20 One-Pot Pasta Dinners for When You Just Can't

You're only one pot away from pure pasta bliss.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girlworking in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in BrooklynNY. Her recipes have appeared on DelishSpruce EatsToday.comMartha Stewart & Marley SpoonDinnerlySimply Recipesand in various cookbooks.
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Published February 052026
Theodora Kaloudis
French onion pasta in a pot at a table

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

There’s nothing better than a one-pot mealespecially when pasta is involved. Comfortingeasyand versatilepasta is truly the greatest. Pair that with minimal cleanupand we’ve got ourselves a whopper of a collection. Not to mention the silkyrich textures from the starch releasing as the pasta cooks—yum! From Taco Pasta and Spinach Artichoke Ravioli to Baked Penne a la Vodka and Mac and Cheeseyou'll be in comfort-food heaven.

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  • One-Pot Spaghetti with Kale

    One-Pot Spaghetti with Kale in a pot with tongs

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "The one-pot method I employ for cooking the pasta saves time by skipping the wait to bring a big pot of water to a boil. InsteadI add only the water necessary to hydrate the spaghettiand in the course of cookingit will also cook the kale and carrots. A can of diced tomatoes and their juices combine with the surface starch of the pasta and some flavorful olive oil to create a sauce right in the pot at the same time." —Robin AsbellRecipe Developer

  • One-Pot Taco Pasta

    One-Pot Taco Pasta in a Potand in the Surroundingsa Bowl With Lime Wedgesa Bowl With Sliced Green Onionsa Bowl With Sour CreamGlasses With a Drinkand a Mustard Colored Table Napkin

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "We took the elements we loved about our dad’s pasta chili and turned it into a more cohesive dish that packs in bold and zesty taco flavorhearty ground beefand saucy noodles. With a few fridge staples and pantry itemsthis one-pot meal comes together easily in just over 30 minutes." —Julie & Amy LuxembergRecipe Developers

  • Creamy One Pot Pasta with Zucchini

    Bowl of Creamy One Pot Pasta with Zucchini

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "The beauty of this recipe is that it all goes down in one pot. After the zucchini is caramelizedyou’ll cook the pasta with cream cheese in just enough water for the pasta to cook without being left with a pool of liquid." —Sara TaneRecipe Developer

  • One-Pot Spaghetti with TomatoesArtichokesand Capers

    One-Pot Spaghetti with TomatoesArtichokesand Capers in a Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "One-pot pasta may feel trendybut there is a reason for the craze. As the pasta cooks and releases its starch and the cooking liquid reducesa creamy sauce is created. You may end up deciding this is the only way to ever cook pasta again." —Francesca ZaniRecipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 20 below

  • One-Pot Creamy Veggie Pasta

    A bowl of creamy pasta with peas and spinachgarnished with cheese and accompanied by a fork

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "That’s where this one-potzero-prep wonder comes in. It’s lightcreamypacked with veggiesand comes together in just 30 minutes with minimal effort. Just gather your ingredientsdump them into a potand give it the occasional stir. That’s it." —Theodora KaloudisRecipe Developer

  • One-Pot Mac and Cheese

    One pot mac and cheese in a dutch oven with a wooden spoonand in the surroundingsa bowl with cracker topping and a mustard kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "You get all the nuanced flavor that comes from making homemade mac and cheese but with less effort (goodbye endless whisking) and less cleanup. The result is a silky smooth sauce with big flavor that perfectly clings to macaroni." —Kayla HoangRecipe Developer

  • Easy Chicken Primavera

    easy chicken primavera at a table setting with a bowl of sliced green onionsa bowland utensils on the counter

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "When cooking pasta in a skillet like thisyou want to make sure that you are always returning the pasta to an even layer so it’s as covered with liquid as possible. This will help ensure it cooks evenly." —Laurel RandolphAssociate Editorial Director

  • One-Pot Sausage and Orzo

    Angled view of a wooden spoon in a skillet of orzoitalian sausagesun-dried tomatoes and baby spinach

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "As I’ve been tinkering with my newfound favorite ingredientI’ve come up with a basic one-pot method for cooking the orzo with aromaticsbrothand a combination of proteins and vegetables. This one-pot sausage and orzo was a recent wincombining my family’s love of spicy heat and adoration for creamy sauces." —Sara HaasRecipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 20 below

  • Sheet Pan Gnocchi with ZucchiniTomatoesand Bell Peppers

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi with ZucchiniTomatoesand Bell Peppers on a Plate and More in a Sheet Pan

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "The dumplings cook perfectly in the oven without absorbing excess moisturethe way they would if they were cooked like traditional pastaand you’ll cut way down on both prep time and cleanup." —Georgia FreedmanRecipe Developer

  • One-Pan Chicken Fajita Pasta

    One-Pan Chicken Fajita Pasta in a pot with a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "My dad has a few signature dishes he makesbut my favorite has always been his fajitas. As a kidI remember watching him as he sliced the onions and bell peppers with ease before tossing them into a hot skillet. I loved the sizzle and the magnificent smell that only got better once he started cooking the chicken and spices. Fast forward to today. My family loves pasta for dinnerso I got to work pasta-fying fajitas so I can satisfy all of our cravings." —Sara HaasRecipe Developer

  • Spaghetti all'Assassina (Assassin's Spaghetti)

    Bowlful of assassin's spaghetti at a table setting with more in a bowla glass of waterutensilsand light blue kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "This naturally vegan pasta really doesn’t need any further bells and whistlesbut you can certainly add them. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is an easy additionbut a soft cheese like a little fresh burrata is nice to help offset the heat." —Laurel RandolphAssociate Editorial Director

  • One-Pan Tortellini Bake

    overhead view of Tortellini Pasta Bake in a baking dish

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "There's one dish that consistently brings joy to our dinner table and peace of mind to my meal planning session: my one-pan tortellini bake. This cheesysaucy wonder has become our family's culinary white flag. It's comfortingfamiliarand guaranteed to put smiles on faces." —Kris OsborneRecipe Developer

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  • One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage

    One-Pan Ravioli in a pan with a large spoon

    Simply Recipes

    "Instead of waiting for a large pot of water to boilthe ravioli steams in the skillet with a small amount of watersimilar to how you would cook a potstickerreducing the time and cooking vessels needed." —Theodora KaloudisRecipe Developer

  • One-Pan Baked Penne alla Vodka

    One pan baked penne alla vodka lifted from casserole dish using a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “Since the pasta cooks directly in the panit absorbs tons of flavor from the sauce and seasonings. We’ve found that the whole dish feels more cohesive after hanging out in the oven together versus cooking everything separately on the stove. Convenient and tasty—it’s a win-win.” —Julie & Amy LuxembergRecipe Developers

  • Spinach Artichoke Ravioli

    Cheesy spinach and artichoke ravioli cooked in a pan with a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shystman

    "For this one-pan dinner adaptationI added all that good stuffplus one of my favorite weeknight heroes to bulk it up: store-bought ravioli. It cooks in just a few minutesand it’s one of those ingredients that can hang tight in your fridge for a couple weeks until you’re ready to use it." —Rebecca FennelRecipe Developer

  • Sloppy Joe Skillet Dinner

    overhead view of Sloppy Joe Skillet Dinner

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "My family enjoys this skillet dinner topped with the same things we like on our sloppy Joe sandwiches: sliced pickles for the kiddosplus sliced onions and pickled jalapeños for the grownups. You can also add a little fresh chopped parsley if you have it on hand. For crunchtry sprinkling on some fried onions." —Coco MoranteRecipe Developer

    Continue to 17 of 20 below

  • Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

    Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens in a Pot With a Serving SpoonAll on a White Kitchen Towel on the Counterand in the Backgrounda Glass of Water and a Block of Pecorino Romani Cheese on a Cheese Board

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Tender wilted greens not only add colorbut bulk up the pasta to turn it into a true one-pan dinner. This is a comfortingfeel-good meal that’s fit for the busiest of weeknights." —Sheela PrakashRecipe Developer

  • Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet

    A top view of a skillet with the Cheesy Hamburger Skillet Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "This recipe comes from years of experience with one-potminimal-ingredient pastas. The base is ground beef and pastabut it only needs a handful of other ingredients to come together: canned tomatoesbrothcheeseand a little cream." —Meghan SplawnRecipe Developer

  • French Onion Pasta

    French onion pasta in a pot at a table

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Sweet and tender caramelized onions are the star of this dishand they’re enhanced with fresh thymewhite wineand beef broth. The orecchiette pasta cooks directly in the seasoned brothadding some starchiness and thickness to the sauce. It’s finished with a splash of cream and melty Gruyère cheese." —Julie & Amy LuxembergRecipe Developers

  • Sheet Pan Gnocchi With MushroomsSausageand Kale

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With MushroomsSausageand Kale in a Bowl Next to a Block of Parmesan Cheese

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Making this sheet pan gnocchi is a two-step affair. You start by roasting gnocchimushroomssausageand whole cloves of garlic on a sheet pan. After about 30 minutesyou whisk the roasted garlic with lemon juice and olive oiltoss it with kaleand nestle the dressed leafy greens onto the sheet pan to finish cooking." —Katie MorfordRecipe Developer

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