A quick Vegetable Pasta that’s made with less pasta and more veggies that tastes so amazing, no one realises it’s a healthy pasta recipe!!! It’s a vegetarian pasta loaded with a whole head of broccoli, corn, zucchinis, capsicum/peppers and onion, and smothered in a garlic herb tomato sauce.
All made in one pot – from scratch, in 20 minutes. *Fist pump!*
Vegetable Pasta
There’s a time for making vegetable pasta the proper way – roasting veggies until beautifully caramelised, making a pasta sauce, cooking the pasta, then bringing it all together at the end. It’ll take close to an hour, and it’s totally fabulous.
This one pot vegetarian pasta is for all those other times.
A complete meal that covers all bases:
-
tons of veggies;
-
light on the pasta;
-
minimal prep;
-
just one pot to clean; and
-
absolutely delish. (The cheese helps… 😉)
Choose your own vegetables and pasta
This is a terrific versatile vegetarian pasta that you can make your own using your vegetables of choice. I’ve used a whole head of broccoli, the icy remains of frozen corn, 2 zucchinis nearing the end of their life and a capsicum/bell pepper. All vegetables I happened to have (albeit I then had to go out and buy them again to make the video 😂)
You can also choose your own pasta. This recipe will work with any short pasta – macaroni, spirals, penne, ziti (which is what I’ve used).
Jeez, I’m being flexible today, aren’t I! I figure after all the rules I set out in Friday’s Chocolate Mousse, I was due for a nice and easy “use what you want” recipe today. 😂
Though having said that, while this vegetable pasta is adaptable to whatever vegetables and short pasta you want, the liquid quantities and cook times are not as flexible so please do follow the recipe.
A 20 Minute Quick Healthy Dinner
This recipe has a nice flow to it. I start off by chopping the garlic and onion, then get that on the stove to cook slowly on a low heat so it becomes sweet and becomes an amazing flavour base for this quick healthy dinner.
In between leisurely stirring the onion every now and then, I chop the other vegetables, pop open cans and measure out the herbs and spices so it’s all ready to go into the pot by the time the onion is done.
Once the pasta is in, it takes a mere 10 minutes to finish cooking. Much longer than this and you’ll end up with soggy pasta, so basically, this has to be a quick 20 minutes recipe otherwise your pasta is overcooked! 😂
I know I’m talking up how this is a healthy Vegetable Pasta recipe but when you watch the video, you’re going to see me toss in a nice handful of cheese that’s stirred through the pasta, then a bit more to melt on top.
There’s no denying cheese makes this even tastier, but for a healthier option, opt for some parmesan instead.
Excluding the cheese, this pasta is a mere 378 calories per serving – and it’s a generous serving size, this recipe makes a big pot full!
Either way, you’re going to be yscoffing this down. Added bonus: it’s great Couch Food. (Definition: food you can eat on the couch without taking your eyes off the TV 🙌🏻) – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Sometimes it’s nice to have a visual, so watch me make this Vegetable Pasta!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Vegetable Pasta - One Pot!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 2 zucchinis* , halved lengthwise and cut into sliced 0.8cm / 1/3" slices
- 1 red capsicum/bell pepper* , halved and sliced
- 1 cup corn* (frozen or canned)
- 1 broccoli* , broken into bite size florets
- 250g/ 0.5lb ziti/penne , or other short pasta (Note 1)
- 800 g / 28 oz crushed tomato
- 1.5 cups / 375 ml vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Italian herb mix (or other dried herbs)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (chilli flakes, adjust spiciness to taste)
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
Optional:
- 1.5 cups shredded cheese of choice (Cheddar, tasty, Monterey Jack etc)
To serve:
- Finely chopped parsley (optional)
- Parmesan (if not using cheese)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium. Add garlic and onion - cook slowly for 3 to 4 minutes until onion is translucent and sweet.
- Turn heat up to medium high, add zucchini and capsicum. Cook 1 1/2 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT pasta and broccoli. Stir until tomato paste dissolves.
- When liquid starts bubbling, lower heat to medium, add pasta and stir. Top with broccoli, push in.
- Place lid on and cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove lid. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta is almost cooked through and most of the liquid has been absorbed by the pasta.
- Stir through half the cheese (if using). Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Top with remaining cheese, put lid on. Leave for 1 minute until cheese is melted and pasta is perfectly cooked.
- Garnish with parsley and serve immediately. Don't leave leftovers in the pot, residual heat will overcook the pasta so transfer into a serving dish.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
MORE ONE POT PASTA READER FAVES!
Life of Dozer
If only it was real….
Kristin says
Soooooooo good. I love all your recipes 💓
Judi says
How much pasta? Can’t wait to try this.
Nagi says
Scroll down to the recipe for quantities! N x
Paul says
OMG, this is amazing. Thought we should try a veggie dish & definitely a keeper. Thank you
lynsey Irvine says
Hey Nagi!
Do you think sliced or button mushrooms would work?? Would I just put them in raw?
Thanks
L
Paul says
Yes, I added mushrooms & it was delicious.
Wyn says
Love one pot meals! Thank you, will be making again 😊
KH says
I made this for dinner tonight with whole-wheat/wholemeal pasta spirals. I thought they might not soak up enough of the liquid but it worked fine and didn’t need extra cooking time. I used veggies we had on hand, different to the recipe – some frozen, some fresh. I stirred in a cup of grated cheese before serving, as suggested, and it totally transformed the sauce into a nice creamy texture.
Dyan says
Do you add uncooked pasta
Nagi says
Hi Dyan, yes uncooked here. N x
Jenny M says
Loved this recipe. I’m experimenting with recipes for camping on a single burner stove.
This was awesome, will be great for camping in winter. I used veg stock and added cauliflower that I had left over from roasting. Will try kale next time.
Thanks so much
Dessie M Keys says
I did this recipe and it turned out fabulous!! I used vegetable stock instead of chicken broth. No cheese (I know – I’m weird, also trying to go vegan). I put in Zucchini, mushrooms, red bell pepper because that’s what I had. Penne pasta made from chicken peas ( more protein, more fiber, less carbs). Already a favorite!!
Hayley C says
Be interested to hear – vege or chicken broth – which do you recommend or use for this?
Nagi says
I use chicken Hayley, I find it has more flavour – but vegetable broth works just as well. N x
Holly says
In the realm of a healthy week night meal this recipe gets 5 stars for me. This is super easy to throw together and very well seasoned as written. My pasta was still a touch raw after the suggested cook time but I just let it continue to simmer stirring occassionally until almost cooked – cook times are never exact, lots of variables. I used red pepper, zuchinni, carrots and celery for the vegetables and lightly blended a can of whole San Marzano’s in place of crushed tomatoes.
Thanks Nagi!
Holly x
Susann Codish says
I have a somewhat strange question. Can I use cream instead of the broth? Generally I try for lower calorie, lower animal fat food, but I have a sudden urge for pasta with cream.
Broken Veneers says
We loved this recipe and the versatility with using whatever vegetables are in the fridge or freezer. We had trouble getting the pasta cooked. We will cook the pasta separately next time which wasn’t the objective of the recipe. But if we cook the pasta first, and then use the same pot for the sauce, it’s technically still a one pot meal!
Khetsiwe Khumalo says
Thank you so much for your recipes. i was not a good cook but now can make beautiful meals.
Nagi says
That’s amazing!!! You’re a star in the kitchen! N x
Renee L says
If I want to use a whole pound of pasta, should I just double everything else too?
Nagi says
Hi Renee, click the number of servings and scale up to 10, all the ingredients will scale up for you 🙂 N x
Geri Hearp says
This recipe is so delicious, it’s a must to cook. I couldn’t even talk after I tasted it. It’s very well balanced, the flavor is scrumptious. The measurements are perfect. I used bow tie pasta in mine, was very cute. I will recommend this recipe to all my friends. Nagi, I can’t wait to try some more of your recipes. Thank you so much for this amazing dish! You made my whole family smile!
Koren McIntosh says
Such a nice recipe, thank you.
I would have given it 5 stars but took me much longer than 20 mins all in all. But the taste was fantastic.
Lachla Mckay says
AMAZING! You should take this to a master chef it’s just pure Amazing
Rami says
Just made it. omg it’s soo delicious. My family loved it! kids as well! it was definitely a hit. Different pasta than usual. you should definitely give a try!!
Sue says
How many people does this serve?