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 family meal.
I love this recipe for when I need to rustle something up with what’s in the store cupboard and bits and bobs in the fridge, but I also know everyone will be HUNGRY and need a satisfying dinner to end the day.
This One Pan Tomato Pasta recipe is so, so easy and quick – there’s no big ingredient list, no forward planning, no mountains of effort. It’s just ready to go in less than 20 minutes. I wanted to keep this simple pasta sauce recipe at its most basic to prove you really can rustle up a hearty, delicious, economical meal that everyone will love without much fuss.
This dish is absolutely fine as it is, but do 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. It’s so versatile – go forth and make it your own! ❤️
You’ll love this recipe because:
✅ So easy, so quick
✅ All made in one pan
✅ Comfort with zero fuss
FAQs about this Tomato Pasta Recipe
Can I really cook pasta and sauce all in one pan?
Yes! In fact, the starch in the pasta helps to thicken the liquid to create the sauce. It gives it a silky texture that gets better as it cooks.
What other ingredients can I add to the sauce?
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. 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.
Or for a bit more to it, you can follow my One Pan Easy Chorizo Pasta recipe.
What kind of stock should I use?
Stock is an important ingredient as it adds so much flavour, so a good one does make all the difference.
You can use homemade stock from the freezer that you’ve batch made, or any good quality type will do if not. I like the brand Marigold if you can find it.
Can I reheat leftovers of this tomato pasta?
You can reheat leftovers, although you may find the sauce has soaked into the pasta and is quite dry. Add a splash of water or stock as it warms up.
Fancy more Easy Pasta recipes?
- Feta and Tomato Pasta – From my Summer Slow Cooker Series
- Prawn Pasta – 10 minute recipe with creamy garlic sauce
- Cajun Chicken Pasta – Another one-pan favourite
Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do.
I’d love to know how you got on and what you thought of it if you make this recipe. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ by the recipe.Also, if you’d like to show me a photo by tagging me on Instagram (@tamingtwins) I LOVE to see your creations.
This post was originally published on March 16, 2014 and fully updated with new photos and a slight improvement to the method on June 22, 2022.
Tomato Pasta {Easiest ONE POT Recipe!}
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.
Mrs Lil says
I’m definitely going to try this, this week! Hope you’re feeling better lovely xx
Steph @MisplacedBrit says
Absolutely gorgeous pics! & a recipe EVERY family with small kids needs! When Miss 6 was born a friend showed me how to safely cut a tomato with one hand… I thought it was genius!! This dish reminded me of it, but not ‘how’ to do it 🙁 Ohhhh, the useful things we just forget!!
Ellen says
I’m going to try this tonight, it looks so tasty & as I’m feeling blurgh, I want to cook something easy!!!
Alison says
That is really clever, just bunging it in the pan. Looks lovely too
mel @mydasyni says
I love recipes where you can just chuck everything in, because sometimes, life gets in the way of the washing up! It definitely looks like something my family would enjoy #TastyTuesdays
Corina says
I’ve only just heard of this type of one pot pasta dish. It sounds like something to definitely try as it does make such an easy meal. You could even just put everything in the pot except the stock earlier in the day so it would be even easier come dinner time.
Julie's Family Kitchen says
Stunning pictures. What a fantastic way of rustling up a bowl of pasta, looks super tasty.
Hayley @hayleyfromhome says
This is genius! Looks so easy and lovely photos xx
Honest Mum says
Oh wow, so, so vibrant and takes me straight back to when I lived in Rome after Uni-your photography never ceases to amaze me too-I adore your blog, thanks so much for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Sarah Barnes says
Oh Vicki that means such a lot, you’re so talented I really appreciate your kind words xxx
Uju @Babesabouttown says
This is awesome. I’ve heard of one pot pasta but never tried (well apart from baked versions), so most certainly adding this to my list. I also like that this is something I could cook safely with the babes and they’d get a real sense of satisfaction out of making it!
Kirsty - Hijacked by Twins says
This looks really good! Got to love a good one pot meal 🙂 #tastytuesdays x
Sarah Barnes says
One pot meals always a winner for us multi-tasking twin Mummas Kirsty!
Sophie at Franglaise Cooking says
Fab, fab, fab! Quick and easy with yummy carbs, what more could you ask for? Especially when ill! Pinning this one to come back to and cook very soon.
#TastyTuesdays
Sarah Barnes says
Hope you enjoy Sophie 🙂
Sophie at Franglaise Cooking says
I made this yesterday for me, the kids and the babies, it went down a real treat 🙂 But next time I’ll use pasta shapes so the babies can pick them up a bit more easily 😉
Lauren @TheSaltyTomato says
Thanks for the fantastic one pot meal! I never thought of cooking pasta in just enough water. I will have to try this soon.
Honest Mum says
So up my street, simple, tasty and totally beautiful to boot, love this. Thanks so much for linking up to #tastytuesdays x
Ciara (@My Fussy Eater) says
This looks lovely. I’ve often wondered if one pot pasta would taste a bit odd because the starchy water doesn’t get thrown away as normal, but your version looks great. I will have to try it.
Sarah Barnes says
I thought that too and yes it is a bit starchy, but I think the Italians keep some starchy water in the sauce normally anyway, it’s kind of starchy comforting if that makes sense?!
Katie says
Delicious, and so so easy! I cheated even further with tinned tomatoes (and just 800ml stock) and still a winner.
HELEN MANSFIELD says
Fabulous recipe, I’ve been making this for years now after spotting on here. Delicious and so easy. Highly recommend and hugely adaptable depending on what you fancy or have left in the fridge.
Jaynie says
Just made this recipe for the first time tonight, my family absolutely loved it. So simple to do in one pot. Thank you
Bridget says
I’ve recently come upon your Instagram page and have made some of your recipes. I made this pasta dish and just wanted to let you know how much my son and I enjoyed it. It’s absolutely delicious and very easy to make. The recipe amount made 4 dinners (2 x 2 days) and enough left over for me to bring to work for lunch also, so very economical too! This will definitely be going on my weekly menu.
Lisa says
Oh my goodness I may be late to the party but WOW who’d of thought such an easy recipe could taste sooooooooo tasty! Loved it!
CM3 says
Really quick and easy to make. Loved it.
Natalia says
This recipe is so simple and taste amazing! We just had our tea and all gone!
Donna says
Loved this meal so easy and on the table within half hour!
Becky says
Just had this for dinner and we all loved it. Absolutely delicious and quick and easy to make. Thank you!
Lisa says
Had this last night and it was a massive hit in the house. So tasty and so easy to make, highly recommend
Kirsty says
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!