Tomato Spinach One-Pot Rotini (Printable)

Vibrant one-pot pasta with juicy tomatoes, fresh spinach, and savory broth. Vegetarian, easy, and ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz rotini pasta, uncooked

→ Vegetables

02 - 14 oz canned diced tomatoes with juices
03 - 3.5 oz fresh baby spinach
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids

06 - 4 cups vegetable broth

→ Seasonings

07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
10 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Cheese

12 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
02 - Add diced tomatoes with juices, vegetable broth, oregano, basil, crushed red pepper flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a boil.
03 - Add rotini to the boiling broth and stir well. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
04 - Stir in spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until wilted. If using, add grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and creamy.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot, topped with additional Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The pasta cooks directly in the flavorful broth, creating a silky sauce that coats every curl of the rotini
  • Cleanup takes exactly three minutes because everything happens in one pot
  • It comes together in under thirty minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
02 -
  • The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so dont cook it until all the broth disappears or youll end up with mush
  • Spinach looks like a mountain when raw but wilts down to almost nothing, so dont be afraid to add more than the recipe calls for
  • If the sauce gets too thick before the pasta is done, add a splash more broth or water
03 -
  • Reserve about a half cup of pasta cooking water before adding the spinach—it can save a too-thick sauce at the end
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre-grated for better melting and a fresher taste
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