I reach for one pan on a weeknight and I feel calm. Water kisses tomatoes. Garlic hits warm oil. Pasta slides in. The kitchen smells like comfort and we all lean closer. One Pan Pasta Recipes fits right into a real life rhythm and it makes dinner feel easy. I cook like this when time runs short. I use ideas from one pot pasta recipes and from instant pot pasta recipes. The sauce builds as the pasta softens. Starch meets broth. Cheese waits. I keep it simple. We get a bowl that tastes bright and cozy at the same time. You want range and this gives range. It joins the bucket of pasta recipes we repeat. It lives with one pot pasta meals and with chicken pasta recipes and with easy pasta recipes. You stir. You sip. You smile. Dinner lands on the table without stress.
Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Easy One Pan Pasta Recipe
- 3 Ingredients for One Pan Pasta
- 4 How to Make One Pan Pasta
- 5 Tips for Making One Pan Pasta
- 6 Making One Pan Pasta Ahead of Time
- 7 Storing Leftover One Pan Pasta
- 8 Try these pasta mains next
- 9 One Pan Pasta
- 10 Nutrition
1 Key Takeaways
I cook fast and I still want flavor. This skillet delivers both. Pasta simmers with tomatoes and broth. Starch thickens the sauce as we stir. Cheese lands at the end and turns everything glossy.
Cleanup stays light. One pan goes on the stove and one spoon does the work. We eat warm bowls and breathe out. The sink does not scare us later. That matters on a work night.
Elena at Elena Cooks keeps the steps short and the moves simple. You get steady results. You can add chicken or keep it meat free. It works for beginners and it still charms old hands.
2 Easy One Pan Pasta Recipe
I reach for this on a tight night and my shoulders drop. One Pan Pasta Recipes save me twice each week and I do not feel one bit guilty about it. One Pan Pasta Recipes also make guests think I planned all day.
We build the sauce around the pasta. The broth soaks in. Garlic sings. Tomato sweetens the pot. The kitchen smells like summer even when the calendar says winter. The method stays steady and the texture lands right.
Call it skillet pasta if you like. It sits in the group of easy one pan pasta dinner ideas and simple weeknight dinner moves. Elena brings humor and calm to the process and we get to keep both on the table.
3 Ingredients for One Pan Pasta
Olive oil I use a mild one. It warms quick and carries garlic well. The pan needs only a thin coat so the pasta does not stick and the onions turn tender without smoke.
Yellow onion I chop it small so it softens fast. Sweet notes build the base. The pieces melt into the sauce and leave body behind. We want that body for a clingy finish.
Garlic I mince it fine. It blooms in warm oil and lifts the whole pot. You smell it and you know dinner moves in the right direction. Watch the heat so it stays light gold.
Tomatoes Fresh diced tomatoes feel bright. Canned diced tomatoes work on a cold night. Both bring juice and sweetness. Both soften and help the sauce thicken while the pasta cooks.
Low sodium broth I like chicken broth for depth. Veg broth keeps it meat free. The liquid should just cover the pasta. That gives us tender strands and a sauce that hugs the bowl.
Fresh basil A small handful wakes up the pot. I chop it close and toss it in near the start so it steeps. A few torn leaves at the end make the color pop.
Spaghetti I keep the strands long for a nice twirl. If your skillet runs narrow break them in half. The starch from the pasta thickens the liquid and builds a silky coat.
Fine salt A light hand helps. We will add cheese and that brings extra salt. Taste at the end and nudge it where you want it. Pepper can join if you like a little bite.
Parmesan Fresh grated Parmesan turns the sauce glossy. It melts on contact and adds a nutty note. Save a spoonful for the top so each bowl gets a soft snow.
Parsley Chopped parsley brightens the finish. It adds green color and a clean taste. I toss it in off the heat so it stays fresh and crisp against the warm pasta.
Red pepper flakes This lives in the maybe pile. I use a pinch when I want a small kick. It wakes the sauce without turning it hot and it pairs well with the sweet tomato.
4 How to Make One Pan Pasta
Step 1 Set a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the oil then the onion and garlic. Stir until the edges look pale gold. The scent shifts from raw to sweet and you feel ready.
Step 2 Tip in the tomatoes and the broth. Slide in the dry spaghetti. Press it under the liquid with tongs. If the strands fight you break them once so they sit flat in the pan.
Step 3 Sprinkle in basil. Cover and simmer. Stir every minute so nothing sticks. The liquid drops and the pasta softens. If it drinks too fast add a splash more broth and keep going.
Step 4 When the pasta feels al dente pull the lid. Season with salt. Turn off the heat. Fold in Parmesan and parsley. Toss until glossy. Plate right away so the sauce clings tight.
5 Tips for Making One Pan Pasta
Pick the right pan. A wide skillet gives the pasta space and keeps strands from clumping. Depth matters less than width here. This single choice makes the method smooth and the finish even.
Stir with care. Small moves often beat one big scrape. The pasta releases starch and the sauce thickens in a gentle way. A soft stir every minute keeps the bottom clean and the strands loose.
Taste late. Cheese lifts the salt level. Add a little at the end only after Parmesan melts in. Pepper or a pinch of red flakes brings balance. Short keyword quick pasta fits this moment well.
6 Making One Pan Pasta Ahead of Time
I often cook this early in the day. I stop the heat one minute before al dente. The carryover finish happens as it cools. Later I rewarm with a small splash of broth and it tastes fresh again.
For a bigger plan split the batch. Keep sauce and pasta together yet underdone. Hold the cheese back. Toss it in during the reheat for a silky coat. This mirrors one pan pasta dishes you see in cafes.
For a crowd set the skillet on low and let people scoop. Keep extra parsley and Parmesan nearby. Add a bowl of rotisserie chicken for folks who want protein. That ties into chicken pasta recipes without extra work.
7 Storing Leftover One Pan Pasta
Leftovers sit well in a sealed container. Two days feels like the sweet spot. The sauce tightens in the fridge. A spoon of water in the pan on reheat brings the silk back in a snap.
For lunch boxes pack a little Parmesan on the side. Add parsley at the last moment for color. Kids like it warm or room temp. This fits family friendly pasta meal goals for busy weeks.
If you freeze a portion keep it for a short stay. Texture shifts a bit but the flavor holds. Label the date and smile when future you opens a solid rescue dinner.
8 Try these pasta mains next
9 One Pan Pasta
One Pan Pasta Recipes For Busy Nights From Elena Cooks
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 14 ounces fresh tomatoes diced
- 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
- 8 ounces spaghetti uncooked
- 1 quarter teaspoon fine salt or to taste
- 1 quarter cup Parmesan shredded
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
- Fresh black pepper optional
- Crushed red pepper optional
Instructions
- Warm oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Stir until the edges turn golden about 3 minutes.
- Add tomatoes chicken broth basil and the dry spaghetti. Press the pasta under the liquid. If the skillet feels narrow break the strands in half first.
- Cover. Lower the heat a notch. Cook 8 minutes. Stir often. If the pasta needs more time splash in a bit more broth and cook 1 to 2 minutes more until al dente.
- Uncover. Season with salt. Turn off the heat. Toss in Parmesan and parsley. Grind in pepper if you like. Serve right away.
10 Nutrition
Serving size sits at one of four. Calories land near two hundred twenty. Protein about eight. Carbs about twenty nine. Fat about nine. Sodium under seven hundred. Fiber near three. These numbers help when you plan your plate.
Use whole wheat spaghetti for more fiber. Swap veg broth to keep it meat free. Sprinkle extra parsley for a fresh lift. These small moves change the profile without changing the method that keeps dinner easy.
Short keyword skillet pasta shows up strong in this bowl. Longtail easy one pan pasta dinner fits here too. Another longtail simple skillet spaghetti recipe plays well when you want a clean plan and zero fuss.
Main keyword One Pan Pasta Recipes appears across this page to guide readers. Three semantics also appear across sections one pan pasta ideas plus one pan pasta dinners plus one pan pasta dishes. This recipe comes from Elena for the site Elena Cooks at www.elenacooks.com.
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