Cheesy Vegetarian One-Pot Pasta Recipe

 Making a meal for dinner tonight? This one-pot tomato pasta is the perfect dish to make when you’re in a rush. It only takes 30 minutes from start to finish, and it’s so easy! You can have this on the table in no time at all.

One Pot Pasta

I love that this one-pot pasta is a quick and easy dish that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. The best part? You only need one pot to make it! This is perfect for those nights when you don’t have time to cook, but want good food on the table.

Step by Step Video Tutorial

With just a few ingredients, your family will be asking for seconds—and thirds. Your kids might even ask if there are leftovers they can take home with them! It’s so simple that you could easily double or triple the recipe and freeze any extra portions for later use.

As a bonus, with just one pot, you don’t have to worry about dirtying up your kitchen or cooking multiple dishes. Plus, cleanup is a breeze since there are only two things that need washing – the pot and the cutting board! There really isn't anything better than an easy-to-make pasta recipe that tastes great too.

What Other Vegetables Can I Add to This Pasta?

When it comes to this recipe, you are able to change it up pretty much any way you like. While these are the veggies I added, you can add so many other variations. Below are some different options that work well in this dish.

• Bell peppers
• Jalapeno peppers
• Zucchini
• Yellow summer squash
• Carrots
• Celery

You may notice this recipe has green olives in the mixture. While many would think that odd, my family enjoys the extra tang that offers to the sauce. You can leave olives out completely, or simply use black olives instead if you want a milder flavor.

Can I Add Meat to This Recipe?

While this recipe doesn't call for meat specifically, you can add whatever kind of meat you like. Ground beef is always a great choice when it comes to pasta. This goes for ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork. Ground Italian sausage is also great as it tends to have a lot of flavors. You can add other meats like chorizo if you want a burst of flavor.

I've served this with garlic baked pork chops with sage, baked stuffed chicken breasts, or even these garlic herb chicken breasts.

This recipe is also great to use leftover meats. You can add cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken. You can even add leftover steak to this recipe.

And if you want to keep this with just vegetables, you can make this chicken pasta primavera or the easy spaghetti bolognese another time for that meat and pasta meal you desire.

Do I Cook the Pasta Separately?

You will cook the pasta right in the sauce. That is the beauty of this recipe. One-pot is truly all that you need. Even if you are adding meat to this recipe, you can cook it in the pot, dump the grease and then continue using the same pot.

You can use any kind of noodles that you like, but it is recommended to use a shorter noodle so that you do not overcook them. The longer it cooks, the mushier they get and nobody likes mushy pasta! I used basic spiral pasta but something like fusilli, penne, cavatappi, or shells would also be great in this recipe.

What Can I Serve with This One-Pot Pasta?

If you want to make this a larger meal or stretch it a bit further, you can definitely add a starter or even a side with this recipe. I like keeping things simple, and since this has tons of vegetables, it's ideal for a single dish that is a meal all in one. However, you can add to the meal.

I like starting this meal with the best Caprese salad recipe or even a simple homemade bruschetta with fresh tomato basil topping. You can also serve this homemade cheesy garlic bread on the side for dipping into the pasta.

Is This Recipe Vegan?

This recipe is not vegan as it is written. That is because I am using regular cheese. If you want to make this recipe vegan, simply change out the cheese to vegan cheese and this recipe is perfect for a vegan diet.

If you like the idea of bulking up the recipe with meat but do not want to add meat, you can add many of the meat substitutes that you find in the freezer. You can also add tofu crumbles, seitan, or tempeh depending upon your own preferences.

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• Rotini
• Cherry tomatoes
• Red onion
• Garlic cloves
• Mushrooms
• Tomato paste
• Water
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Mozzarella
• Green olives

How to Make One Pot Pasta

In a large deep-sided skillet, over medium heat, melt the butter and olive oil.

Add the red onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Next, add in the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes, until softened and browned, stirring regularly.

Add the tomatoes and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, then stir in the garlic.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the water and tomato sauce until combined.

Add the dry pasta into the skillet or stockpot with the vegetables.

Pour the tomato mixture into the pot along with the salt, black pepper, and dried Italian herbs.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook for 10 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated.

Stir in the cheese and olives.

Remove from heat and serve immediately.