Description
Hearty Tomato Spinach One Pot Pasta brings Mediterranean comfort directly to kitchen tables with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor. Simple ingredients dance together in a single pan, creating a quick meal that satisfies hunger and delights senses in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) pasta (penne, spaghetti, or your favorite)
- 4 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 2 cups (480 ml) vegetable broth
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free)
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Aromatics Infusion: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium flame. Sauté onions until translucent, then introduce garlic and cook until aromatic.
- Liquid Integration: Pour diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and milk into the pot. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add pasta and stir thoroughly.
- Pasta Simmering: Escalate heat to boiling, then reduce to medium-low. Allow mixture to simmer uncovered, stirring intermittently until pasta reaches al dente texture and sauce thickens naturally.
- Final Embellishment: Fold fresh spinach into the dish, letting it wilt seamlessly. Incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring until creating a luxurious, creamy consistency.
- Presentation: Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately, accompanied by optional side of garlic bread or crisp green salad.
Notes
- Choose pasta with similar cooking times to ensure even tenderness and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy or undercooked.
- Adjust liquid quantities slightly if pasta absorbs more or less liquid than expected, maintaining a creamy consistency without becoming too dry or watery.
- Toast Italian seasoning briefly in olive oil before adding other ingredients to release more robust, complex aromatics and intensify the overall taste profile.
- Replace milk and Parmesan with nutritional yeast or plant-based alternatives like coconut milk and cashew cheese for a vegan-friendly version that maintains creamy texture and rich flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 15mg