23 Easy Pasta Dishes That Can Be Made In One Pot

The best way to keep eating healthily is to try and make as many meals yourself.

However, this often sounds a lot easier than it actually is.

There are many factors which can make cooking for yourself difficult, whether it is sourcing ingredients, or the process of actually making the dish, however one of the most frustrating parts of cooking for yourself is the cleaning afterwards.

Some dishes can seem simple and easy to pull off, but when you start making them, you start to realize how many dishes and bowls are used to get a simple end result.

This is why more and more people have started designing recipes which are intended to be made and completed in one pot.

While it might seem difficult to make an entire meal just using one pot or pan, this is actually possible with more dishes than you expect.

With meals being made in just one pot, this also means that the process is generally a lot more simple.

If you live a busy life where you cannot guarantee that you will have time to put together an entire meal, these are the dishes which you can rely on to be easy to make and not require too much of your time.

The focus of this article is on pasta recipes which can all be made in one pot.

While it is nice to think that you can master a variety of different recipes which cover a massive variety of cuisines, pasta is a much more approachable subject matter for a list like this.

Pasta is a type of meal which even some of the pickiest eaters like, and it is also not too hard to find for a good price since pasta itself is not that expensive.

Pasta is also one of the easiest types of meals to prepare in one pan, so there are plenty of recipes to find here.

No matter what kind of pasta you like, this article will have your favorite in a form which can be made in one pot, and you might even discover a new favorite type or flavor combination of pasta you had never even considered.

If you are looking for new quick and efficient ways to make pasta, this guide will have something for you, so keep reading!

1.One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta

The combination of garlic and Parmesan is a common one for pasta and this recipe mixes this delicious flavor combo into a delicious creamy sauce which is difficult to resist.

If you often struggle with making a creamy sauce for a garlic flavored pasta, this recipe makes the process simple and easy!

2.One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Chicken Parmesan (see also ‘16 Best Side Dishes To Serve With Chicken Parmesan‘) is one of the most beloved pasta recipes and for good reason!

This recipe makes the process of putting this classic dish together simple and will not require too much of your effort or time!

3.One Pot Ham And Cheese Tortellini

Ham and cheese is a super beloved flavor combo, and this type of tortellini is super easy to make in one pot as this recipe proves!

4.Easy One Pot American Goulash

If you have never tried goulash before, this recipe makes this dish super easy to make.

The feeling of the noodles coated in the luscious marinara and the flavorful ground beef make this an impressive dish to serve, and you can keep the secret safe that you managed to make it all in only one pot!

5.One Pot Pizza Pasta Bake

If you are tired of having pasta in the same typical way, with the same typical flavors, then you should try making pasta bakes more often as they make the texture and flavors of the dish completely different.

This pizza flavored pasta bake uses the classic pizza flavors and makes them work in this delicious pasta bake!

6.One Pot Lemon, Arugula, And Prosciutto Spaghetti

This unique flavor combo is easy to pull off in one pot, and if you do not believe us, read this recipe and learn how to do so!

7.One Pot Veggie Pasta

If you have a bunch of leftover vegetables, and you are not sure what to do with them, this recipe gives you an easy way to use them all up at once and make them into a healthy low effort meal.

While this recipe gives recommended veggies, do not hesitate to use up what you have to make this dish even easier.

8.One Pot Spaghetti

This is a super easy spaghetti recipe which does not require too much effort, and if you love simple classic spaghetti flavors, this is the recipe you have to try out!

9.One Pot Sun Dried Tomato And Sausage Pasta

Sun dried tomatoes go perfectly with pasta, and the sausage pairs even better with it!

10.One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

Using fresh tomatoes really makes the flavors of this dish stand out and is highly recommended.

This pasta has super fresh flavors and does not require many ingredients to put together either.

If you want something simple yet delicious, this is the way to go!

11.One Pot Spaghetti Carbonara

The process of making carbonara the classic way, can feel like a bit too much of an effort occasionally, but if you love the dish, this is one of the best ways to serve it.

If you are dreading the process of making carbonara but craving its flavors, this is the way to go!

12.One Pot Lemon And Feta Spaghetti

Feta cheese (see also ‘33 Tasty Feta Cheese Recipes‘) fits pasta and lemon perfectly and this recipe makes this combo work in just one pot.

13.One Pot Pasta Bolognese

Bolognese is one of the quintessential ways to enjoy pasta and does not need that much effort to make at all in this recipe.

If you have never made it before, this is the best place to start!

14.One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo

This is a super addictive pasta recipe that everyone should try. Since Alfredo is so delicious people assume it is hard to make, but this recipe proves otherwise!

15.One Pot Angel Hair Pomodoro

Angel hair is a unique pasta which this recipe makes possible to prepare in one pot!

16.One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

The combination of lemon and ricotta works super well together for pasta and this recipe makes the combination simple and easy to make.

17.One Pot Pasta With Cheesy Lentil Sauce

A great way to bulk up and add nutritional value to your cheesy sauce is to add lentils which this recipe does.

This recipe has some pretty complex flavors for something so simple to make!

18.One Pot Cauliflower And Broccoli Carbonara Pasta

If you love carbonara, but want to include more greens, this easy recipe with broccoli is a great idea to try!

19.One Pot Spaghetti Puttanesca

Spaghetti Puttanesca has some pretty bold and unique flavors including olives, anchovies, and capers.

The umami flavor stands out in this pasta and definitely should not be missed!

20.One Pot Ziti And Sausage

If you have never eaten ziti, this is the best way to try it. The smoky flavors of the sausage are delicious, and the cheesy sauce is extra yummy.

21.One Pot Three Ingredient Spaghetti

If you want a pasta which does not require many ingredients or too much time to make, this 3 ingredient pasta is the answer to your prayers and is easy to make if you are in a rush!

22.One Pot Ravioli With A Creamy Tomato Beef Sauce

Ravioli (see also our favorite ravioli fillings) is a great way to get extra nutrition into your pasta with the protein, and this recipe makes the process of making it in just one pot easy!

23.One Pot Lasagna

While you may not think it is even possible, this recipe makes it possible to have lasagna in one pot, and it still turns out delicious!

Takeaway

All these recipes are super easy to make and will be a great filling dinner to satiate your family for dinner.

If you have any more questions about how to make great pasta dishes quickly, they should be answered in the FAQ!

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Make Quick Pasta?

One of the first steps in making any pasta dishes, is making sure the pasta is boiled, so it is a texture which is suitable for consumption.

However, some people have found that waiting for pasta water to boil takes too long and want quicker or more efficient methods of boiling the water.

One method which a lot of people use is boiling your water in a kettle beforehand and then using this water in your saucepan as it will of course be able to start boiling again quickly.

Some people have also had luck with boiling their water in a frying pan since it will get hotter quicker, however, this method will require a lot more care since there is less of a rim to stop the water bubbling over.

There are also ways of cooking and boiling pasta in a microwave, however, these tend to require precision, as well as a specific type of container which can hold the pasta and the water in the microwave.

This method also requires a bit of luck as a lot of microwaves can be quite inconsistent in their cooking times and methods.

What Is The Best Protein To Eat With Pasta?

One of the most common additions to pasta other than a sauce is a protein to help give the meal more nutritional value, so which protein is the best for this? 

The most common protein which is found in pasta recipes is usually chicken due to how many different flavors it compliments as well as how easily it absorbs flavors from marinades or sauces and add its own unique flavor to it.

However, chicken can get quite boring if you eat it too often, and it is sometimes quite hard to cook perfectly.

If you want to try something richer with a bit more flavor, you can try beef, but this matches far fewer flavors.

Seafood like shrimp and salmon also complement lots of different sauces, but they also contrast a few of these too (for more shrimp and salmon recipes, read here).

If you are vegetarian, meat substitutes often work well in pasta but try and find one which has a flavor which compliments the sauce or will instead absorb its flavor.

Can Pasta Be Cooked In The Sauce?

It is completely possible for you to cook your pasta in the sauce and this is sometimes a more efficient method of cooking the pasta, however this by no means works in every context, and often requires extra steps to accommodate this.

You will need to make sure there is enough liquid content in the sauce that the pasta will be able to cook properly.

This is why some recipes will instead get you to cook your pasta in the sauce after it is almost done boiling, instead of right from the start.

Should You save Pasta Water?

If you boil pasta often, you may notice that as the pasta heats up and is in the water, the water will start to get progressively cloudier, this is because excess starch from inside the pasta will escape into the water.

This is why many chefs recommend saving some of this pasta water as it is a good emulsifier and will help make sauces creamier.

The best times to use saved pasta water is if a sauce is too thick and needs loosening, the sauce is struggling to stick to the noodles, or if you want your sauce to be more creamy.

Should Oil Be In Pasta Water?

It is a popular misconception that if you put oil in your pasta water the pasta will not stick together when it cooks, unfortunately, this is not the case, and it will just stop the sauce you made from being able to stick to the pasta.

To stop your pasta sticking together, instead add your sauce soon after it has cooked as this will make sure they do not stick!