These 5 One-Pot Pasta Recipes Are Absolutely Magical (2024)

These 5 One-Pot Pasta Recipes Are Absolutely Magical (1)

  • Recipes
  • Main Dishes

Snapshot Cooking

Grace Elkus

Grace Elkus

Grace Elkus was the Deputy Food Director at Kitchn, where she wrote a monthly vegetarian recipe column called Tonight We Veg. She received her culinary arts diploma from The Natural Gourmet Institute.

Follow

updated Aug 15, 2022

facebook

pinterest

email

comments

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

One-pot pastas are an absolute magic trick. Cook pasta start to finish in one pot? No straining? And oh, wait — all the other ingredients for a delicious, well-rounded dinner cook right in the pot with the pasta? Amazing!

In fact, one-pot pastas embody everything we crave in a winning

quick weeknight dinner

big payoff in flavor. But what happens to the pasta’s cooking water, you ask? As the noodles boil, the water reduces into a starchy binder, creating a rich sauce for the noodles to cling to. See? Magic.

The family-friendly pasta technique deserves a spot in your meal plan, so we came up with five easy, delicious variations to keep you happy and well-fed.

Each only require five major ingredients (not including the basic pantry staples of salt, pepper, and olive oil).

Read more about the history of magical one-pot pasta: The Story of One-Pan Pasta from the Martha Stewart Chef Who Created It

5 Snapshot Recipes for One-Pot Magic Pastas

  • The pasta: Each recipe calls for 12 ounces of linguine, which will serve 4 people. Feel free to substitute your favorite long noodle, such as spaghetti or bucatini — anything that cooks to al dente in eight to nine minutes. Avoid gluten-free pasta, which doesn’t release the requisite starch this method relies on.
  • The protein: Meat and shellfish that don’t require browning or pre-cooking are best for one-pot pastas. We like fully cooked pork and chicken sausages as well as raw shrimp, which you’ll add to the pot in the last few minutes of cooking.
  • The method: The veggies, proteins, and herbs vary within each recipe, but the basic formula remains the same: You’ll combine linguine, olive oil, salt, pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a pot; bring to a boil; and cook until the pasta is al dente and water has nearly evaporated. If you prefer a thicker sauce, let the pasta sit for 10 minutes before serving.
  • The pot: All of these recipes are made using a Le Creuset 3.5-quart pan. Any shallow straight-sided skillet will work — just avoid a deep skillet or stockpot, which can prevent the water from evaporating and result in overcooked pasta.

Our Favorite Pot for One-Pot Magic Pasta

One-Pot Puttanesca Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 12 ounces halved cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup pitted and halved Castelvetrano olives, 1/4 cup capers, 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet.

Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning the pasta with tongs to prevent sticking, until pasta is al dente and almost all the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Top with more fresh parsley. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Pasta Puttanesca

One-Pot Lemon Shrimp Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 1 bunch kale leaves (torn), 1 (15.5-ounce) can cannellini beans (rinsed and drained), zest of 1 large lemon, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, turning pasta frequently with tongs, for 5 minutes.

Add 1 pound raw peeled and deveined shrimp and cook until pasta is al dente, liquid has nearly evaporated, and shrimp are opaque, about 3 minutes more. Halve the lemon and squeeze in the juice. Top with crushed red pepper flakes, if desired. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Lemon Shrimp Pasta

One-Pot Spicy Sausage and Tomato Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, 1/2 fennel bulb (thinly sliced), 1 cup torn fresh basil leaves, 12 ounces smoked Andouille sausage (cut into 1/2-inch pieces), 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet.

Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning the pasta with tongs to prevent sticking, until pasta is al dente and almost all the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Top with more fresh basil. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Spicy Sausage and Tomato Pasta

One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pesto Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 10 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms, 6 cloves thinly sliced garlic, 1/4 cup pesto, 8 ounces mascarpone cheese, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet.

Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning the pasta with tongs to prevent sticking, until pasta is al dente and almost all the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Top with fresh basil. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pesto Pasta

One-Pot Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 12 ounces cooked chicken sausage (cut into 1/2-inch pieces), 1 (12-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts (drained), 1 Parmesan rind, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet.

Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil, stirring and turning the pasta with tongs occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is al dente and almost all the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add 1 bunch spinach. Remove Parmesan rind and toss with 1 cup grated Parmesan. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pasta

Do you have a snapshot-style one-pot pasta dinner you love? Tell us all about it — or share a link to an Insta snap and tag us @thekitchn!

This is Snapshot Cooking, the home of Kitchn’s easiest recipes. These mini recipes are so simple you can practically cook from the before-and-after snapshot itself.

Filed in:

easy

Main Dish

One-Dish Meal

pasta

quick

Recipe Roundup

These 5 One-Pot Pasta Recipes Are Absolutely Magical (2024)

FAQs

What are the types of pasta dishes? ›

Italy
TitleItalian Region
Spaghetti alla carbonara/carbonaraLazio
Spaghetti alla carrettieraSicily
Spaghetti alla chitarra con ricotta, salsiccia e zafferanoAbruzzo
Spaghetti alla chitarra con sugo di agnelloAbruzzo
142 more rows

How do you boil pasta? ›

Basic pasta recipe:

Boil the water (with salt and/or olive oil) in a large pan. Once boiling add the pasta and cook for 8-12 mins, depending on the shape – see above. Drain and leave to steam dry for a few mins, just until the surface of the pasta looks matte.

What is the healthiest pasta? ›

Best Pastas You Can Eat
  • Whole-Wheat Pasta. 1/10. Also called whole-grain pasta, this type of pasta keeps the bran, endosperm, and germ of the grain together. ...
  • Chickpea Pasta. 2/10. ...
  • Legume-Based Pastas. 3/10. ...
  • Soba Noodles. 4/10. ...
  • Rice Noodles. 5/10. ...
  • Quinoa Pasta. 6/10. ...
  • Vegetable Noodles. 7/10. ...
  • White Pasta. 8/10.
Aug 23, 2022

Which pasta do Italians love the most? ›

And one in five dishes is always based on the most iconic format: spaghetti. Among the most popular types of pasta follow penne rigate and fusilli. The wooden medal goes to the rigatoni and the ranking also includes farfalle, linguine, bucatini and lasagna.

What kind of pasta do real Italians eat? ›

Spaghetti is Italy's classic pasta and commonly found in Sicilian dishes you can try during a Sicily tour and vacation. Typical spaghetti is made from water, milled wheat, and flour, but authentic spaghetti is made with durum wheat semolina.

What pasta is thinner than spaghetti? ›

Spaghetti means "little twine," and variations include spaghettini (thinner), spaghettoni (thicker), bucatini (thicker and straw-like, with a hollow center), capellini (very thin) and angel's hair (thinnest). Spaghetti is traditionally served with simple, thin sauces such as olive oil or marinara (tomato sauce).

What is thick spaghetti called? ›

Thick Spaghetti, also known as Spaghettoni, is a wider version of an old favorite. Spaghetti is long and round, and the name means "lengths of cord" in Italian. Barilla® Thick Spaghetti is made with non-GMO ingredients.

What pasta dish starts with Z? ›

Z for Ziti

Ziti is a short, tubular pasta originated in the Southern Italy. Traditionally, people break the pasta before cooking and it is usually served at weddings or holidays. ZIti goes well with tomato sauces, mozzarella cheese or au gratin.

What is the smallest pasta called? ›

Pastina, which literally means "little pasta," is the smallest type of pasta available. It comes in different shapes like stelline, pictured below. Other varieties include corallini, grattini, tempestine, and others. Pastina is normally a component of Italian soups.

Do you boil pasta with lid on or off? ›

It's okay to put a lid on the pot while you are waiting for the water to boil. However, after it starts to boil and you add the pasta to the water, you should remove the lid to prevent the water from bubbling over.

Is it better to boil pasta in milk or water? ›

Instead of cooking your pasta in water, cook it in milk instead. The water-to-milk swap creates a more efficient cooking process (less washing up? We're into it) – with an even richer sauce.

Do you put oil in water when boiling pasta? ›

Contrary to popular myth, adding oil into the water does not stop pasta sticking together. It will only make the pasta slippery which means your delicious sauce will not stick. Instead, add salt to the pasta water when it comes to the boil and before you add the pasta.

What is the number one pasta in the world? ›

Spaghetti is the most popular of all the pasta types. It is the favorite of many, especially kids. Indeed, this is one of the most frequently cooked pasta worldwide. It is also usually available in most restaurants.

What is the most popular pasta? ›

What are the most popular pasta shapes?
  1. Spaghetti. Spaghetti is one of the most, if not the most, well-known types of pasta.
  2. Penne. Penne is a classic pasta type and pantry staple. ...
  3. Pappardelle. ...
  4. Orecchiette. ...
  5. Macaroni. ...
  6. Linguine. ...
  7. Farfalle. ...
  8. Fusilli. ...
Apr 4, 2019

What is the national dish of pasta? ›

Italy. Commonly known around the world as spaghetti bolognese, in its authentic form 'Ragu alla Bolognese' is recognised as the national dish of Italy. Its origin can be traced back to Imola, a town near the city of Bologna, where a recipe was first recorded in the 18th century.

What are the 4 main pasta dishes? ›

Gricia, Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe, and Amatriciana are all simple pastas that share the same big flavors of Pecorino-Romano, black pepper, and—in three of the dishes—cured pork. Published Oct. 18, 2018.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Gregorio Kreiger

Last Updated:

Views: 6403

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gregorio Kreiger

Birthday: 1994-12-18

Address: 89212 Tracey Ramp, Sunside, MT 08453-0951

Phone: +9014805370218

Job: Customer Designer

Hobby: Mountain biking, Orienteering, Hiking, Sewing, Backpacking, Mushroom hunting, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Gregorio Kreiger, I am a tender, brainy, enthusiastic, combative, agreeable, gentle, gentle person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.