Quick & Easy 30-Minute One-Pot Pasta Bake for Busy Nights

This 30 Minute One-Pot Pasta Bake is the ultimate quick, healthy, and budget-friendly meal! Ready in just 30 minutes, this cheesy pasta bake will become a family favorite, perfect for busy weeknights. Keep reading to see how easy it is to make this delicious meal!

30-Minute One-Pot Pasta Bake in a Black Cast Iron Skillet

Sometimes it is difficult to find a meal that is healthy, everybody loves, and won’t break the bank. This 30-Minute One-Pot Pasta Bake is a home run because it meets all three of these qualifiers. And here’s the kicker, you can make this One-Pot Pasta Bake in 30 minutes! This is one of my top “go-to” meals during the week because it is an easy recipe to remember. I also find it is a convenient dish to leave on the stove if your family members eat at different times. Let me show you how to make it:

Follow These Steps to Make the Perfect 30-Minute One-Pot Pasta Bake

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Start by boiling water in a saucepan and preparing 8 oz of noodles according to the instructions. I use penne and elbow noodles in this One-Pot Pasta Bake, depending on what I have on hand. (You can be working on this while continuing with the following steps to save more time). If you want to make sure your pasta comes out perfect every time, see these 4 simple tips.

Step 2: Prep the Veggies

While the water is boiling, dice an onion. Then pour out a 5 oz bag of spinach and pull off the stems. When your pasta is finished, set it aside in the colander, reserving a cup of the pasta water for later.

Step 3: Sauté Onion and Garlic

Using your cast iron skillet or oven-safe sauté pan, drizzle in a tablespoon of olive oil. Heat the onion and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic in the oil until the onion becomes translucent. It will probably take about 5 minutes.

Meat and Sauteed Onions in a Cast Iron Skillet

Step 4: Add Meat and Seasonings

Now add 1 pound of ground beef or turkey and break it apart into small chunks.

While the meat is browning, add in 1 teaspoon of oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. It is important to add spices to meat as it is browning because they adhere better to the meat during the heating process. The sauce will have a more robust flavor this way.

Step 5: Add Broth and Tomatoes

When the meat is browned, add in 1 1/4 cup of low-sodium chicken broth.

Adding Chicken Broth to One Pot Pasta Bake

Pour in a can (14.5 oz) of unsalted diced tomatoes and stir it all together. Bring it to a boil.

Adding Unsalted Tomatoes to One Pot Pasta Bake

Step 6: Combine Pasta and Spinach

Grab the pasta water you reserved earlier and pour it over the penne while it is still in the colander. This will loosen the noodles but keep the flavor. Add them to the skillet and stir.

In small batches, add the spinach and stir while it wilts. If you don’t have spinach, you can use robust lettuce (like romaine), cabbage leaves, or bok choy. When there is more room, add the rest.

30-Minute One-Pot Pasta Bake in a Black Cast Iron Skillet

Step 7: Melt the Cheese (Optional)

Just to kick it up a notch, sprinkle some mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top and put the whole skillet into the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts. Sometimes I skip this step because I don’t need the extra calories from the cheese, but my husband and kids love this part!

30 Minute One Pot Pasta Bake in a Black Skillet in the Oven

The Finished Product

Here is the finished One-Pot Pasta Bake where I used elbow noodles! Imagine the look on your family’s faces when you pull this out of the oven!

30 Minute One Pot Pasta Bake with Melted Cheese in a Black Cast Iron Skillet

Serving Suggestions and Nutrition Facts

Here is my bowl! What a simple, healthy dinner that only takes 25-30 minutes to make! Each bowl (about 1.5 cups) is about 460 calories and 16 grams of fat, even less if you use turkey meat and leave out the cheese. (Nutrition facts come from Cooking Light where I adapted this recipe). You can’t feel guilty about that! This One-Pot Pasta Bake also works well for leftovers because the flavors have a chance to meld together.

Try This Recipe and More!

This easy 30-minute One-Pot Pasta Bake is one of my family’s favorite recipes. It can be made with turkey and beef or you can even go meatless for a healthy vegetarian option. Use penne or elbow noodles or whatever you have on hand. However you make it, you’ll have a cheesy and delicious Italian feast to delight your family!

Spinach Pasta Bake Pin

Think you might try this One-Pot Pasta Bake recipe? Here’s a pretty pin to save for later or feel free to share it on Facebook. If you need more quick and easy meal ideas, you may want to follow my 30 Minute Meal Madness and One-Pot Wonders Boards on Pinterest. Happy Cooking ya’ll!

Heidi Davison

Head Baker & Owner

Hi, I'm Heidi, Head Baker and Owner of Heidi's Bakery in Knoxville, TN.

What began as a blog to share family recipes has become a thriving bakery, thanks to community support.
Many recipes here are from my family’s cookbook. Give them a try and leave a comment below!

Heidi Davison the Owner of Heidis Bakery

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