One Pot Tomato Pasta

On the table in under 30 minutes, this easy one pot tomato pasta recipe is a simple yet comforting dinner. Penne pasta is cooked in tinned / canned tomatoes before grated cheese is stirred in, creating a rich cheese and tomato pasta that will be sure to please the whole family!

Jump to:

• Why we love this budget pasta recipe
• Ingredients notes and substitutions
• How to make this recipe
• FAQ
• My recipe tips
• Cost / Budget Notes
• Cheese
• Storage / Make Ahead
• Serving Ideas
• Variations
• More easy pasta recipes
• One Pot Tomato Pasta

Why we love this budget pasta recipe

• Whilst I love cooking pasta dishes like this simple Italian tomato pasta for my family, the thought of a one pot pasta recipe like this one is far more appealing on a busy night. Plus, like with this one pot creamy sausage pasta, there is less washing up – which is always a win in my books! The penne pasta is cooked in the tomato sauce, which adds flavour to the pasta as it sucks up all that tomato juice, but the starch in the pasta itself helps thicken the sauce.
• The cheesey tomato pasta is loved by kids as well as adults. It’s one of those dishes that even though you know you’ve had enough, you just can’t help having another spoonful… 😉
• It’s an easy recipe that uses basic store cupboard and fridge ingredients – swap the parmesan for grated cheddar or another hard cheese, which is also a great way of reducing the cost further.

Ingredients notes and substitutions

• Pasta – my favourite types of pasta for this recipe are penne and fusilli, but you can use whatever you have in.
• Tomatoes – tinned / canned tomatoes, crushed or chopped. If you only have whole plum tomatoes then I recommend you chop them up with a knife in the tin before adding to the pasta.
• Onion – brown onion, or a couple of spring onions / green onions if you need to use them up.
• Cheese – I have tried this recipe with parmesan and cheddar cheese – or tasty cheese – and both work well.
• Dried oregano – if you don’t have oregano to hand you can use Italian seasoning, or a bay leaf (remove before serving!)

How to make this recipe

For full video on making tomato pasta, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

1. In a medium saucepan, fry the diced onion in the oil over a medium heat for 5 minutes, until softened and translucent.
2. Add the crushed garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3. Tip the dried pasta into the pan and pour in the boiling water, tomatoes, dried oregano and season with salt and black pepper.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-18 minutes, stirring, until the pasta has absorbed the liquid and the pasta is al dente.
5. Take off the heat and stir in the grated parmesan.
6. Eat immediately or cool then store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

FAQ

My recipe tips

• To make a thick and delicious sauce with cooked pasta, the pasta and liquid amounts should be carefully measured.
• Stir the pasta every so often, especially nearing the end of the cooking time, to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• The pasta and sauce will thicken if left for 5 minutes after taken off the heat.
• Vegetarian pasta – if you are using parmesan cheese check it is vegetarian, otherwise use an alternative or vegetarian hard cheese.

Cost / Budget Notes

• Australia: AUD$4.25 with parmesan or AUD$2.91 with tasty cheese. Per serve: $1.06 or 0.73
• UK: £2.56 with parmesan or £1.51 with cheddar cheese. Per serve: 65p or 38p.
• As you can see, using a tasty cheese or basic cheddar cheese brings the cost down quite a bit!

Storage / Make Ahead

• You can store leftover pasta in the fridge for up to 2 days. As the pasta thickens as it cools you may need to add a little water to it when reheating.

Serving Ideas

• Fresh basil tomato pasta – if you have fresh basil to hand it makes a lovely addition to the tomato parmesan pasta. Sprinkle over a handful of fresh basil leaves just before serving. Don’t waste the basil stalks! – add them to the pasta and sauce whilst cooking, then remove before serving.
• Serving 1-2 people – this one pot pasta can easily be halved or quartered, if serving one then use a smaller saucepan.
• For a filling dinner, serve after a bowl of steaming hot roast pumpkin soup.

Variations

• Fresh basil tomato pasta – if you have fresh basil to hand it makes a lovely addition to the tomato parmesan pasta. Sprinkle over a handful of fresh basil leaves just before serving. Don’t waste the basil stalks! – add them to the pasta and sauce whilst cooking, then remove before serving.

More easy pasta recipes