27 One-Pot Pasta Recipes for Lazy Nights
Some nights, you’re up for spending three hours cooking dinner from scratch. But on a busy weeknight? Not happening. I have a tasty solution: 27 one-pot pasta recipes. You basically throw everything together into the same pot (or casserole dish), boil (or bake) and prego—dinner’s ready in no time, and you don’t have to deal with a zillion dirty dishes after eating. My favorites include cheater’s skillet lasagna with corn and cherry tomatoes, one-pot mac and cheese and lemon garlic cream ravioli with shrimp and asparagus.
1. 15-Minute Pasta Limone
- 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.
2. Spaghetti and Meatballs
- 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?
3. One-Pot Creamy Chicken Alfredo
- 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.
4. Easy One-Pan Baked Ziti
- 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.
5. Cheater's Skillet Lasagna with Corn and Cherry Tomatoes
- 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.
6. One-Pot Mac and Cheese
- 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.
7. One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
- 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.
8. One-Pot Orecchiette Ragu
- 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.
9. Skillet Pasta with Summer Squash, Ricotta and Basil
- 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.
10. One-Pot Chicken Pasta
- 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.
11. One-Pot Pasta Primavera
- 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.
12. Zucchini Mushroom Pasta
- 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.
13. Vegan Eggplant-Cremini Pasta
- 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.
14. Spaghetti with Parmesan and Andouille Sausage
- 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.
15. Creamy Chicken Mushroom Florentine
- 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.
16. One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- 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.
17. One-Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake
- 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.
18. Easy One-Pot Lasagna
- 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.)
19. Lemon Garlic Cream Ravioli with Shrimp and Asparagus
- 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.
20. Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Bake
- 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.
21. One-Pot Asparagus Mascarpone Pasta
- 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.
22. One-Pot Pasta with Tomatoes and Chicken
- 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.
23. Lemon, Basil, Asparagus and Sausage Pasta
- 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.
24. Sun-Dried Tomato Chickpea Pasta
- 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.
25. Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- 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.
26. Pasta with Peas and Bacon
- 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.
27. Beef and Bowtie Soup
- 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.
Food Editor
Food Editor
- Spearheads PureWow's food vertical
- Manages PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
- Studied English and writing at Ithaca College
