Tomato Spinach One-Pot Rotini (Printable)

Comforting one-pot pasta with rotini, tomatoes, spinach, and broth. Minimal cleanup, maximum flavor. Ready in 30 minutes.

# What You 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
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Cheese

12 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
02 - Add diced tomatoes with juices, vegetable broth, dried oregano, dried basil, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
03 - Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the uncooked rotini pasta. Stir well to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
04 - Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes until the pasta reaches al dente texture and most liquid is absorbed.
05 - Stir in fresh baby spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until completely wilted.
06 - Add grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and creamy throughout the pasta mixture.
07 - Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot and garnish with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pasta cooks directly in the tomato broth, absorbing incredible flavor that you cannot achieve with traditional boiling methods
  • Cleanup takes literally three minutes, leaving you more time to actually enjoy your evening instead of scrubbing pots
  • The finished dish is creamy and comforting without any heavy cream, just from the starch released into the broth
02 -
  • The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so if it looks a little soupy toward the end that is actually perfect
  • Stir frequently during the last 5 minutes because the thickening sauce can make pasta stick to the bottom of the pot
  • The sauce will look thin at first but transforms dramatically as starch releases from the cooking pasta
03 -
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce
  • The red pepper flakes build in heat the longer it sits, so go light if you're sensitive
  • Quality vegetable broth makes a huge difference since it reduces down and concentrates
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