I love a big one-pot pasta dish that can serve an entire army when you’re looking for something filling and not much clean up on busy weeknights. These are one-pot wonders and can be whipped up in a jiffy. Think about mixing the noodles with vegetables, some meat or perhaps a sauce that packs flavor, and you will have a fairly filling course perfect for most. Here are the one-pot pasta recipes perfect for a big family, a description on how to prepare these meals and essential components that will help in cooking these meals.
1.One-Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta
This creamy garlic parmesan pasta is a decadent family dinner. The garlic, cream and Parmesan make for a luxurious comforting sauce that clings to every strand of pasta. The best part? Created in one pot–so it is easy to clean up.
Ingredients:
- 450g (1 lb) pasta of choice (fettucine, penne or spaghetti
- 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian alternative)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Method:
- Add garlic and cook: in a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (1 – 2 minutes). Be careful not to burn the garlic,
- Bring the Liquids: Add in chicken broth and heavy cream, and bring to a simmer.
- Add the pasta: When it reaches a rolling boil, introduce the pasta to the pot. Stir every now and then so the paste doesn’t stick together. Decrease the heat to low and put on a lid. Take the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and add about 10-12 minutes (depending on the type of pasta) until al dente, as well as the remaining liquid is reduced by half.
- Finish the Sauce: Add the grated Parmesan and Italian seasoning. Let the cheese mel t in to the sauce, make it nice & creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Top with freshly chopped parsley when serving. This creamy garlic Parmesan pasta is a comforting dish, best served with side salad and garlic bread.
2. One-Pot Spaghetti Bolognese
One pot spaghetti Bolognese is an Italian favourite and this dish just got a whole lot easier! The meat sauce is simmered along with the pasta, so it takes on all the gorgeous flavors. This serves a family and doesn’t take much prep work.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) of ground beef, or ground turkey
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 14.5 oz can of Crushed Tomatoes
- 1 cup of beef stock (or vegetable stock)
- 1/2 cup red wine (can omit, but adds amazing depth to the sauce)
- 12 oz (340g) spaghetti
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Basil, roughly chopped to garnish
- Parmesan cheese, grated, to serve
Method:
- Brown the Ground Meat: Add the ground beef (or turkey) to a large pot and sauté over medium heat until browned. As it cooks, use a spoon to break the meat apart. If there is too much fat, you drain off some of the fat.
- Cook the onions and garlic: Add chopped onion and garlic in the pot for 5 minutes or until soft.
- Pour in the Crushed Tomatoes, beef broth, and red Wine (If Using) Add and stir to combine, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pot.
- Add flavor to the Sauce: Add oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Let the sauce simmer, and add spaghetti without cooking. Ensure that the pasta is fully submerged in the sauce.
- Cook the pasta: Put a lid on it and simmer for 10-12 minutes, giving it a stir now and again. The pasta is going to cook in the sauce, absorbing all of those delicious flavors and be soft and melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Serving: When the pasta is ready, serve the spaghetti Bolognese hot with grated Parmesan and fresh basil on top.
3. One-Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Another comforting dish that is simple to prepare is this creamy chicken Alfredo pasta. From the herb-seasoned, seared and sauced chicken to cooking the pasta in that same sauce — this is a one-pot wonder.
Ingredients:
- 450g chicken breasts or thighs, diced(1 lb)
- Fettuccine or penne pasta (340g/12 oz)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped parsley, to sprinkle on top
Method:
- Cook the Chicken: Add 1 Tbsp butter to a large pot over medium heat. With the heat high, and while stirring occasionally to brown evenly, add diced chicken with salt, pepper and thyme sprinkled on it; fry until golden brown and done all the way through (6-8 minutes). Take the chicken out of the pot and aside.
- Sauté the Garlic: In the same pot, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter. Stir in the garlic and stuffed for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add Your Liquids: Then you will add in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Simmer and stir to combine.
- Add the pasta: When the broth is boiling, pour in the dry pasta. Cover and cook for around 10 mins, stirring occasionally until the pasta is al dente and has soaked up most of the liquid.
- The last couple of steps: add the chicken and Parmesan cheese; Keep stirring so that the melted cheese incorporates into the sauce and attaches itself to the pasta.
- To Serve: Top the creamy chicken Alfredo pasta with fresh parsley and serve hot.
4. One-Pot Pesto Pasta with Vegetables
This Spring Pasta With Herby Pesto is a light, herbaceous pesto pasta that is the perfect family dish for all. In this recipe, we combine pasta with seasonal vegetables and a delicious pesto sauce of basil, garlic, pine nuts and Parmesan.
Ingredients:
- 450g (1 lb) pasta such as penne, farfalle or spaghetti
- Pesto sauce (1 cup store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- Basil leaves for topping
Method:
- Sauté the Veggies: In a big pot, add the olive oil over medium heat. Place the zucchini, bell pepper and cherry tomatoes in slices. Sauté for around 5-7 minutes until the veggies soften and begin to brown.
- Add in the Liquids: Pour in vegetable broth, bring to a boil.
- Simmer the Pasta: Add in the pasta (if it was uncooked) and put on a lid, allowing to simmer on low heat for around 10 minutes until it is cooked through and the liquid should be nearly all soaked up by now.
- Add the Pesto: Mix in the pesto and Parmesan cheese. Toss gently to coat noodles and veggies with sauce.
- Serve with: Fresh basil leaves and more Parmesan, if you wish.
5. One-Pot Taco Pasta
When you combine the taco spices with pasta, the result is a fun, flavorful dish that will appeal to everybody. This Taco-Stuffed Peppers One-Pot Meal is ideal for a family of 4 and can be topped with all your favorite taco toppings.
Ingredients:
- Ground beef or chicken (1lb/450g.)
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups beef or chicken broth
- 340g elbow macaroni or rotini (12 oz)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sour cream (optional)
- Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Method:
- Brown the meat: In a large pot, cook the ground beef (or chicken) over medium heat. Remove excess fat, and add the onion and garlic. Cook for 3–4 minutes until soft.
- Add Seasoning: Add the taco seasoning and diced tomatoes (with juice) to pot and mix well.
- Introduce the Liquids: Add in broth and bring to a simmer.
- Transfer the Uncooked Pasta: This step requires a little skill. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente and has soaked up most of the liquid
- Complete the Dish: Add shredded cheddar until melted in the pasta. If you want to thicken it up a bit, sour cream can also be stirred in at this point for an extra creamy texture.
- To serve: Top with fresh cilantro and any taco toppings, such as diced tomatoes, lettuce or avocado (optional).
Conclusion
One-pot pasta dinners are a complete and utter lifesaver when you need to feed a family of many. These recipes are simple, tasty and filling, but you prepare them with one pot or pan. They help you save both time in preparing and cooking, but the clean up portion after as well. From a decadent Alfredo to a robust Bolognese or even light pesto pasta, these one-pot dishes can accommodate every palate.
These recipes can be tailored to dietary restrictions and what you have on hand, adding different meats, veggies, or spices so everyone in your family finds a meal that satisfies. Also, most of these recipes will come together in 30 minutes to an hour so they are great for busy weeknights or company.
The secret to having a successful one-pot pasta is the correct layering of ingredients with the pasta cooking away on all that flavour it can soak up within itself, bite after bite of deliciousness. Simple and delicious recipes such that you will be able to prepare a meal which is comforting, yet dollop on experience. From creamy chicken Alfredo to taco pasta; these one-pot pasta dishes are must-haves for the family and will become your go-to’s saving you time and energy while not compromising on flavor.
And as you play with different flavor profiles and use what you have on hand, you’ll see that these recipes are not only easy but also infinitely customizable. Grab your ingredients, bust out your biggest pot and share the joy of a simple one-pot pasta dish with those you love.
