Tomato Spinach One-Pot Rotini (Printable)

Comforting one-pot pasta with rotini, tomatoes, and fresh spinach. Simple, vegetarian, and ready in just 30 minutes.

# 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 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
10 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, optional
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Cheese

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

# How to Make It:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pasta absorbs all that tomatoey broth as it cooks, creating its own silky sauce without any extra effort
  • Cleanup is literally one pot, which means more time on the couch and less time scrubbing
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
02 -
  • The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so if it looks a little soupy, give it two minutes before adding more salt
  • Stir more often toward the end because that starchy pasta loves to cling to the bottom of the pot
03 -
  • Use a pot wider than it is tall so the pasta cooks more evenly and the liquid reduces properly
  • If you can find fire-roasted diced tomatoes, they add such a lovely depth that makes the dish taste even more special
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