30 One-Pot Pasta Recipes for Magically Easy Dinners

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.
Jan Valdez
Jan ValdezAssistant Recipe Producer
I cover recipe content on The Kitchn, write and update recipes and recipe roundups, and test recipes for the team. I have 10 years of experience working in R&D test kitchens, testing products and recipes, and at publishers including Serious Eats and EatingWell.
updated Jan 17, 2025
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.
Post Image
Credit: Joe Lingeman

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

The family-friendly pasta technique deserves a spot in your meal plan. Here are 30 one-pot pasta recipes to keep you happy and well-fed.

1 / 30
Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Brett Regot
One-Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta

Tossed with Cajun seasoning, shrimp, and andouille sausage, this creamy pasta is irresistible.

Go to Recipe
3 / 30
Photo: Vicky Wasik ; Food Styling: Kelli Foster
One-Pot Lemon Pasta with Asparagus and Chicken

This lemony asparagus and chicken pasta recipe is the ultimate weeknight dinner. The creamy lemon sauce has a velvety smooth texture that clings to the pasta perfectly. Plus, it’s a true one-pot pasta (no draining necessary!) and it cooks in under 30 minutes.

Go to Recipe
4 / 30
Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Janette Zepeda
One-Pot Chipotle Chicken Alfredo

This creamy, cheesy one-pot pasta is the perfect addition to your weeknight rotation. It’s a delicious twist on the classic chicken Alfredo that’s even more flavorful than the original.

Go to Recipe
5 / 30
Joe Lingeman
One-Pot Beef Goulash

From the sauce-slicked macaroni to the crumbles of ground beef and pockets of melted cheddar, one-pot beef goulash is as comforting as it is easy to get on the table.

Go to Recipe
6 / 30
Kelli Foster
One-Pan Creamy Lemon-Dill Tortellini

You only need 20 minutes to make this weeknight pasta — it’s a keeper.

Go to Recipe
7 / 30
Kelli Foster
One-Pot Corn Pasta

It’s a true one-pot pasta (no draining necessary!) that’s packed with sweet corn, basil, and scallions, and tossed with a light no-cook sauce made with pasta water, creamy ricotta, and Parm.

Go to Recipe
9 / 30
Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter
One-Pot Creamy Tuscan Shrimp and Orzo

This satisfying one-pot dinner is made by cooking orzo in a flavorful sun-dried tomato sauce until rich and creamy. Handfuls of grated Parmesan, baby spinach, and shrimp are stirred in at the very end to finish off this deliciously comforting meal.

Go to Recipe
10 / 30
Kristin Teig; Food Styling: Catrine Kelty
One-Pot Eggplant Caponata Pasta

All the tangy, sweet, and savory elements of the classic Sicilian eggplant dish of tomatoes, olives, briny capers, and more come together in this flavor-packed one-pot pasta.

Go to Recipe
11 / 30
Joe Lingeman
One-Pot Pasta Puttanesca

This certainly isn’t your Italian grandmother’s pasta puttanesca, but it is one of the easiest versions you’ll find. The one-pot pasta method works beautifully here: As the pasta cooks, the juicy tomatoes break down and mingle with the olives and briny capers to create a salty, starchy sauce that clings to the noodles perfectly.

Go to Recipe
13 / 30
Joe Lingeman
One-Pot Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pasta

This all-in-one dinner, which starts with smart shortcuts like pre-cooked chicken sausage and marinated artichoke hearts, is ready in 15 minutes.

Go to Recipe
14 / 30
Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Stylist: Lauren Radel
One-Pot Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole

This one-pot wonder inspired by Tuna Helper has tuna, noodles, and tender peas cooked together in a creamy sauce.

Go to Recipe
15 / 30
Joe Lingeman
One-Pot Spicy Sausage and Tomato Pasta

For such a short ingredient list, this 20-minute pasta dish is bursting with bold flavors, thanks to fire-roasted tomatoes, fresh fennel, and smoky andouille sausage.

Go to Recipe
16 / 30
Kelli Foster
One-Pot Penne with Creamy Basil-Garlic Sauce

This creamy basil garlic pasta with green vegetables and crispy panko breadcrumbs is a weeknight dinner crowd-pleaser.

Go to Recipe
17 / 30
Joe Lingeman
One-Pot Meatballs & Pasta Os

Make everyone around the table excited about dinner with this recipe for pasta and meatballs inspired by a childhood favorite - Spaghettios!

Go to Recipe
18 / 30
Photo: Tara Donne | Food Stylist: Cyd McDowell
One-Pot Creamy Zucchini Pasta

This one-pot pasta is rich and creamy thanks to whole-milk ricotta, but lightened up with bright lemony flavor and a scattering of fresh herbs. As everything simmers together, the zucchini becomes practically silky, melting into the pasta in the most luscious way.

Go to Recipe
19 / 30
Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food styling: Cyd McDowell
One-Pot Orzo with Peas and Parmesan

This one-pot dish cooks orzo pasta in flavorful stock and is finished with lemon, peas, and Parmesan for a lighter take on risotto.

Go to Recipe
20 / 30
Jesse Szewczyk
One-Pan Tortellini with Asparagus, Peas & Crispy Bacon

An easy recipe for cheese tortellini with bacon, asparagus, and peas in a light cream sauce.

Go to Recipe
22 / 30
Shelly Westerhausen
One-Pot Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Orzo

A one-pot recipe for creamy orzo pasta with hearty mushrooms, spinach, and plenty of Parmesan cheese.

Go to Recipe
23 / 30
Joe Lingeman
One-Pot Lemon Shrimp Pasta

This one-pot pasta, made with protein-packed shrimp, creamy white beans, and nutrient-dense kale, is a complete meal all-in-one.

Go to Recipe
24 / 30
Photo: Tara Donne | Food Stylist: Cyd McDowell
One-Pot Penne All'arrabbiata with Greens

This twist on the classic Italian pasta comes together easily in one pot and features wilted spinach for a feel-good hit of green.

Go to Recipe
25 / 30
Shelly Westerhausen
One-Pot Butternut Squash Pasta with White Beans and Kale

This 30-minute, one-pot vegetarian dinner is packed with protein, thanks to a can of white beans and a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Go to Recipe
26 / 30
Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Stylist: Cyd McDowell
One-Pot Creamy Wild Mushroom Pasta

You’ll add the linguine, chicken broth, and heavy cream directly to the pot with the sautéed mushrooms, then boil until the noodles are al dente and the liquid has thickened into a silky sauce.

Go to Recipe
27 / 30
Joe Lingeman
One-Pot Weeknight Beef Stroganoff

Tender noodles, ground beef, and earthy mushrooms all cooked together in a creamy, comforting sauce.

Go to Recipe
28 / 30
One-Pot French Onion Pasta

This one-pot pasta cooked with beef broth, caramelized onions, and port boasts all the classic flavors of French onion soup.

Go to Recipe
29 / 30
Maria Siriano
One-Pot Linguine with Clams

Since littleneck clams are so quick-cooking, yet not really an everyday buy, they are arguably one of the most fast and fancy things you can make. Pair them with a simple box of pasta, tons of garlic, and a healthy splash of white wine and the results are all the proof you need to understand why this is such a tried-and-true Italian dish.

Go to Recipe
30 / 30
Joe Lingeman
One-Pot Pasta Primavera

Here we use carrots, bell peppers, peas, spring onions, and baby Broccolini, then toss them into a pot to quickly cook with penne pasta.

Go to Recipe