15 Dump & Go One-Pot Pasta Recipes to Save Your Weeknights

overhead shot of brown bowl filled with rotini pasta, broccoli, parmesan and lemon slices

These genius one-pot pasta recipes have all the comfort of a slow-simmered pasta dish, but they require a fraction of the effort. Combine your raw ingredients—pasta, protein, vegetables and seasonings—in the same pot and add just enough water to cook the pasta. The starch that usually cooks off into your pasta water stays in the pot and mingles with the seasonings to create a delectably creamy sauce.

01 of 15

One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

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This one-pot pasta with tangy tomato-basil sauce is a simple, fast and easy weeknight dinner. All of your ingredients go into one pot, and with a bit of stirring and about 25 minutes of cook time, you'll have a healthy dinner the whole family will enjoy.

02 of 15

One-Pot Pasta with Tuna

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Joy Howard

Use the one-pot pasta cooking method to make this tuna pasta recipe that calls for just 5 ingredients and is ready in just over half an hour. For extra crunch and a tuna noodle casserole feel, sprinkle this speedy pasta dish with toasted whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs.

03 of 15

One-Pot Italian Sausage & Kale Pasta

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For a fast weeknight pasta dinner, why not cook your sauce and pasta all at once? By using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta--no colanders here--the starch that cooks off into your pasta water, which you usually drain away, stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

04 of 15

Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta

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You'll only have to dirty one pot in this easy pasta recipe that cooks chicken and vegetables right along with the noodles. Plus, by using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

05 of 15

One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless

The whole family is sure to love this one-pot spaghetti recipe! The sausage, chicken broth and white wine impart slow-cooked flavors in this quick-cooking ragu. As the pasta sauce thickens, you'll want to scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent the sauce and pasta from sticking and to help the pasta cook evenly.

06 of 15

One-Pot Beef Stroganoff

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Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless

This one-pot beef stroganoff recipe cuts down on dishes, but not on flavor! Mixed mushrooms and sirloin steak layer on the umami flavors, while sour cream with a hint of Dijon mustard carries the sauce. Coating the steak in baking soda before cooking helps to tenderize it, but you can skip this step to speed things up if needed.

07 of 15

One-Pot Chicken Pasta with Cajun Seasonings

One-Pot Chicken Pasta with Cajun Seasonings
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless

This one-pot chicken pasta dish with Cajun seasonings is a snap to whip up. Here we use the technique of stirring often to help the starches release for natural creaminess. We love the spicy flavor profile of Cajun seasoning, but you can substitute different spices depending on what you have on hand.

08 of 15

One-Pot Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta

One-Pot Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta
Victor Protasio

This creamy chicken and mushroom pasta recipe makes for an easy weeknight dinner. Using store-bought rotisserie chicken saves time when cooking, and leftover chicken would work just as well.

09 of 15

One-Pot Chicken & Broccoli Pasta

One-Pot Chicken & Broccoli Pasta
Jennifer Causey

This creamy chicken and broccoli pasta makes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. We opt for small shells in this recipe, but any other small pasta, like orecchiette, would work, too.

10 of 15

One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan

overhead shot of brown bowl filled with rotini pasta, broccoli, parmesan and lemon slices

This hearty pasta dish with bright, fresh flavor is ideal for busy weeknights. The Parmesan adds welcome saltiness and notes of umami and you get added texture from the slight crunch of broccoli and whole-wheat noodles. Add some shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp or crispy chickpeas to punch up the protein.

11 of 15

Braised Cauliflower & Squash Penne Pasta

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In this braised cauliflower and squash penne pasta recipe, we cook the pasta and vegetables in broth rather than water to make this warming vegetarian pasta extra flavorful. The starch from the pasta and vegetables combines with the broth as it simmers and creates a silky sauce. And you can make the whole dish in just one pot, so cleanup is a breeze.

12 of 15

Smoky Shrimp, Corn & Pea One-Pot Pasta

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Make your sauce and pasta all at once with this fast weeknight pasta dinner recipe. By using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta--no colanders here--the starch that cooks off into your pasta water, which you usually drain away, stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

13 of 15

Pressure-Cooker Mac & Cheese

Pressure-Cooker Mac & Cheese

Make a healthier version of classic macaroni and cheese with this recipe that adds broccoli for a nutritional boost and an easy way to eat more vegetables. Using an electric pressure cooker, such as the InstantPot, gets dinner on the table in just 30 minutes.

14 of 15

Lamb & Spinach One-Pot Pasta

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A few stirs with a wooden spoon and only one pot--that's all you need for this quick weeknight pasta recipe. As the starch cooks off into the pasta water, it creates a creamy sauce to coat your vegetables and meat.

15 of 15

One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

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This chicken Parmesan pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken and sauce all in one skillet for a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Finish the dish under the broiler to achieve a delicious melted cheese crust.

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