Tomato Spinach One-Pot Rotini (Printable)

A vibrant, comforting one-pot pasta dish with rotini, fresh spinach, tomatoes, and savory broth. Quick, easy, and vegetarian.

# 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

# Directions:

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

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Everything cooks together in one pot, including the pasta, so the sauce absorbs every bit of starch from the noodles for incredible creaminess
  • From empty counter to dinner in thirty minutes, which is exactly the kind of math I need on weeknights
02 -
  • The pasta will continue absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so if the sauce looks thick before the pasta is done, add a splash more broth
  • Stir more frequently toward the end of cooking, that is when the starch-thickened sauce loves to cling to the bottom of the pot
03 -
  • Low-sodium vegetable broth gives you control since the tomatoes and Parmesan both add saltiness
  • If you want it extra creamy, stir in a spoonful of mascarpone or cream cheese at the very end
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