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We all know pasta can be simple – but did you know you could make it THIS simple? This one pot Tomato Pasta recipe is a fantastic one for a quick, easy and delicious midweek vegetarian family meal.

A big pan full of Tomato One Pot Pasta mixed together.

There’s no doubt about it. This vegetarian Tomato Pasta recipe is the ULTIMATE cheat recipe.

This is taking a one pot recipe to the extreme. We literally just put all of the ingredients in a pan together and simmer it until it’s cooked. That. Is. It! 

It has delicious Italian-y tomatoey vibes, and we can rustle it up from store cupboard bits and bobs to make this comfort food dish in less than 20 minutes. 

A perfect low-effort, maximum satisfaction dish that’s speedy and budget friendly!


Why you’ll love this simple Tomato Pasta recipe

⭐️ So easy, so quick

⭐️ All made in one pan

⭐️ Comfort with zero fuss


Close up of spaghetti and tomatoes in this easy one pot pasta recipe.

How we came up with this recipe

I know there are naysayers out there, but I LOVE to make a one pot pasta by cooking the pasta actually IN the sauce (as you will know if you’ve tried any of my other one pot pasta recipes!)

The starch in the pasta helps to thicken the liquid and gives the sauce a silky texture that gets better as it cooks. Plus, it means using one less pan and minimal effort levels! 

This quick Tomato Pasta recipe is so delicious and hearty, but I wanted it to be versatile too. 

After plenty of testing and adding a little pesto kick and plenty of tomatoey flavour, it is fine to eat as it comes – BUT feel free to throw in any ingredients you have that either elevate the dish for you or just needs using up.

Perhaps you want meat in it too – go forth and make it your own!


tomato Pasta Ingredients notes

Ingredients for One Pot Pasta with Tomato Sauce all in the pan. Spaghetti, onion, tomato and pesto ready to be cooked.
  • Spaghetti – We’re using the average dried spaghetti here, not fresh. Feel free to use wholewheat or gluten free too
  • Stock, tinned tomatoes & tomato puree – These are the base for our sauce and important ingredients, so the better quality you use, the tastier the dish will be. I recommend Marigold for stock. You can also use homemade stock if you like
  • Parmesan – Grana Padano is a good, slightly cheaper alternative to Parmesan if you prefer

How to make Tomato Pasta

  1. Put the spaghetti, tinned tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, pesto, salt and pepper, and stock in a large saucepan.
  2. With the lid on, put it over a medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the pasta is almost cooked.
  3. Stir in the cherry tomatoes and cook for a further 3 or 4 minutes until the pasta is cooked and the cherry tomatoes are softened.
  4. Top with the Parmesan cheese to serve.

Leftovers

In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days.

NB If you don’t serve this as soon as it’s cooked, you’ll find that the sauce absorbs into the pasta and there’s not a lot left. It won’t affect the taste, you may just want to add a splash more stock when you warm it through.

In the freezer I’m not a big fan of freezing pasta as it can go quite mushy when defrosted and reheated.

All that said, there’s nothing wrong with freezing for lunch if you have leftovers, it’s just not quite as good as fresh or reheated from the fridge.

Top tip

This meal is so versatile. You can use it on its own or as a base.

Mix it up by adding what you have available in your fridge. For example, this recipe is great with mushrooms and chorizo – just fry them up in the pan for a few minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients.

There are so many options, feel free to use your imagination!

FAQs

Can you recommend a good pan for this recipe?

Try and use a big lidded pan for this recipe. I have tried-and-tested some one-pan pans recently and there were some good ones in that list. Hope this pan review helps.

Do you have any more quick tomato pasta-based recipes?

I sure do! Try out my Slow Cooker Feta & Tomato, my Baked Tomato & Basil Pasta, my Tomato Spaghetti with Meatballs or my Chorizo Pasta.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

5 from 42 votes

Tomato Pasta {Easiest Ever One Pan Spaghetti}

This delicious one pan Tomato Pasta recipe is perfect for a quick midweek family meal. Throw it all in together and that's it!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 350 g Spaghetti
  • 400 g Tinned tomatoes
  • 1 Large onion, Sliced
  • 4 Cloves Garlic, Peeled and sliced
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 4 tbsp Pesto
  • 3 tbsp Tomato puree
  • 1 litre Vegetable stock, I use Marigold powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
  • 200 g Cherry tomatoes
  • 75 g Grated parmesan

Instructions 

  • Put the spaghetti, tinned tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, pesto, salt and pepper, and stock in a large saucepan.
  • With the lid on, put it over a medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the pasta is almost cooked.
  • Stir in the cherry tomatoes and cook for a further 3 or 4 minutes until the pasta is cooked and the cherry tomatoes are softened.
  • Top with the parmesan cheese to serve.

Notes

Spaghetti: We’re using the average dried spaghetti here, not fresh. Feel free to use wholewheat or gluten free too
Stock, tinned tomatoes & tomato puree: These are the base for our sauce and important ingredients, so the better quality you use, the tastier the dish will be. I recommend Marigold for stock. You can also use homemade stock if you like
Get creative: This meal is so versatile – you can use it on its own or as a base. Add different veggies or meat for a slightly different dish
Pan: Use a nice big lidded pan for making this recipe so you can fit everything in comfortably. I have a few recommendations for family friendly pots here.

Nutrition

Calories: 597kcalCarbohydrates: 86gProtein: 20gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 2191mgPotassium: 737mgFiber: 6gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1515IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 262mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Family Food
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31 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love this recipe and it’s become my go to on nights when I don’t know what to make. Super quick and easy, only one pot and uses ingredients we generally have in the house. What’s not to love!

  2. Just had this for dinner and we all loved it. Absolutely delicious and quick and easy to make. Thank you!