Western
One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
Everything cooks in one pot — even the pasta — so there is barely any washing up. 20 minutes.
About this recipe
One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta is a western lunch for 2 that is a gentle, mostly hands-off simmer., and it takes about 20 min total but only ~8 min of hands-on work — the rest is waiting. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Good to know
* Dietary flags are derived from the listed ingredients — always check labels and your own needs for allergens.
Ingredients
- 180g pasta
- 3 tomato
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 onion
- a few leaves basil buy
Equipment
Method
- 1
Put pasta, chopped tomato, onion, garlic, salt and ~500ml water in one pot.
~3 min
- 2
Bring to a boil, then simmerSimmer.Cook in liquid with gentle bubbling, just below a boil.Glossary → uncovered, stirring often, until pasta is cooked and saucy, 12–14 min.
~14 min
- 3
Stir through basil and a drizzle of oil.
~1 min
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Garlic
- garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
- Thai/sweet basil
- regular basil, or a little mint — the perfume changes but it works.
Cook's notes
- Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
- Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
- Do your chopping first (mise en place). With everything prepped, the actual cooking here is only about 8 min.
Storage & leftovers
This keeps well — store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, and the flavour often deepens overnight. Reheat gently on the stove, adding a splash of water if it’s thickened.
Frequently asked
How long does One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta take to make? +
About 20 min from start to finish, but only roughly 8 min of that is hands-on — the rest is cooking or resting time.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: induction hob, pot. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push; Thai/sweet basil → regular basil, or a little mint — the perfume changes but it works. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta ahead of time? +
This keeps well — store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, and the flavour often deepens overnight. Reheat gently on the stove, adding a splash of water if it’s thickened.
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