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One Pot Pasta 7 Steps to Make the Creamiest Dish in Minutes

This creamy One Pot Pasta is a quick, family-friendly dinner where everything cooks in a single pot for maximum flavor and minimal cleanup.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

One Pot Pasta
  • 12 oz pasta (penne or fusilli)
  • 3 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp chili flakes optional
  • 1 cup fresh spinach or basil leaves loosely packed
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream or milk optional, for extra creaminess

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the sliced onion and minced garlic. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
  3. Add the uncooked pasta and cherry tomatoes to the pot. Stir to combine with the aromatics.
  4. Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth. Season with salt, black pepper, and chili flakes. Make sure the liquid mostly covers the pasta.
  5. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened.
  6. Stir in the spinach or basil leaves and let them wilt. Add the grated parmesan and heavy cream (if using). Mix until the sauce is creamy and coats the pasta.
  7. Remove from the heat and let the pasta rest for 2 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken further. Serve warm with extra parmesan on top.

Notes

Feel free to add cooked chicken, shrimp, or extra vegetables to this One Pot Pasta. If you add more ingredients, you may need a splash of extra broth to keep the sauce silky and creamy.