Tomato Spinach One-Pot Rotini (Print version)

Comforting rotini pasta with tomatoes, spinach, and savory broth cooked in one pot for easy cleanup.

# 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 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
10 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Cheese

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

# Cooking Steps:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot so you spend more time eating and less time scrubbing
  • The pasta absorbs all those gorgeous tomato flavors while it cooks
  • Its ready in about 30 minutes start to finish
  • Leftovers heat up beautifully for lunch the next day
02 -
  • The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so leave a little broth in the pot if you want it saucier
  • Stir more frequently toward the end to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom
  • Fresh spinach may seem like a lot but it wilts down dramatically, so don't be shy with it
03 -
  • Use a large enough pot because the pasta expands as it cooks and bubbles up enthusiastically
  • Don't break the pasta in half, the long strands might seem unwieldy but they cook evenly
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre-grated, the texture difference is remarkable
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