I make dinner in one pan and I feel calm. Water meets pasta, tomatoes melt into a quick sauce, and basil wakes the room. I like how the starch thickens the liquid and turns glossy. Fewer dishes, more flavor, and the fork twirls like it has a job to do. This is comfort on a weeknight pace. I wrote this as one clear guide for One Pan Pasta Recipes. I use ideas from pasta recipes that I trust and fold them into one plan. I lean on one pan recipes when life runs fast. For fun I add a handful of chicken for fans of chicken pasta recipes and I keep the steps short for easy pasta recipes. If you love pasta recipes homemade, this checks that box without fuss. I use honest pantry items and fresh herbs, nothing loud. It tastes clean and bright and fits the list of healthy pasta recipes I cook for friends. You will hear a soft bubble, smell garlic, and feel the sauce cling to each strand. That is the signal to eat.
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 Recipes next
- 9) One Pan Pasta
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
- One pan cooks pasta and sauce together for speed and flavor
- Starch from the pasta makes a glossy sauce without cream
- Pantry items meet fresh basil for clean bright taste
- Optional chicken adds protein without extra prep
- Written by Elena on Elena Cooks
2) Easy One Pan Pasta Recipe
I reach for One Pan Pasta Recipes when the day runs long and I still want dinner to feel cared for. One Pan Pasta Recipes save my sink, save my mood, and bring a warm bowl fast. I cook pasta and sauce in the same wide skillet. The liquid reduces. The starch thickens. The noodles stay tender and coated. I lift a fork and it twirls with ease.
Fans of pasta recipes will love this method. It tastes fresh and clean. The tomatoes taste sweet, the basil tastes bright, and the olive oil rounds each bite. I keep the steps short for easy pasta recipes. If you enjoy chicken pasta recipes, add a cup of cooked chicken near the end and let it warm through.
I write in plain English and I cook with what I have. I use broth, garlic, onion, and canned tomatoes. I learned this approach years ago and now I teach it on Elena Cooks. I link the full guide at https://www.elenacooks.com. For healthy pasta recipes that still feels rich, this pan delivers. It fits pasta recipes homemade made on a weeknight, not a holiday.
3) Ingredients for One Pan Pasta
Dry spaghetti I use twelve ounces so the pasta can sit mostly flat in the pan. Long strands grab the sauce and make each bite smooth.
Low sodium broth Three cups cover the pasta and set the base for flavor. Vegetable broth keeps the dish meat free. Chicken broth tastes fuller.
Canned diced tomatoes One can with juice gives body and a gentle sweet note. The juice helps the simmer and blends with the starch.
Yellow onion Thin slices soften fast and bring a mild bite. They melt into the sauce by the time the pasta turns tender.
Garlic cloves Thin slices perfume the pan. They toast at the edges and sit soft by the end.
Cherry tomatoes A cup adds fresh bursts. They wrinkle and pop which feels fun in the bowl.
Kosher salt and black pepper I season early and I taste near the end. Little by little keeps balance.
Dried oregano A small spoon brings a warm herb note that supports basil without crowding it.
Red pepper flakes A pinch wakes the sauce. Skip if heat is not your style.
Extra virgin olive oil Two spoons add shine and help the noodles slide as they soften.
Fresh basil leaves Torn leaves lift the dish. They add fragrance right at the finish.
Grated parmesan Half a cup melts into the sauce and adds a nutty finish. Save extra for serving.
Cooked shredded chicken Optional but welcome when you crave protein and enjoy chicken pasta recipes.
Lemon wedges A squeeze on top brightens the final bite and balances the tomato.
4) How to Make One Pan Pasta
Step 1 Set a wide deep skillet on medium heat. Add dry pasta broth canned tomatoes with juice onion garlic and cherry tomatoes.
Step 2 Season with salt pepper oregano and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Drizzle in olive oil and stir so strands loosen.
Step 3 Bring to a steady simmer. Stir every minute with tongs. The pasta will soften and sink. The liquid will reduce and thicken.
Step 4 After ten minutes check the bite. If the pan looks dry before the pasta turns tender add a small splash of broth or water.
Step 5 Fold in basil and parmesan. If using chicken add it now and warm it through.
Step 6 Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Turn off the heat when the sauce looks glossy and clings to the pasta. Rest for one minute then serve.
5) Tips for Making One Pan Pasta
Use a wide skillet so the pasta can lie flat. This helps even cooking and stops clumps. This is one pan pasta ideas at work in your kitchen.
Stir often in the first minutes. Movement keeps strands loose. It also helps the starch release which makes a silky sauce.
Hold liquid back for the end. Each pan loses steam at a different rate. Keep a cup nearby for small splashes when the pasta asks for it.
Finish with fresh herbs and cheese. The heat left in the pan softens basil and melts parmesan for a clean bright finish. Fans of one pan recipes will enjoy how simple this feels.
6) Making One Pan Pasta Ahead of Time
Cook the pasta a minute shy of tender and stop the heat. The sauce will keep thickening as it rests. This helps the noodles hold shape later.
Stir in basil and parmesan just before you serve. Herbs stay green and cheese tastes fuller this way. For fridge storage keep them separate.
If you plan a lunch box add a splash of broth when you reheat. One pan pasta dishes rewarm well and keep their shine. Pack lemon wedges for a quick lift.
7) Storing Leftover One Pan Pasta
Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to four days. The sauce will thicken in the cold and loosen when warmed.
Reheat on low in a skillet with a small splash of water or broth. Stir until the sauce turns glossy again. Add fresh basil to wake the flavor.
For freezer plans portion into single servings. Thaw in the fridge overnight. One pan pasta meals taste best when you add a squeeze of lemon before you eat.
8) Try these Pasta Recipes next
9) One Pan Pasta
One Pan Pasta Recipes Creamy Tomato Basil One Pot Dinner
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dry spaghetti or linguine
- 3 cups low sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes with juices 14 ounces
- 1 small yellow onion thin slices
- 3 cloves garlic thin slices
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 0.5 cup fresh basil leaves torn
- 0.5 cup grated parmesan plus extra for serving
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken optional for protein
- Lemon wedges for serving optional
Instructions
- Place a wide deep skillet on medium heat and add dry pasta, broth, diced tomatoes with juices, onion, garlic, and cherry tomatoes.
- Sprinkle in salt, black pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes if you want heat. Drizzle in olive oil.
- Bring to a lively simmer and stir with tongs so the pasta loosens and drops into the liquid.
- Cook and stir every minute so strands do not stick. The starch will thicken the liquid as it reduces.
- After about ten minutes check the bite. If the pan looks dry before the pasta turns tender add a splash of broth or water.
- Fold in basil and parmesan. If using chicken add it now so it warms through.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Turn off the heat when the sauce looks glossy and clings to the pasta.
- Rest for one minute then twirl into bowls. Finish with more parmesan and a squeeze of lemon if you like.
10) Nutrition
A standard serving sits around four hundred twenty calories with a balance of carbs protein and fat. The exact count shifts with broth and cheese choices.
For lower sodium pick low sodium broth and season at the end. For more protein fold in cooked chicken and enjoy a bowl that fits healthy pasta recipes.
Gluten free pasta works in this method. Watch the pan and add small splashes of liquid as needed. Share your bowl with me on Elena Cooks and tell me what you changed.
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