22 Weeknight Pasta Recipes That Only Need One Pot (and Zero Stress)
Weeknights are busy enough—dinner shouldn’t add to the chaos. These 22 one-pot pasta recipes are here to make your life easier, with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor. Whether you’re craving something creamy, zesty, or veggie-packed, there’s a recipe here to satisfy your whole family. Just one pot, a handful of ingredients, and dinner is done—no stress, no mess.
One Pot Mac and Cheese
Ditch the blue box and it’s endless ingredient list for this 20 minute, 9 ingredient REAL one pot mac and cheese. Your kids are going to love it and you don’t have to worry about feeding them ingredients you can’t pronounce!
Easy Shrimp Scampi Linguine
Tender shrimp, a light and lemony sauce, and perfectly cooked noodles combine in this recipe for Easy Shrimp Scampi Linguine. This absolutely delicious pasta dinner is ready in twenty minutes! It will be your new go-to weeknight meal in no time.
Creamy Sausage Gnocchi
Ready in 30 minutes and picky-eater approved, this Creamy Sausage Gnocchi recipe has a rich, creamy sauce that perfectly complements the soft, pillowy gnocchi and the spicy, savory bite of Italian sausage! Perfect for any day of the week, this dish combines simple ingredients with rich Italian flavors to create a meal that’s a huge hit with the whole family!
Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta in the Instant Pot
If you want a 20 minute meal complete with pasta, shrimp, and a delicious (slightly spicy) sauce, this is the recipe for you! Bang Bang Shrimp is a popular appetizer at a classic chain restaurant. This meal takes the best flavors of that dish, but brings it up a notch by adding pasta and cooking it quickly in the Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
This easy recipe for Homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper will be your new favorite weeknight dinner. It’s made all in one pot and much healthier than traditional boxed hamburger helper or cheeseburger macaroni. It can also easily be made gluten free. Make this one pot pasta dinner today!
Cheesy Taco Pasta
This cheesy taco pasta is a warm, hearty meal full of delicious taco flavors the whole family will love! It’s a classic one pot dinner and is your new best friend for those busy weeknights!
Shrimp Scampi in the Instant Pot
The ever elegant restaurant entree that you love to order just became so much easier to make at home! This recipe for Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi cooks in– get this– 3 minutes! This is a one pot meal that you’ll love to serve up, either for a quick meal for yourself or to impress at a dinner party!
One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
This Italian sausage pasta recipe comes together all in one pot in less than 30 minutes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner that your family will love! It’s got a creamy alfredo-like pan sauce that coats every nook and cranny of the pasta along with tender kale and Italian sausage!
Slumgullion
Slumgullion is the perfect pasta dish for the whole family made using basic ingredients like elbow macaroni, a can of tomato sauce, ground beef, and cheddar cheese. Try out this homemade version of your favorite hamburger helper!
Chicken and Broccoli Pasta (One Pot Meal!)
This chicken and broccoli pasta dish is a simple and delicious weeknight meal that can be prepared in under 30 minutes. The tender chicken, crisp broccoli and al dente pasta are cooked together in a flavorful creamy cheese sauce for a satisfying and easy One Pot Meal.
One Pot Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake
All of your favorite pizza ingredients and baked penne pasta wrapped into a hearty one pot Italian inspired pasta bake dinner! Italian sausage, pepperoni, loads of vegetables, sauce, melted cheese and pasta create a savory and satisfying combination!
Dump and Start Instant Pot Creamy Ziti
Dump and Start Instant Pot Creamy Ziti is saucy, cheesy and delicious. 20 minutes is all you need to make this creamy red sauce pasta dish!
One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta Recipe
This super simple 20-minute garlic Parmesan pasta will quickly become your family’s favorite easy weeknight dinner. It’s loaded with flavor but is made with simple ingredients and everything cooks in one pot!
Instant pot spicy rigatoni
This Spicy Rigatoni is ready in under 25 minutes. Cooked in the Instant Pot with spicy sausage, a tomato cream sauce, and red chili flakes, this flavorful pasta will leave you wanting more!
Italian Sausage Pasta
Italian Sausage Pasta recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes for a quick, hearty meal. A creamy sausage red sauce with spinach coats penne pasta for a delicious recipe ready for weeknights!
One Pot Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
One Pot Bruschetta Chicken Pasta is a full-flavored pasta dish made with tender chicken, garlic, fresh basil, and bright cherry tomatoes. It’s an easy weeknight meal made entirely in one pot with all the flavors of my favorite bruschetta.
One Pot Sausage and Peppers Pasta
This delicious One Pot Sausage and Peppers Pasta is the perfect easy weeknight meal the whole family will devour. The pasta is cooked right in the skillet, soaking up all the delicious flavors from the sausage and peppers….YUM!
Instant Pot Ramen Noodles
These Ramen Noodles in the Instant Pot are served with peppers, bok choy, and shrimp, and the hoisin sauce and soy sauce give the perfect amount of unique flavor blends. With just a one minute cook time, it’s going to be on your table faster than you know it.
One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper
This one-pot hamburger helper is a cozy comfort food filled with al dente macaroni noodles and crumbled ground beef in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It’s the perfect 30-minute meal for a busy weeknight and is something that the whole family will love!
One-Pan Cheesy Pasta Bolognese
Instead of taking all day to make the authentic version of the Italian classic, make this one-pan cheesy pasta Bolognese. It is just as satisfying and requires so much less dishwashing. It’s a perfect dish to add to your weeknight repertoire of simple, comforting meals with lots of flavor.
One Pan Chicken Bacon Pasta
One Pan Chicken Bacon Pasta is deliciously creamy and filling, and the best part is that it only takes 30 minutes or less to make! This one pot dinner is always a crowd pleaser!
Instant Pot Goulash
This Instant Pot Goulash is a delightful blend of meat, pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese. It has a cook time of 6 minutes in the Instant Pot, and will satisfy your family’s cravings without needing to slave away over the stove!
