27 One-Pot Pasta Recipes for Lazy Nights

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, one pot, vegetarian, <10 ingredients

Don’t worry: You already have most of the ingredients in your pantry and fridge. Pair it with garlicky shrimp, chicken cutlets or wilted greens.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein

The meatballs are cooked in the same pot as the pasta, so wave goodbye to all those dirty dishes you were anticipating. Might we suggest sopping up the excess sauce with garlic bread?

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly

No butter or cream here. The pasta’s starch naturally creates a creamy sauce—so creamy, in fact, that skim milk won't water it down at all.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

A timeless classic that's always good to have in your back pocket. Pancetta and sausage infuse every bite with meaty, savory bliss. It'll be ready in an hour, friend.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian

Get all the cheesy goodness you're craving in just 35 minutes, no layering required. Capers, Parmesan cheese and summer corn keep this tomato sauce-free spin on lasagna interesting.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients

Cut the cook time in half by boiling this one-pot pasta recipe in milk instead of a separate pot of water—brilliant, no? Cream cheese makes the sauce extra decadent and tangy to boot.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian

The sauce and noodles cook together in the same pot for this one-pot pasta recipe. The hardest part is waiting for the pasta to absorb the vegetable broth before digging in. I'll see you in 20.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, one pot, <10 ingredients

Eight ingredients + one hour + lots of dino kale and Italian sausage = a hearty, protein-packed meal for the books. This one-pot pasta recipe even calls for bonus vegetables, like celery and carrots.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, one pan

You'll be the star of the barbecue when you set this stunner on the patio table. Feel free to crown it with shards of crispy prosciutto, if you're feeling fancy.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly, high protein

There are two key elements that make this dinner memorable: sun-dried tomatoes for tang, zip and color and all the ingredients cooking in a single pot—no waiting for water to boil here. And FYI, it's super luxurious without the help of butter or cream.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

Half pasta, half veggies and topped with creamy almond milk sauce—what's not to love? The one-pot pasta recipe calls for asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, kale and peas.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

No sautéing necessary, just boiling, simmering and devouring. Parmesan cheese and heavy cream are stirred in at the last minute to thicken the sauce, which is already rich with pasta starch.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, beginner-friendly

Full of good-for-you veggies and fresh herbs. The trick here is sweating the eggplant with salt in a colander before adding it to the rest of the ingredients; this keeps the one-pot pasta recipe from turning watery.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, one pot

This eight-ingredient powerhouse only requires five minutes of prep, so it's just right for weeknights when you just can't even. Fresh basil elevates it just right without making extra work for the chef.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, special occasion-worthy

Ready in just 30 minutes and packed with butter and Parm—can I get a hallelujah? Feel free to spruce it up with whatever neglected vegetables you have in the fridge, like asparagus or kale.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

Just think of this as a play on Alfredo sauce, minus the heavy cream and cream cheese. Go wild with chopped herbs and freshly cracked black pepper to bring the sauce to life.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly

Your favorite soup in rigatoni form, complete with heavy cream and Gruyère. Use beef broth instead of chicken to amp up its meatiness without adding actual meat.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, one pot

Forget burying ricotta under layers of pasta. I'll take a big dollop right on top. (Go ahead and double down with balls of burrata, if you feel so inclined.)

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes

A carb, veggie and protein, all cooked together in 30 minutes flat. Ta-da. Store-bought cheese ravioli has never looked so gourmet.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

In case you needed an excuse to show off your farmers market haul. A few unexpected ingredients (like red enchilada sauce, goat and fontina cheeses and coconut milk) make this one-pot pasta recipe one of a kind.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

A lemony gem with allllll the mascarpone and Pecorino. My fork is ready. If you want the asparagus notably crisp, toss it in halfway through cooking to ensure it doesn't turn mushy.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, one pot, <30 minutes

A one-pot pasta recipe that doesn't require waiting for water to boil? I'm there. Each serving boasts a whopping 42 grams of protein, BTW.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly

I'll meet you on the deck with a bottle of pinot grigio. If you want to skip the wine, substitute a splash of white vinegar, chicken broth or vegetable broth.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, one pot

It's vegetarian, but you could substitute chicken or salmon for chickpeas if you'd prefer. Rotini, penne, shells, farfalle and elbow macaroni are all fair game here.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly

A cheesy casserole in just 30 minutes? The secret is frozen chicken fingers. I'd bookmark this gem for game day if I were you.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, one pot

Honestly, you had me at bacon. You can thank plain yogurt and lemon juice for the creamy sauce instead of cream, cheese and butter.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead

This one-pot pasta recipe cooks right in the broth, so you'll be at the table in 30 minutes or less. The soup can keep in the fridge for five days and in the freezer for up to four months in an airtight container.