12 Insanely Easy One-Pot Pasta Recipes for Busy Nights
Craving pasta but don’t want a sink full of dishes? These 12 one-pot pasta recipes cook everything together — pasta, sauce, and all — for maximum flavor with minimal cleanup.
One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pasta
Rich, creamy mushroom pasta made entirely in one pot — minimal dishes, maximum flavor.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (any short shape)
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 2 tbsp butter, salt, pepper, thyme
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot, sauté mushrooms until golden. Remove half for garnish.
- Add onion and garlic, cook until soft.
- Add uncooked pasta and broth, simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender (about 12 minutes).
- Stir in cream and parmesan until thickened.
- Top with reserved mushrooms and fresh thyme.
One-Pot Sausage & Spinach Pasta
Savory sausage, fresh spinach, and pasta simmered together for bold flavor and barely any cleanup.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan, salt, pepper, chili flakes
Instructions
- Brown sausage in a large pot, breaking it into crumbles.
- Add garlic, cook 30 seconds, then add diced tomatoes and broth.
- Stir in uncooked pasta, simmer until tender, about 12 minutes.
- Fold in spinach until wilted.
- Top with parmesan and season to taste.
One-Pot Lemon Chicken Pasta
Bright, zesty lemon chicken pasta made in a single pot for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
- Zest and juice of 2 lemons
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- 2 tbsp olive oil, fresh parsley, salt, pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot, season and sear chicken until cooked through. Remove.
- Sauté garlic in the same pot, add broth, bring to a simmer.
- Add uncooked pasta, cook until tender, about 12 minutes.
- Return chicken to the pot with lemon zest and juice.
- Stir in parmesan, garnish with parsley.
One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Simple, garlicky, cheesy pasta made entirely in one pot. Ready in 20 minutes with almost no dishes.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan
- 3 tbsp butter, fresh parsley, salt, pepper
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot, sauté garlic until fragrant.
- Add broth and uncooked pasta, bring to a simmer.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in cream and parmesan until glossy and thick.
- Garnish with parsley and cracked pepper.
One-Pot Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta
Juicy chicken, tomato, and basil simmered together in a single pot for a full dinner with barely any cleanup.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
- 1 can (24 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- Fresh basil, olive oil, parmesan, salt, pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot, sear chicken until browned. Remove.
- Sauté garlic, then add crushed tomatoes and broth.
- Stir in uncooked pasta, simmer until tender, about 12 minutes.
- Return chicken to the pot, simmer 2 more minutes.
- Top with fresh basil and parmesan.
One-Pot Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
Creamy alfredo sauce and tender broccoli made entirely in one pot for an easy, filling dinner.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan, salt, pepper
Instructions
- Sauté garlic in a large pot, then add broth and uncooked pasta.
- Simmer, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
- Add broccoli florets, continue cooking until pasta is tender, about 4 more minutes.
- Stir in cream and parmesan until thickened.
- Season with salt and pepper before serving.
One-Pot Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Bold Cajun-spiced shrimp and pasta cooked together in one pot — big flavor, small cleanup.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream, olive oil, parsley, salt
Instructions
- Toss shrimp with Cajun seasoning. Sear in oil until pink, about 2 minutes per side. Remove.
- Sauté garlic in the same pot, add broth and uncooked pasta.
- Simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in cream, then return shrimp to the pot.
- Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
One-Pot Taco Pasta
All the flavors of taco night in a creamy, cheesy one-pot pasta the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar, sour cream, cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a large pot, drain excess fat.
- Stir in taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, and broth.
- Add uncooked pasta, simmer until tender, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in shredded cheddar until melted.
- Top with sour cream and cilantro if desired.
One-Pot Beef Stroganoff Pasta
Tender beef and mushrooms in a creamy, savory sauce — classic stroganoff flavor with zero extra pots.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (egg noodles or fusilli)
- 1 lb beef strips or ground beef
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream, salt, pepper, fresh parsley
Instructions
- Brown beef in a large pot, remove and set aside.
- Sauté onion and mushrooms in the same pot until golden.
- Add broth and uncooked pasta, simmer until tender, about 12 minutes.
- Return beef to the pot, stir in sour cream off the heat.
- Season and garnish with fresh parsley.
One-Pot Pesto Chicken Pasta
Vibrant basil pesto and juicy chicken tossed with pasta for a fresh, fast one-pot dinner.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- Parmesan, olive oil, salt, pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot, sear chicken until cooked through. Remove.
- Add broth and uncooked pasta to the pot, simmer until tender, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in pesto and return chicken to the pot.
- Fold in cherry tomatoes.
- Top with parmesan before serving.
One-Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Spicy buffalo chicken meets creamy pasta in one pot — bold flavor with easy cleanup.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
- 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar, green onion, salt
Instructions
- Sear chicken in a large pot until cooked through. Remove.
- Add broth and uncooked pasta, simmer until tender, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in cream cheese and buffalo sauce until smooth.
- Return chicken to the pot, stir in cheddar until melted.
- Garnish with green onion.
One-Pot Spinach Artichoke Pasta
All the flavors of everyone’s favorite dip, turned into a creamy, comforting one-pot pasta dinner.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, chopped
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan, salt, pepper
Instructions
- Sauté garlic in a large pot, then add broth and uncooked pasta.
- Simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in cream cheese and parmesan until melted and smooth.
- Fold in artichoke hearts and spinach until wilted.
- Season with salt and pepper before serving.
One Pot, Endless Weeknight Wins
Fewer dishes, big flavor, and dinner on the table fast — these 12 one-pot pasta recipes are exactly what busy nights call for. Pin or bookmark this page so you always have a go-to easy dinner ready to cook.

