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One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

Everything cooks in one pot in 25 minutes: the pasta releases its starch into the sauce, so it turns glossy without cream.

AKBy the AKC test kitchen · Tested twice · Updated September 2026
Prep 5 min Cook 20 min Serves 4
4.8 from 2,140 ratings
One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta — illustration

Ingredients

Tick them off as you go. Quantities are for 4 servings.

Method

  1. Load the potPut the pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, oil, pepper flakes and stock in a wide pot. The pasta should lie flat; break it if it does not.

  2. Boil hardBring to a rolling boil over high heat, uncovered. Stir with tongs every minute so the pasta does not stick.

  3. Cook downKeep boiling and stirring for 9 to 11 minutes, until the pasta is al dente and the liquid has reduced to a glossy sauce that coats it. Add a splash of water if it dries out early.

  4. FinishOff the heat, stir in the basil and Parmigiano. Season with salt and plenty of black pepper. Serve at once with more cheese.

Test-kitchen tip. Cherry tomatoes matter here: they burst and sweeten quickly. In winter, swap for a 14-oz can of crushed tomatoes and reduce the stock by half a cup.

Nutrition per serving

480Calories
18 gProtein
72 gCarbs
12 gFat
6 gFiber

Estimated from USDA data for the ingredients listed. Values vary with brands and portion sizes; see our disclaimer.

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