Tomato Spinach One-Pot Rotini (Print-Friendly)

Comforting one-pot pasta with rotini, tomatoes, spinach, and broth. Vegetarian, easy to make, and minimal 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 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, dried oregano, dried basil, crushed red pepper flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
04 - Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the rotini pasta. Stir well to prevent sticking.
05 - Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
06 - Stir in fresh spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted.
07 - If using, add grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and creamy.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot, topped with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in a single pot, meaning you spend less time cleaning and more time actually eating
  • The starch from the pasta thickens the tomato broth into the most incredible silky sauce that tastes like it simmered for hours
  • It comes together in thirty minutes flat but tastes like something you would order at a cozy Italian restaurant
02 -
  • The pasta will continue absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so if the sauce looks too thick while cooking, add an extra splash of broth
  • Stir more frequently toward the end of cooking time because that is when the sauce thickens and the pasta is most likely to stick to the bottom of the pot
  • Use a pot that is wider than it is tall, which helps the liquid evaporate properly and gives the pasta room to cook evenly
03 -
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of using pre-grated cheese, as it melts into the sauce much better and has a fresher flavor
  • If you only have dried spinach or herbs on hand, add them when you add the pasta so they have time to rehydrate and release their flavor
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