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Home » Dinner

one pan pasta - tomato basil

Modified: Jan 25, 2025 · Published: Jul 23, 2019 by Marni Katz · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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One pan pasta with tomato basil sauce is my idea of a great summer (or really anytime) simple dinner.  Everything cooks in the same one pan, you don’t need the oven and you’ll get a homemade meal on the table in under 30 minutes!  What could be better?

white plate of penne pasta with a red sauce and basil garnish. a small plate of red pepper flakes is in the background with whole basil leaves

I first came across the idea of one pan pasta when I started making this lemon pasta recipe a few years ago.  And it got me thinking, what other pastas could I make just like this, in one pan.  

This is the second recipe I came up with once I started playing with this genius way of cooking pasta.  It’s based on the idea that you can cook the pasta right in the sauce. It uses the same method with a different flavor profile.

“This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Why does cooking the pasta in the sauce work?

As pasta cooks it is naturally absorbing the water from the cooking liquid in order to soften or “cook” the noodles all the way through.  By adding the pasta to a sauce that has a significantly higher water content, the pasta not only absorbs the water as it cooks, but also the flavor of the sauce.  

bowl of uncooked penne pasta in on a food scale

Additionally, the pasta gives off some starch through the cooking process, and this starch thickens the sauce making the finished product thicker and creamier than most pasta sauces.

If you’ve watched cooking shows or read enough cookbooks (or food blogs for that matter) you’ll see that most recipes and all chefs tell you to salt the pasta cooking water.  It’s normally your only chance to give the pasta itself seasoning. The method I’m teaching you in this recipe is the same concept. The more flavor you build along the way, the more flavor your end result will have.

One of the best parts of this recipe is that you can use any shape pasta that you like. 

The cooking time might vary a bit and you may need to add additional liquid as you go, but the shape and size of the pasta does not matter. 

Another simple piece of this recipe is that I recommend using your favorite jarred sauce.   Yep, you heard me right. You can definitely use a homemade sauce, but then this wouldn’t be such a simple dish, would it?

The last benefit (and why I think the husband likes this so much), is that there is virtually no clean up.  One pan rinsed and put in the dishwasher and you are done! Now, that’s a win in everybody’s book.

white plate with tomato basil one pan pasta on it. Garnished with shredded cheese and basil

Tips and tricks:

  • Most pasta is sold in 16 oz boxes, but some shapes are sold in smaller boxes.  This recipe calls for 16 oz of pasta, so please just check to make sure your box is the right size, or add some pasta to get to the right amount.
  • Depending on how al dente you like your pasta, you made need to add a bit more water towards the end of the cooking time.  Just do it slowly. I found that for even better flavor, adding more pasta sauce will do the trick as well.
  • Want to add cheese to this dish?  You can do so at the end. Sprinkle some shredded mozzarella over the top, put a lid on it for a minute, with the heat off. It will get melty and delicious.  Alternatively, you can sprinkle Parmesan over the top right before serving.
  • Want to add meatballs to the dish?  I would cook them separately and add them on top only once the pasta is done cooking.

📖 Recipe

white plate of penna pasta with a red sauce and basil garnish. a small plate of red pepper flakes is in the background

one pan pasta - tomato basil

Marni Katz
a simple one pan pasta dish that can be on the table in less than 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course pasta
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 493 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz. dried pasta typically one box
  • 26 oz. jar of pasta sauce any kind will work
  • 15 oz. can of tomato sauce
  • 26 oz. water just refill pasta jar sauce
  • 3 cubes frozen basil or 3 teaspoons chopped fresh
  • 1 cube frozen garlic or 1 clove minced well
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • pepper to taste
  • chili flakes to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into a large straight sided saute pan
  • Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a low boil.
  • Stir every few minutes to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom.
  • Once liquid is absorbed and pasta is cooked through, turn off the heat (the exact time will depend on the pasta shape, refer to the box for a guideline).
  • The pasta is now ready to serve.  

Notes

Optional - if you want to melt cheese over the top, sprinkle cheese on pasta while still in pan, and then cover with a lid for 2 minutes.  The heat from the pasta will melt the cheese nicely.
If you want to add in a vegetable, you can add it in with the other ingredients and it will cook along with the pasta.  In the pictures, I used 2 cups frozen broccoli.

Nutrition

Calories: 493kcalCarbohydrates: 101gProtein: 19gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1831mgPotassium: 1215mgFiber: 8gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 1356IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 4mg
Keyword easy pasta recipe, One pan pasta, tomato pasta
Tried this recipe?Let me know what you think!

Looking for other great pasta dishes? Check these out, I think you'll like them!

  • Shallot, Snap Pea, Goat Cheese Pasta
  • One Pan Pasta - Lemon and Garlic
  • One Pan Pasta - Fettuccine Alfredo

Want to make this one pan pasta now? Are you missing some ingredients? Amazon Now can get them to you in a few hours, Instacart can get them to you today. Or add them to your Peapod grocery list and don't be stuck with out them again!

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About Marni Katz

Marni Katz is the recipe developer, photographer and writer behind Simple Gray T-Shirt. She wants to help people keep things simple in the kitchen. With simple recipes, easy menu ideas and plenty of tips and tricks along the way, she wants getting a meal on the table to be as simple as putting on your favorite gray tee!
"I want to inspire you to get back in the kitchen and do this, because you can!"

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As a busy mom of three, I believe in keeping recipes simple. 7-ingredients or less is my goal, and everything is kid-tested and approved!

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