot mac and cheese with broccoli? With only five ingredients and made in only one pan, you can serve delicious homemade mac and cheese in just over a half hour!
Check out this recipe
Overhead view of a small white bowl of instant pot mac and cheese with broccoli. Two other bowls are partially visible.
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  1. ROGER BARNABY says

    June 16, 2021 at 7:32 pm

    DEAR RACHEL, YOUR RECIPES LOOK DELICIOUS. I WILL BE MAKING A FEW OF THESE FAVORITES FOR THE FAMILY DURING THIS SUMMER. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH RACHEL.

    SINCERELY AND APPRECIATIVELY YOURS,
    ROGER

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      June 17, 2021 at 9:57 am

      Thank you so much! I hope you love them all!

      Reply
  2. jennifer sigafoose says

    December 29, 2019 at 9:13 pm

    Rachel I like your squad recipe spaghetti do I have to pit salt and pepper on it my family can’t have salt and they don’t like it thanks Jennifer

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      December 30, 2019 at 2:14 pm

      You can leave salt and pepper out of any recipe if that’s what your family is used to. :)

      Reply
  3. denise says

    September 6, 2019 at 2:46 pm

    I do love one pot pasta dishes for a quick, but hearty meal, and without processed things like canned soup.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      September 6, 2019 at 3:20 pm

      Same! They’re such a lifesaver!

      Reply

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