The Italian Wonder Pot

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Pasta that cooks all in one pot, with fresh ingredients, and it’s done in 20 minutes – Sounds too good to be true, right? It isn’t! A meatless pasta dish, all made in your stock pot, with fresh ingredients, that is what this Italian Wonderpot Pasta is all about!

I have been making this easy recipe for years and years. It is one of my family’s favorite pasta dishes, and this one-pot meal is so quick and easy, that you can make it for a weeknight meal but it’s got such a pretty presentation that you could serve it for a fancy dinner party. We can keep the secret of how simple it is to make between us, okay?

Italian Wonderpot

You simply add uncooked pasta to a large pot, add in some fresh spinach, basil, and sliced onions, along with some canned tomatoes and stock, toss in some spices, stick the lid on, and in 20 minutes, you have dinner. It’s amazing!

Wonderpot Recipes

Wonderpot recipes are versatile and can be adapted to various cuisines and dietary preferences. They are popular for busy weeknight dinners when you want a quick, easy, and hearty meal without spending too much time in the kitchen. You can find wonderpot recipes with different combinations of ingredients and seasonings to suit your taste and dietary requirements.

pad thai wonderpot in white bowl

If you love easy Wonderpot Meals — try this Pad Thai Wonderpot next!

Italian Wonderpot

This has been all over Pinterest for years, and from what I can gather, it originated as a Martha Stewart recipe.  If I got that wrong, someone please correct me, because I want to give credit where credit is due on this fast, easy, and delicious meal! It seems everyone changes it up just a smidgen to their liking.

Ingredients in Italian Wonder Pot Recipe

You will find the complete recipe measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

  • uncooked pasta -most often I use egg noodles or spaghetti for this recipe. Note: break longer pasta in half to fit in the pan better.
  • olive oil – any kind will work
  • fresh spinach – slightly chopped
  • onion – sliced
  • chicken stock – use vegetable stock for a truly meatless meal.
  • canned diced tomatoes – undrained
  • fresh basil – roughly chopped, dried works in a pinch, but fresh is so much better!
  • garlic cloves – minced
  • spices –  dried oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper

How to Make this Italian Wonderpot Recipe

This one-pot pasta dish comes together quickly.

Place all ingredients in your pasta pot or large Dutch oven.

Make sure to stir it so the liquid covers the pasta and veggies.

Place a lid on your pot and cook, on your stove, on high heat until comes to a full boil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncover and turn the stove to medium heat. 

Continue cooking for 15 minutes more, pasta will absorb the liquid.

Stir occasionally so the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. 

Do not drain.

Serve, topped with a little fresh grated Parmesan cheese with some crusty bread to mop up all of that sauce!

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in a microwave. You may need to add a bit of broth to maintain the desired consistency.

You can freeze this Italian Wonderpot pasta, but keep in mind that pasta dishes can change in texture after freezing.

Love it? Pin it! 

Don’t forget where you found this Italian Wonderpot Pasta Recipe Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go. 

FAQs about Wonderpot Recipes

  • Can I use fresh tomatoes in this recipe in place of the canned tomatoes?  I think it would be wonderful. Use about 2 pounds, but add a bit of tomato juice, too.
  • Can I use a different type of pasta? Absolutely! The recipe suggests using egg noodles or spaghetti, but you can choose any pasta shape you like. Just keep in mind that cooking times may vary slightly depending on the pasta type.
  • Can I make this recipe with whole wheat or gluten-free pasta? You can easily sub whole wheat or gluten-free pasta. Cooking times might differ, so adjust as needed.
  • How can I make this recipe vegetarian or vegan? Make this recipe vegetarian or vegan by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and skip the Parmesan cheese topping or use a plant-based alternative.
  • What if I don’t have fresh spinach? You can use frozen spinach as a substitute for fresh spinach. Just make sure to thaw and drain it before adding it to the pot. Or use other leafy greens like kale or Swiss chard in its place.
  • Can I adjust the level of spiciness? Yes, you can adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less red pepper flakes. Start with a smaller amount if you’re sensitive to heat.

  • Can I add additional vegetables or proteins? Of course! You can customize this recipe by adding other vegetables or proteins like bell peppers, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, rotisserie chicken, or cooked Italian sausage. 

Tortellini soup in a white bowl.f

More Easy Pasta Recipes to Love

Pasta + quick and easy weeknight meals are a winning combination. Here are a few of my favorite easy pasta recipes:

See ALL of my Pasta Recipes

 

This is such a cool recipe, don’t you think? Be sure to share this one with all of your friends and family members who could use an easy pasta recipe, too!

 

Michaela signature

A fork twirling the pasta in a bowl of Italian Wonder Pot.
4.72 from 7 votes
Print Recipe

The Italian Wonder Pot

Pasta that cooks all in one pot, with fresh ingredients, and it's done in 20 minutes? Sounds too good to be true? It isn't -- TRUST ME!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: 20 minute recipe, easy, Italian Wonder Pot, one pot, pasta, wonderpot, wonderpot recipe
Servings: 6 -8
Calories: 341kcal
Author: An Affair from the Heart

Ingredients

  • 1 - 12 ounce box of pasta - I have used egg noodles and spaghetti (break longer pastas in half to fit in the pan better
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cups fresh spinach slightly chopped
  • 1 medium sized onion sliced
  • 32 ounces of broth I use chicken broth or you can use vegetable
  • 2 - 14.5 ounces cans diced tomatoes (do not drain)
  • 1 Tablespoon dried or fresh basil rough chop fresh
  • 1/2 Tablespoon dried oregano
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in your pot.
  • Make sure to give it a stir so the liquid covers the pasta and veggies.
  • Place a lid on your pot and cook, on your stove, on high until it begins a rapid boil.
  • Uncover and turn flame to medium.
  • Continue cooking for 15 minutes more, pasta will absorb the liquid.
  • Stir occasionally so pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • DO NOT DRAIN.
  • Serve, topped with a little fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Add cooked chicken, sausage or meatballs when serving to include extra protein.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 738mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g

This recipe was originally posted on January 14, 2014. It has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on October 18, 2023. 

Italian Wonderpot

 

Italian Wonderpot

Italian Wonderpot

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25 Comments

  1. Hi there! This sounds awesome. I had never actually seen this on Pinterest, but boy does it look wonderful (pun intended). I love that everything cooks together with minimal maintenance so that you can do other things while it’s cooking. I’m sure that with everything cooking together in one pot, the flavors are more developed, too. Can’t wait to try this – thanks for sharing!

    1. Thanks for the comment! It is really good!! I also have a wonderpot recipe for Pad Thai that is good too!!

  2. I made this and used vegetable broth….it was pretty good..but it was FANTASTIC the next day. I’m thinking, for me, I want to use chicken broth. But you can’t go wrong with this recipe it is easy, fast, and delicious!

    1. Yes, it’s a keeper! We typically use the chicken broth, because that is what I have on hand. Glad you enjoyed it! The Pad Thai one I have is really good, too!

    1. Many people add chicken to it, I have never tried it. We love it just the way it is, but I know you would be successful adding it!

  3. I have made this several times and shared with friends. It is SO good, easy , quickand makes a bunch. It’s even better leftover! Sometimes I add Italian or polish sausage and it’s good, too. Thanks for sharing!

    1. I bet the sausage is fantastic in it! I need to try that!! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

  4. Omg this pasta cooked up perfectly and I loved that it was a one pot recipe! It was super flavorful, easy and so satisfying too!

  5. The fact that it’s meatless makes it even better. The fresh ingredients really elevate the flavors. It’s definitely become a favorite in my household!

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