5-Ingredient One-Pot Creamy Tomato Zucchini Pasta
This creamy tomato zucchini pasta is a one-pot dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes! It's cheesy, family-friendly, and super easy to make on busy nights.
Equipment
- Large deep skillet or pot
Ingredients
- 8 oz spaghetti
- 1 medium zucchini (diced)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 24 oz creamy tomato basil pasta sauce (I used the Trader Joe's brand)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add diced zucchini to the skillet and cook for 3–4 minutes until slightly softened.
- Add minced garlic to the skillet, stir, and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the pasta sauce and 2 cups of water to the skillet. Mix with zucchini and garlic until combined.
- Break the spaghetti in half and add it to the skillet in a crisscross pattern. Press down gently until the spaghetti is mostly submerged in the liquid.
- Cover the skillet and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking, until the spaghetti is tender and cooked through.
- Reduce heat to low. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the pasta. Cover for 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Stir frequently while cooking: Since the pasta cooks directly in the sauce, it’s important to stir every few minutes to prevent the noodles from sticking together or burning on the bottom of the pot.
- Adjust the consistency as needed: If the pasta seems too watery, let it cook for a little bit longer until some of the liquid evaporates. If the pasta becomes too thick, stir in a splash of warm water, broth, or milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Amp up the protein: I used the Barilla protein-plus pasta for this dish which is a great source of plant-based protein if you want to keep this dish vegetarian. You can also add cooked shredded chicken, grilled chicken, turkey sausage, or turkey meatballs for extra protein.