One Pot Pasta {Tomato Basil}

One Pot Pasta – a super simple recipe made with hearty penne pasta, vibrant tomatoes, fresh spinach and basil, rich parmesan and pancetta and a seasoned broth. Everything is cooked together in one pot for a flavorful, hearty, and hassle-free dish!

Tomato Basil One Pot Pasta

Who doesn’t love another easy dish to add to the dinner repertoire? This humble pasta begins with basic everyday ingredients and finishes with well blended, perfectly complimentary and satisfying flavors.

I’ve long loved one pot pasta recipes because they are as quick and easy as a made from scratch dinner gets.

Plus they are incredibly versatile (see more of my one pot pasta recipes listed below).

This easy pasta recipe tastes fresh, tomato-y, and has just enough rich cheese and pancetta to highlight it and build up the flavor.

It’s a homemade dish that’s great for those busy days, and it will make great leftovers for lunch the next day!

One Pot Pasta Recipe Ingredients

• Extra virgin olive oil: Use extra virgin olive oil here, not standard refined or light. We are looking for flavor and extra virgin olive oil has the most flavor of the three.
• Pancetta: This is the secret ingredient in the dish that gives it that special something. You can usually find this at the deli counter of the grocery store, if you can’t try substituting bacon.
• Yellow onion: Chop the onion fairly small.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic is key to building fresher flavor here.
• Penne pasta: I recommend using Barilla brand as that’s what I’ve created the recipe with (other brands may not absorb as much liquid or be cook by the same time).
• Vegetable broth: Chicken broth should work great here as well. Just don’t use water or the dish will be lacking in flavor.
• Diced tomatoes: You can use standard cut or petite cut based on personal preference.
• Italian seasoning: If needed you can make your own blend using 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp dried basil, and 1/2 tsp rosemary.
• Red pepper flakes: If you like heat double up the amount or more, if you don’t care for spicy food then omit.
• Salt and pepper: Season to taste.
• Fresh spinach: Stick with fresh here as frozen will be mushy in this dish.
• Fresh basil: This is a key ingredient to the dish. I don’t recommend substituting dried in it’s place.
• Parmesan: Use freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for best flavor.

How to Make One Pot Pasta

1. Cook pancetta in oil: Heat 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a 5 or 6 quart pot over medium heat. Add pancetta and saute 2 minutes.
2. Saute vegetables: Add onion and saute 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.
3. Add broth, tomatoes and seasonings: Pour in vegetable broth, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Bring to simmer, add pasta: Increase heat to medium-high and bring mixture to a simmer, stir in pasta.
5. Simmer until pasta is tender: Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until pasta is nearly al dente, about 11 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
6. Rest off heat: Let rest a few minutes off heat, add another splash of broth if needed.
7. Add cheese and greens: Toss in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, the spinach and basil.
8. Top servings with finishes: Drizzling servings with remaining 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup parmesan.

One Pan Variations

• Add a different protein. Cooked chicken, ground sausage, sliced sausage or ground beef would be tasty options.
• Try with sautéed vegetables such as mushrooms, asparagus, or zucchini.
• Make it extra cheesy – add more parmesan cheese or sneak in another type with it such as Romano or Asiago cheese.
• Use kale in place of spinach, cook along with the pasta (spinach cooks quicker).

Helpful Tips

• Monitor level of liquid with pasta. If needed add more, every pot will allow steam to escape a little differently so amount may need to be adjusted slightly.
• Stick with penne pasta. Other might not work as well in this specific recipe.
• Don’t skip tossing halfway through for even cooking.
• Cook to al dente for a perfect bite.
• Use good quality olive oil and finish with extra, it improves the overall flavor of the dish.

More One Pot Pasta Recipes

• Beef Stroganoff (with Ground Beef)
• Goulash (American Style)
• Instant Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
• Instant Pot Spaghetti
• One Pan Creamy Lemon Pasta with Chicken and Asparagus 
• One Pan Creamy Parmesan Shrimp Linguine

4.80 from 5 votes

Print Recipe

One Pot Pasta Recipe {Tomato Basil}

A super simple dinner made with hearty penne pasta, vibrant tomatoes, fresh spinach and basil, rich parmesan and pancetta and a seasoned broth. Everything is cooked together in one pot for a flavorful, hearty, and hassle-free dish!

Servings: 6

Prep15 minutes minutes

Cook30 minutes minutes

Ready in: 45 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 3 oz. pancetta, diced into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 1/4 cups chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp minced fresh garlic (4 cloves)
• 2 3/4 cups vegetable broth, or more as needed
• 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 12 oz. (3 3/4 cups) penne pasta (tested with Barilla)
• 1 1/2 cups (1.5 oz) chopped fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 cup (2.2 oz) finely shredded parmesan, divided

Instructions

• Heat 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a 5 or 6 quart pot over medium heat. Add pancetta and saute 2 minutes.
• Add onion and saute 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.
• Pour in vegetable broth, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Increase heat to medium-high and bring mixture to a simmer, stir in pasta.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until pasta is nearly al dente, about 11 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
• Let rest a few minutes off heat, add another splash of broth if needed.
• Toss in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, the spinach and basil.
• Drizzling servings with remaining 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup parmesan.

Nutrition Facts

One Pot Pasta Recipe {Tomato Basil}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 447 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Fat 19g29%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Cholesterol 16mg5%

Sodium 894mg39%

Potassium 553mg16%

Carbohydrates 55g18%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 15g30%

Vitamin A 1675IU34%

Vitamin C 20mg24%

Calcium 221mg22%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: One Pot Pasta

Author: Jaclyn