A simple, skillet pasta dish full of fresh ingredients & ready in minutes. Toss fresh Italian-inspired ingredients into a skillet, and boil to perfection. No sauce needed!

one pan pasta

Making pasta dishes usually involves chopping this, sauteing that, boiling this, combining that. I had to come up with something to solve this dilemna of wanting pasta, but neither having time or energy for an elaborate dish.

This one pan spaghetti is perfect for your pasta cravings, and is so light and refreshing (even in the winter months).  Combining fresh tomatoes, pasta, fresh veggies and herbs your pasta craving will be satisfied in no time!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS SKILLET PASTA:

• 1 lb dried pasta
• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes, can use fresh or canned
• 1 yellow onion, sliced or chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced or grated
• ½ cup fresh basil leaves
• salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, to taste

HOW TO MAKE THIS SKILLET PASTA:

1. Place all ingredients into pan and add enough water to cover the pasta.
2. Heat pan to boiling, then reduce to simmer until pasta is al dente. Check pasta package for specific timing.
3. Serve & enjoy!

Besides a few minutes to chop the tomatoes, onions and garlic this pasta is so quick to throw together, but definitely does not lack in flavor or presentation!

Toss all those ingredients into that deep skillet of yours, and turn on the heat!

Once the pasta is al dente, the water & olive oil should be just thick enough to make a sauce for the dish. A light, flavorful sauce, with some kick if you add red pepper flakes, like I do.

So easy… I love this one. You gotta try it!

Grab a loaf of crusty bread, add a caesar salad, and you are all set for dinner tonight. It will be done before those kiddos get done with their homework, or watch one episode of whatever they are watching these days! 

handy tools to make this one pot pasta a breeze:

• skillet – cover, deep for larger recipes, nonstick, easy to clean
• pasta bowls – decorative, dishwasher safe, jazz up an easy meal

frequently asked questions

How do you cook pasta in a pan? Add the pasta to the pan, pour over a quart and a half of cold water (starting with cold water will keep the pasta from sticking) and turn up the heat. Stir the pasta regularly, but it’ll cook in a fraction of the time required to boil a large volume of water and then cook the pasta in the boiling water.

How much pasta do you cook per person? 2 ounces of dry pasta per person is a good rule of thumb.

Does pasta cook faster with the lid on? It does make water boil faster, but only by a minute or two. It will not make the pasta actually cook faster, and increases the risk of the water boiling over. 

Love this one pan pasta? Try this 4-Ingredient Chicken Pesto Pasta!

Bookmark my Easy Dinner page for many other easy, delicious meals the whole family will love!