Tomato Spinach One-Pot Rotini (Printable View)

A comforting pasta dish featuring rotini cooked with tomatoes, fresh spinach, and broth 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 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 Make It:

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 if using, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
04 - Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the rotini and stir well.
05 - Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Stir in spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted.
07 - Add grated Parmesan cheese if using and stir until melted and creamy.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot, topped with additional Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pasta cooks directly in the broth, absorbing all that flavor while naturally thickening the sauce
  • Cleanup takes literally two minutes because everything happens in one pot
  • You can customize the vegetables and cheese based on whatever is languishing in your crisper drawer
02 -
  • The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so err on the side of it looking slightly soupy when you take it off the stove
  • If the sauce gets too thick before the pasta is done, add splashes of water or more broth
  • Stir more frequently toward the end because the starch released from the pasta makes it prone to sticking to the bottom
03 -
  • Use a pot larger than you think you need because the pasta expands as it cooks and the liquid bubbles up
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre grated cheese for better melting and flavor
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