20-Minute Dinners
One-Pot Vegetable Pasta
This amazing one-pot vegetable pasta is a culinary manifesto of simplicity and rich flavor, straight from the pages of top food blogs. Dry pasta cooks directly in the tomato sauce and water alongside onions, garlic, and juicy vegetables, allowing the pasta's natural starches to stay in the pot and turn the sauce incredibly velvety and thick. Every noodle gets infused with savory spices, sweet tomatoes, and herbal freshness while remaining perfectly al dente. It is a brilliant, lazy Italian-style recipe that saves you time and leaves no mountain of dishes behind.
Dishday
Recipe overview
- Total time
- 20 min
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cooking
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Cuisine
- 20-Minute Dinners
Nutrition
per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 68 g
- Fiber
- 5 g
Step by step
Method
- 01
Peel the onion and slice it into thin feathers, then finely c…
Peel the onion and slice it into thin feathers, then finely chop the garlic. If you are using large fresh vegetables instead of a frozen mix, chop them into small, uniform bite-sized pieces.
- 02
Take a large, heavy-bottomed pot
Take a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Place the dry pasta at the bottom, then layer the sliced onion, garlic, vegetables, salt, dried Italian herbs, and pour in the olive oil.
- 03
Pour the tomato sauce and boiling water over all the ingredie…
Pour the tomato sauce and boiling water over all the ingredients in the pot. The liquids should almost completely submerge the pasta and vegetables, creating a proper boiling environment.
- 04
Place the pot over high heat and bring the liquid to a rapid,…
Place the pot over high heat and bring the liquid to a rapid, rolling boil. As soon as it boils, stir the contents thoroughly with a spatula to separate the noodles and keep them from sticking together.
- 05
Reduce the heat to medium so the sauce simmers gently, and co…
Reduce the heat to medium so the sauce simmers gently, and cook uncovered for about 10-12 minutes. Stir every two minutes as the liquid reduces and emulsifies into a thick, clinging sauce.
- 06
Taste the pasta to check for an al dente texture—it should be…
Taste the pasta to check for an al dente texture—it should be tender on the outside with a firm bite in the center. Remove from heat, cover with a lid, and let it rest for two minutes to let the sauce thicken completely.
Dishday
Useful advice
Cooking tip
For this method, it is best to use medium-sized, high-quality durum wheat pasta like penne, fusilli, or linguine, as thin spaghetti can clump together too easily.
How to serve
Serve the pasta piping hot, drizzled with a touch of good olive oil and generously scattered with fresh basil leaves. For a non-vegan option, freshly grated Parmesan is highly recommended.
How to store
This pasta is best enjoyed immediately upon cooking, as it will continue to absorb the sauce over time and may become too soft.
Note
Be sure to stir the pasta frequently throughout the cooking process, especially during the first few minutes, to keep it from sticking to the bottom.
