3-Ingredient One Pot Pasta

Introduction

The appeal of a 3-Ingredient One Pot Pasta is hard to beat: minimal ingredients, easy cleanup, and a delicious meal ready in under thirty minutes. With just pasta, tomatoes, and garlic, you can create a comforting dinner that doesn’t compromise on flavor. This dish is a true time saver for busy weeknights or when your pantry is running low, yet it always tastes like a complete, satisfying home-cooked meal.

Deliciously Simple 3-Ingredient One Pot Pasta

What sets this recipe apart is its ingenious simplicity. Cooking all ingredients together allows the pasta to soak up the savory tomato-garlic sauce, creating a rich and cohesive flavor profile without the need for complicated steps or long lists of ingredients. The result is a velvety, saucy pasta that feels gourmet—with only three pantry staples.

Preparing the Tomato-Garlic Sauce

Crush or mince the garlic to release maximum flavor, then add it to a pot with chopped or canned tomatoes. As the mixture simmers, the garlic gently infuses the tomato base—no added broth or sautéing required. The tomatoes break down to form a luscious sauce, and the starch released from the pasta gives everything a fantastic texture, binding sauce to noodles beautifully.

One Pot Pasta: Quick Assembly, Easy Cleanup

Simply bring the tomatoes and garlic to a simmer before adding uncooked pasta straight into the pot. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. As the pasta cooks, it absorbs the tomato juices and aromatics, resulting in perfectly cooked noodles and fewer dishes to wash at the end. The success of this recipe lies in allowing everything to cook together, concentrating flavor and streamlining prep.

Serving Suggestions for a Flavorful 3-Ingredient One Pot Pasta

Serve this pasta dish hot, directly from the pot, topped with a drizzle of olive oil or a sprinkle of fresh herbs if desired. For extra texture and presentation, try shaving a bit of Parmesan or adding a handful of arugula on top (while it technically adds more ingredients, it’s a fantastic optional upgrade). Pair with a side salad or rustic bread for a more complete meal.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 generous servings. With only three base ingredients, each serving typically contains around 350–400 calories, mostly from the pasta and tomatoes. It’s a wholesome, plant-based option that can be enjoyed any day of the week.

3-Ingredient One Pot Pasta (Recap)

Quick, satisfying, and incredibly low-effort, this pasta is your solution for weeknights when flavor and speed matter most. The three ingredients work in harmony, delivering a savory and comforting meal that everyone will appreciate.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. In a large pot or deep skillet, add the tomatoes (with their juices, if using canned), garlic, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
2. Add the dried pasta to the pot and stir to combine. If the tomatoes don’t fully cover the pasta, add up to 1 cup water so the noodles are mostly submerged.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain a lively simmer. Stir frequently, allowing the pasta to absorb the sauce and release starch, which will help thicken the dish.
4. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened, about 10–12 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
5. Remove from heat. (Drizzle with olive oil or top with grated Parmesan and fresh herbs, if desired.) Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.

Weekly Meal Planning

This 3-Ingredient One Pot Pasta is a perfect addition to your meal prep routine. Save and schedule this recipe to effortlessly organize your week, consolidate ingredients, and get smart shopping lists that cover all your planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates ingredient totals for all scheduled recipes
• Sorts shopping lists by grocery store department for fast in-store trips
• Minimizes duplicate purchases and ensures you never forget key ingredients
• Keeps your weekly meal prep streamlined and stress-free

Pro tip: When you plan recipes together, CookifyAI highlights overlapping ingredients, making batch shopping even easier and helping to reduce food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes