This all-in-one meal is a versatile weeknight godsend! Once the water boils, the cooking time is a quick 9 minutes. (And there’s a spot-on gluten-free option for those who need it!)
Have you ever tried Martha Stewart’s one-pan pasta recipe? The all-in-one meal is a gift on a busy weeknight, for sure.
Though I’d heard about this recipe many times over the years, I never tried it until I was challenged by Food 52, a popular online community of cooks and their test-kitchen-approved recipes, to create a riff on the iconic dish.
Naturally, I had to acquaint myself with the original if I planned to create a worthy twist.
As I read the comments provided by those who had success with Martha’s recipe－and the occasional cooks who didn’t－I felt compelled to troubleshoot and provide a little extra information if possible.
My regular readers know that I have a way of providing tips, choices and helpful hints aimed at recipe success. And after making this popular one-pan meal several times, I discovered that a few extra details were absolutely worthy of mentioning.
At first glance, the recipe seems like it shouldn’t work: place all of the ingredients, including the pasta, into a pan, and then pour a whole lot of water over top. Bring to a boil, simmer away and PRESTO! Dinner is ready.
Too good to be true, right?
Wrong!
That said, paying close attention to a few details is critical to recipe success. Sticking with the specified pan diameter, for example, is important to ensure the right amount of water is absorbed by the pasta while the remaining evaporates over time.
Stirring is necessary to prevent sticking and promote even cooking－but constant stirring can lead to gummy noodles.
Other details, however, can be altered and allow for easy customization of this quick-to-prep-and-cook dish. For example, short tubular or spiral pasta works beautifully for example. (I actually think it’s easier to stir.)
And though cooking all of the ingredients at once (as pictured below) yields a lovely end result, taking a few extra minutes, if time allows, to sauté the onions and garlic before adding everything else will elevate the dish a notch.
I’ve included a list of easy riffs below the basic recipe as well as a photo and link to the Thai variation I created for Food52. Of note, many commenters claimed that this recipe simply doesn’t work with gluten-free noodles. But after several rounds of testing (and my family willingly consuming a meal of slightly gummy rice noodles), I discovered a spot-on gluten-free adaptation for those who may need it.
Happily, this convenient meal can be enjoyed with seasonal vegetables and herbs but works well with grocery store staples all year round.
Martha Stewart’s One-Pan Pasta (and some riffs on the basic recipe)
Ingredients
- 12 ounces linguine*
- 12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large
- 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
- 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (use ¼ teaspoon for less spice)
- 2 sprigs basil, plus torn leaves for garnish
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4½ cups water**
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Combine pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red-pepper flakes, basil, oil, 2 teaspoons salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and water in a large straight-sided skillet－the linguine should lay flat. (I use a 14-inch, non-stick skillet. The wide skillet also allows the proper ratio of water to cook off versus being absorbed by the pasta, which is critical to properly cooked pasta.)
- Bring to a boil, uncovered, over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning pasta frequently with tongs or a fork, until the pasta is al dente and the water has nearly evaporated, about 9 minutes. The original recipe keeps the heat on high; I prefer reducing to medium high. (Helpful hint 1: Stir the pasta regularly enough to prevent sticking and promote even cooking, but not a constant stir which can make the pasta gluey. Helpful hint 2: Check the pasta for doneness a minute or two early. Also, if pasta is cooked to your liking but the mixture still seems a little soupy, the mixture will thicken as it rests. Conversely, if the mixture seems a tad dry and the noodles are not done, add an extra ½ cup or so of water.)
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide among 4 bowls and garnish with basil. Serve with olive oil and Parmesan.
Notes
•Twelve ounces of a short tubular or spiral pasta (like ziti or rotini) works beautifully as an alternative to linguine or spaghetti. (I actually think it's a little easier to stir.)
•For added protein, mix in cooked and shredded chicken (1 to 2 cups) at the end of cooking time. I've also topped the plated pasta with sliced grilled chicken.
•The plated pasta could also be topped with grilled or roasted shrimp.
•Replace the water with chicken or vegetable broth. In this case, however, you will likely want to reduce the salt to balance the amount of sodium in the broth.
•Sauté some prosciutto or bacon until crisp at the beginning, and then remove to a plate and crumble. Stir in once the pasta is fully cooked.
•Use asiago cheese instead of Parmesan－or sprinkle finished dish with crumbled feta.
•Stir in some chopped spinach or kale at the end, allowing a few minutes to wilt it.
•When the pasta is fully cooked, I've stirred in roughly chopped, leftover grilled vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers and portobello mushrooms all complement beautifully).
•I have not tried, but one commenter made this dish with farro (one cup farro and 3 cups water) instead of pasta, and said it was incredibly delicious and creamy, almost like a risotto.
One Pot Thai Curry Noodles is the spin on the classic recipe that I created for Food52. The first photo includes brown rice noodles, which I do not recommend. My favorite gluten-free alternative is a corn and rice flour pasta, with corn flour being the first ingredient. Additional notes are included in the recipe card above, but Barilla’s gluten-free penne works beautifully.
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