This one pot pasta recipe makes the best quick and easy dinner! Made with simple, fresh ingredients and a few pantry staples, you’ll love having this delicious vegan recipe in your back pocket.

Overhead view of a bowl of rotini pasta with tomato sauce and vegetables.
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Features
Ingredient Notes
Step-by-Step Instructions
FAQs
Adding Protein
Serving Suggestions
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Vegan One Pot Pasta

Features

  • vegan, can be gluten-free and oil-free
  • packed with veggies for a simple, nutritious meal
  • easy to make in one pot in under 30 minutes!
  • customize with your choice of protein
  • budget-friendly, great for the whole family and perfect for quick weeknight dinners

Ingredient Notes

Visual of ingredients needed for making one pot pasta labelled with text overlay.
  • Onion: White or yellow onion is suitable.
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic is best but you can use 1 tsp garlic powder if that’s all you have.
  • Oil: You can substitute water for an oil-free recipe, otherwise any neutral cooking oil works.
  • Dried Herbs: Suggested is basil, oregano and thyme. If you want to use fresh herbs, use about 3 tbsp finely chopped. If you’re missing one, it’s not a big deal or Italian seasoning would work as a substitute.
  • Mushroom: If you don’t like mushroom, you can leave it out.
  • Crushed Tomato: Use crushed tomato for a smooth sauce. If you don’t mind it chunky, you can use diced tomatoes. Any jarred pasta sauce would also work.
  • Kale: Can be omitted or swapped for spinach.
  • Pasta: The recipe calls for rotini but any short pasta shape works.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1. In a large heavy-bottom pot saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil for a few minutes over medium heat.

Chopped onions and garlic cooking in a large pot with a wooden spoon.

Step 2. Add the dried basil, oregano, thyme, red chili flakes, salt and pepper and continue cooking for another minute or two.

Chopped onions, garlic and dried herbs cooking in a large pot.

Step 3. Add the zucchini, mushrooms and bell peppers and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often until the mushrooms are soft.

Chopped mushrooms, bell peppers and zucchini cooking in a large pot.

Step 4. Add the crushed tomato, vegetable stock and pasta and mix well. Bring to simmer and cook for 13-14 minutes. Give it a good stir every few minutes to make sure nothing is stocking to the bottom of the pan.

Quick Tip: Note that cooking time will vary based on the pasta used. You want it to be a slightly underdone al dente at this point. It will continue to cook after you add the kale and let the dish sit for a few minutes. Be careful not to over cook it or you’ll have mushy pasta!

Uncooked pasta in a pot of tomato sauce.
Rotini and vegetables cooking in tomato sauce in a pot.

Step 5. Once the pasta is al dente, stir in the kale and remove from heat. Allow it to sit for 3-5 minutes to thicken up.

Overhead view of a large pot of rotini pasta and vegetables in tomato sauce.

Serve with freshly chopped parsley, fresh cracked black pepper and vegan parmesan!

Bowl of pasta noodles with tomato vegetable sauce and fresh chopped herbs on top.

FAQs

Do I have to add mushrooms?

Nope. If you don’t like mushrooms or have an allergy, just leave them out. No problem!

Do I have to use rotini?

No. This recipe works with any pasta but I suggest sticking to a short pasta like penne, shells, bows, macaroni or fusili. You can also use long shapes like spaghetti or linguini but I’d suggest breaking them in half before adding so they cook more evenly.

Note that cooking times will vary based on the pasta used. Whatever variety you use, cook to a slightly underdone al dente before adding the kale, as it will continue to cook for a few minutes after that.

Can I use water instead of vegetable broth?

Yes, water is fine but broth adds more flavour.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes. This recipe can be made with gluten-free pasta such as brown rice or quinoa pasta. Note that the cooking time will vary based on the pasta you use.

Adding Protein

  • If adding crumbled or sliced sausage, tempeh or veggie ground round, brown it first in the pan, then remove and proceed with the recipe. Stir it back in when you add the kale.
  • If adding cooked or canned lentils, white beans or chickpeas, stir them in when you add the kale.
  • Something like a lentil or walnut “meat” would make a yummy addition. Same thing. Add it when you add the kale.
Rotini pasta in a pot with vegetables and sauce.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve topped with nutritional yeast or 2-ingredient vegan “parmesan“ or homemade tofu feta.
  • I love it all mixed up with lots of fresh cracked black pepper, nutritional yeast or parmesan and tofu feta, it’s so good!
  • Homemade garlic bread always makes a wonderful side dish. To make your own, mix 3-4 tbsp of melted butter or olive oil with lots of minced garlic and 1-2 tbsp nutritional yeast. Slice a loaf lengthwise and spread with the mixture. Bake until browned and delicious!
  • This pairs well with caesar salad. Make your own with this vegan caesar salad dressing!
  • Sprinkle with fresh herbs like basil and parsley.
Overhead view of a bowl of rotini pasta with tomato sauce and vegetables.

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Overhead view of a bowl of rotini pasta with tomato sauce and vegetables.

Vegan One Pot Pasta

★★★★★ 5 from 7 reviews
  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 20 min
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

No straining, no boiling water, you will love how easy this one pan pasta is! Cook everything up in one pot for a delicious, wholesome meal the whole family will enjoy.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup sliced white onion (130 g) 
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced (10 g) 
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (30g, sub with vegetable stock for an oil-free recipe)
  • 2 tsp dried basil 
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes flakes 
  • 1 medium zucchini diced (175 g, 1 heaping cup) 
  • 1 red bell pepper, core and seeds removed and diced (210 g) 
  • 2 cups white mushrooms, sliced (225 g) 
  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomato (794 g)
  • 4 cups vegetable stock (1000 ml) 
  • 5 cups dry rotini (350 g)
  • 2 heaping cups finely chopped kale (70 g) 

Instructions

  1. In a large heavy bottom pot over medium heat, sauté 1/2 cup sliced white onions with 2 cloves of minced garlic in 2 tbsp olive oil (use broth for oil-free) for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and starting to soften.
  2. Add the 2 tsp each dried basil and oregano, 1 tsp each dried thyme, salt and pepper and 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes and continue to cook for an additional minute, stirring often.
  3. Add 2 cups sliced mushrooms, 1 heaping cup of diced zucchini and 1 diced red bell pepper and cook for approximately 5 minutes, until mushrooms are soft, stirring often.
  4. Stir in 5 cups of uncooked rotini, 4 cups of broth and the can of crushed tomatoes.
  5. Bring to a light simmer and allow to cook uncovered for 12-14 minutes until the pasta is a slightly under done al dente, stirring frequently to ensure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pot. 
  6. Once the pasta is cooked al dente, stir in the chopped kale and remove from heat. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes.
  7. Serve pasta with freshly chopped parsley, fresh cracked black pepper and vegan parmesan and/or tofu feta.

Notes

Rotini can be substituted with fusili, macaroni, shells, bows or any other short pasta shape. You can use long pasta like spaghetti and linguini but I’d recommend breaking it half before adding to the recipe so it cooks more evenly . Note that cooking time will vary based on the pasta used. Cook until al dente before adding the kale. Be sure not to overcook the pasta, especially if you’ll be storing leftovers. 

To store, let cool then store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat as needed stovetop or in the microwave until heated to your preference.

For a low-sodium recipe, omit or reduce salt and use low-sodium or no salt added vegetable broth (or use water) and no salt added crushed tomatoes.

To make gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta of choice such as quinoa pasta, brown rice pasta or chickpea pasta and adjust cooking time as needed until pasta is cooked al dente.

Vegetables: Kale can be omitted or substituted with spinach. Mushrooms can be omitted if you don’t like them or have an allergy. Any colour of bell pepper works. Vegetable amounts don’t need to be exact, use as guidelines to adjust to your liking. Diced carrots can be added or substituted for zucchini, bell pepper or 1 cup of the mushrooms.

This recipe makes quite a large amount – about 6 hearty servings. Consider cutting it in half if you don’t need that much or can’t eat it within 4 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/6th of recipe
  • Calories: 389
  • Sodium: 461 mg
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Carbohydrates: 56 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 12 g

Keywords: one pot pasta, vegan one pot pasta

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