Quick & Easy Michael Symon One Pot Pasta Recipe for Busy Nights

Michael Symon’s one pot pasta revolutionizes weeknight cooking with its ingenious approach to meal preparation.

Kitchen magic happens when pasta transforms from ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dish.

Busy home cooks appreciate culinary shortcuts that deliver maximum flavor without complex techniques.

Professional chefs know simplicity often creates the most memorable meals.

Every ingredient plays a crucial role in building depth and richness throughout the cooking process.

The streamlined method eliminates multiple pots, reducing cleanup and saving precious time after a long day.

Delicious results await those willing to embrace this innovative cooking technique:

Pasta Wrap-Up: Final Thoughts

Pasta perfection emerges from Michael Symon’s culinary genius, transforming simple ingredients into a symphonic Mediterranean melody.

Skillet magic unfolds with minimal effort and maximum flavor, creating an effortless dinner solution for busy households.

Classic Italian techniques merge with contemporary convenience in this one-pot wonder.

Home chefs can master restaurant-quality results without complex preparations or extensive cleanup.

Mediterranean warmth radiates through each twirled pasta strand, inviting comfort and connection around dinner tables.

Savor this recipe’s simplicity, share its delightful story, sprinkle your passion across social platforms, and inspire fellow cooking enthusiasts to embrace culinary creativity with Michael Symon’s remarkable one-pot pasta sensation.

One-Pot Pasta Perfection: Why You’ll Love It

• Streamline Cooking Effort: This one-pot pasta recipe eliminates multiple dishes and complicated cooking steps, letting you create a delicious meal with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor in just 14 minutes.
• Burst of Fresh Flavors: Combining tomatoes, basil, garlic, and red pepper flakes creates a vibrant, zesty profile that transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish bursting with Mediterranean-inspired taste sensations.
• Foolproof Technique: The smart cooking method of adding all ingredients simultaneously and letting them cook together ensures perfect pasta texture and infuses every strand with rich, harmonious seasonings, making it beginner-friendly and foolproof for home cooks of all skill levels.

Simplified Ingredients for Easy Pasta

• Pasta: Classic one-pot pasta choice with smooth texture and quick cooking properties.
• Water: Essential liquid for pasta cooking and creating sauce consistency.

• Onion, Garlic: Fundamental aromatic ingredients providing deep, rich flavor base.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Adds subtle heat and spicy undertone to the dish.
• Basil: Fresh herb with bright, classic Italian flavor profile.

• Olive Oil: Provides smooth texture and authentic Mediterranean flavor.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Core seasoning ingredients for balanced taste enhancement.

• Tomatoes: Fresh ingredient adding acidity and natural sweetness to the pasta.
• Parmesan Cheese: Optional garnish with sharp, salty cheese flavor.

Michael Symon’s One-Pot Pasta Method

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

• Pasta
• Cherry tomatoes
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• Red pepper flakes
• Fresh basil leaves
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 4 water

Step 2: Create One-Pot Magic

• Toss pasta
• Add tomatoes
• Mix in onion
• Sprinkle garlic
• Scatter red pepper flakes
• Add torn basil leaves
• Pour olive oil
• Measure salt and pepper
• Add water

Step 3: Boil and Cook

Turn heat to high and bring mixture to a rapid boil.

Continuously stir and move pasta with tongs for 9 minutes.

Watch for pasta to become perfectly al dente and liquid to reduce.

Step 4: Season and Serve

Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper.

Divide pasta into 4 serving bowls.

Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Drizzle with extra olive oil for rich flavor.

Tips for a Seamless Pasta Dish

• Stir Strategically: Use a wooden spoon to prevent pasta from sticking and distribute heat evenly throughout the pot.
• Monitor Moisture: Keep an eye on liquid levels, adding small amounts of water if the mixture starts looking too dry during cooking.
• Season Smartly: Taste and adjust salt levels just before serving, remembering the pasta water and cheese will add natural saltiness.
• Rest Briefly: Allow the one-pot pasta to sit for 2-3 minutes after cooking, letting flavors meld and sauce thicken naturally.
• Choose Quality: Select fresh, high-quality ingredients like ripe tomatoes and good parmesan to elevate the overall dish's taste profile.

Keep It Tasty: Pasta Storage

• Freezer Portioning: Divide pasta into individual meal-sized containers before freezing. Seal tightly with airtight lids to prevent freezer burn and maintain optimal flavor. Label each container with the date to track freshness and ensure you consume within two months.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Transfer leftover pasta to a clean, sealed container immediately after cooling to room temperature. Place in the coldest part of the refrigerator, typically the back shelf, to maximize preservation. Consume within three days for the best taste and texture, ensuring food safety and quality.
• Moisture Prevention: Cover the container with a layer of plastic wrap or aluminum foil before sealing the lid. This extra barrier helps prevent moisture loss and keeps the pasta from drying out. Gently reheat with a splash of water or broth to restore the original creamy consistency when ready to enjoy.

One-Pot Pasta Variations

• Fresh Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Swap basil for a blend of oregano, thyme, and parsley, adding crumbled feta cheese for a Greek-inspired flavor profile that brings zesty Mediterranean notes to the classic one-pot pasta.
• Spicy Chorizo Infusion: Incorporate diced Spanish chorizo during cooking, which adds smoky and rich protein while intensifying the red pepper flakes' heat and creating a more robust meal with deeper flavor complexity.
• Creamy Vegetable Transformation: Stir in roasted zucchini and spinach near the end of cooking, then finish with a splash of heavy cream and grated pecorino romano cheese for a luxurious, vegetable-packed version that feels indulgent yet light.
• Protein-Packed Chicken Option: Dice boneless chicken breasts and add them at the beginning of cooking, allowing the meat to simmer and absorb the tomato and herb flavors while providing a lean protein boost to the one-pot meal.

Michael Symon One Pot Pasta Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 14 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Hearty Michael Symon’s One Pot Pasta delivers Italian comfort straight to your kitchen. Creamy parmesan, tender pasta, and rich tomato sauce combine effortlessly in a single pot, promising delicious simplicity you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 12 ounces (340 grams) linguine
• 12 ounces (340 grams) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large
• 1 onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

Herbs and Spices:

• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 sprigs basil, plus torn leaves for garnish
• Freshly ground pepper

Additional Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
• 4 ½ cups (1.1 liters) water
• Coarse salt
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

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Instructions

1. Combine linguine, diced tomatoes, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, fresh basil leaves, olive oil, 2 teaspoons (10 grams) salt, 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 grams) black pepper, and water in a large straight-sided skillet, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
2. Place the skillet over high heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil, using tongs to constantly manipulate and rotate the pasta, preventing it from sticking and ensuring even cooking.
3. Continue stirring and tossing the pasta for approximately 9 minutes, or until the linguine reaches a perfect al dente texture and most of the liquid has been absorbed, creating a silky, cohesive sauce.
4. Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with additional salt and black pepper as needed to enhance the overall flavor profile.
5. Carefully divide the aromatic one-pot pasta among 4 serving bowls, ensuring an even distribution of the vibrant ingredients and sauce.
6. Garnish each portion with fresh torn basil leaves, a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese, and a delicate drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to elevate the dish’s richness and presentation.

Notes

• Keep a close eye on the pasta, as overcooking can turn your delicious dish into a mushy mess.
• Reserve some pasta water before draining – this starchy liquid works wonders for creating a silky, smooth sauce.
• Chop ingredients quickly and uniformly to ensure consistent cooking and a professional-looking final presentation.
• Let the pasta rest for a minute after draining to allow it to absorb remaining moisture and develop a perfect texture.
• Fresh herbs make all the difference, transforming an ordinary meal into a restaurant-worthy experience.
• Grate cheese just before serving to capture maximum flavor and achieve that irresistible melty goodness.
• Warm your serving plates beforehand to keep the dish hot and appetizing from first bite to last.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 9 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 370 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 57 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 11 g
• Cholesterol: 5 mg