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If you love one pot meals as much as we do, you must try One Pot Spaghetti Recipe. Pasta, beef, tomatoes, and Italian herbs simmer together in a single pot that is ready in 20 minutes! This recipe is the perfect Lazy Day meal!

Spaghetti in a large pot with a side of garlic bread
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This One Pot Spaghetti Recipe is the perfect pasta bar recipe and best one pot recipe for when you want spaghetti but don’t have tons of time. It truly is a lazy day recipe and only one pot is needed!

I usually use a large stock pot. But also love using a dutch oven for lots of recipes. You can boil the noodles and do every step in this one pot. I love that everything gets mixed together and it’s just absolutely delicious! All the yummy cheese on top melts and makes this one-pot meal a favorite around here!

Another great recipe is Lazy Day Lasagna. This recipe takes all the work out of traditional lasagna into one easy meal. We love one pot meals around here.

Why You’ll Love One Pot Spaghetti

Busy weeknights call for one pot recipes! This one keeps every bite of pasta coated in its own rich, meaty tomato sauce while sparing you a sinkful of dishes.

The noodles absorb flavor as they soften, you get deeper taste and a perfectly starchy, silky texture no jarred sauce can match.

No boiling water separately for the noodles. I can brown my ground beef, cook the sauce and the noodles all in one pot.

Ingredients

Ingredients - ground beef, sauce, chopped onions, minced garlic, italian seasoning, salt and pepper
  • Ground Beef – Try using Italian Sausage, Ground Pork, or Ground Turkey
  • Onion – Chopped Finely
  • Minced Garlic – You can also use garlic powder
  • Pasta Sauce – Use your favorite Pasta Sauce
  • Oregano – Italian Seasoning blend works great also
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Chicken Broth – If you don’t have any broth, you can use 3 cups of water.
  • Spaghetti Noodles – We prefer spaghetti noodles, but you can use any type of noodles. It could change your cooking time.
  • Parmesan Cheese – Optional Topping

Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe.

How to Make One Pot Spaghetti

Step 1 – Brown the Ground Beef – In a large pot, brown the ground beef with the onions over medium heat. We use lean ground beef, but it is also tasty with some Italian Sausage. Drain off any excess grease.

Step 2 – Add the minced garlic – After the meat has been drained, add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Step 3 – Stir in Pasta Sauce – I like a good quality pasta sauce. But I have purchased whatever is on sale too, and my kids have stilled loved it. Stir the pasta sauce, oregano, salt, pepper and chicken broth.

Step 4 – Simmer Sauce – Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.

Step 5 – Add in pasta noodles – Break the noodles in half and then add it a little at a time, stirring constantly until the pasta is stirred into the sauce. I cook my pasta al dente. Check the side of the box to confirm how long that is.

Step 6 – Cover and Cook all together – Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered, for 12-15 minutes or until pasta is cooked tender and sauce has thickened, stirring frequently.

Step 7 – Serve and Enjoy – Serve topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Spaghetti in a pot with a spoon.

Lazy Day One Pot Spaghetti Recipe

5 from 43 votes
One Pot Spaghetti recipe is a delicious lazy day spaghetti recipe. One pot pasta recipes are so simple and easy. Learn how to make one pot spaghetti and get dinner on the table fast! The delicious sauce and extra cheese make this a recipe everyone will enjoy. Try this One Pot Pasta for a budget friendly and tasty meal!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6
Cuisine Italian
Course Main Course
Calories 448

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • In a large pot, brown the ground beef with the onions. Drain off any excess grease.
  • Add in the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  • Then stir in the marinara sauce, oregano, salt, pepper and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for approximately 10 minutes.
  • Break the spaghetti noodles in half and stir them into the sauce. Stir to combine and cook at a simmer for 12-15 minutes stirring frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
  • After the cook time, check the pasta for tenderness and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the noodles are cooked to al dente.
  • Serve topped with the Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

*You can use homemade marinara sauce instead of the store bought kind.  
*Refrigerate the leftovers in an air tight container for up to 5-7 days.  The noodles will soak up the excess sauce when stored so I recommend add more broth when reheating to thin out the sauce.  

Nutrition Facts

Calories 448kcal, Carbohydrates 45g, Protein 24g, Fat 18g, Saturated Fat 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 59mg, Sodium 1008mg, Potassium 461mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 2g, Vitamin A 77IU, Vitamin C 9mg, Calcium 143mg, Iron 3mg

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Pro Tips for the Perfect One-Pot Pasta

  • Noodles – Breaking up the noodles allows them to completely submerge into the water.
  • Cooking Spaghetti – We like to stir mixture often which prevents the noodles from clumping up.
  • Sauce Texture – If you prefer a thinner sauce, add a splash of beef broth towards the end of cooking time to thin out the sauce.

Variation Ideas

We love recipes that we can change or make it our own.

  • Spicy – We like to add in some extra spices for a little of kick to our sauce. Adding in some black pepper or red pepper flakes to taste gives it that extra spice that we all love.
  • Tomatoes – You can also use diced tomatoes or tomato sauce in this recipe. It’s such a great recipe and so versatile!
  • Change Meat – Use Italian Sausage instead of Ground Beef or do half of each.
  • Veggies – You can add in some slice mushrooms and Green bell Peppers is also a great addition to this recipe.
Spaghetti in a large pot with a serving in tongs

What to Serve with One Pot Spaghetti

  • Serve this tasty one pot meal with a simple side salad and Garlic Bread Cheese Sticks Recipe. We love to dip the bread sticks in the spaghetti sauce get every last drop of this amazing sauce. Yum! It’s so good.
  • If you like a little extra heat, try Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Cheesy Bread Recipe. It’s so cheesy and the jalapeno peppers make it really amazing. It’s so easy because it uses crescent rolls!
  • Serve with a big green salad or a side of vegetables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make Without Meat?

Absolutely, you can omit beef in this spaghetti recipes. Just sauté onions in oil and add a can of white beans for protein.

How to Store Leftovers Spaghetti

We love leftovers at my house. They make the perfect lunch for my husband and I or a afternoon snack for my kids. We store the leftovers in an airtight container for about 3-5 days in the refrigerator. We think this one pot spaghetti is even better the next day.

Can you Freeze Spaghetti?

Yes, you can freeze spaghetti. If you have double the recipe and I do on occasion, it will last for about 3 months if properly stored.
Make sure to store in a freezer safe container. I like to write what the meal and the date we store in the freezer. This keeps you organized and you don’t waste the meal. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat.

How to Reheat

Reheat the leftovers on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.

Spaghetti in a large pot

More Easy Spaghetti Recipes

If you make this One Pot Spaghetti Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review! We love to hear from you.

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About the Author

Hi, Iโ€™m Carrie Barnard โ€” a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families โ€” without the stress.

5 from 43 votes (35 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Autumn says:

    5 stars
    I made this tonight for dinner. I didn’t have chicken broth so I used beef instead. The recipe calls for 1 tsp of pepper I would not recommend using that much unless you like a lot of pepper. Overall a very good recipe and I’m pleased to say my family enjoyed it!

    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      So glad you loved it! I am a pepper loving girl.

  2. Adolide I. Wallace, Jr. says:

    5 stars
    This recipe works in the Ninja Speedi on the steam setting for 18 minutes of cooking time.

    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you for sharing and thank you for the positive review.

  3. Bs says:

    5 stars
    My family loves this. This one pot spaghetti is great. I will not make spaghetti any other way from this point forward. Thank you.

    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the positive review!

  4. Annie says:

    5 stars
    I love this recipe ! Some people don’t like the sauce on it when it’s put on the table. I do !! And I figure, My House .. My Rules, lol.
    Seriously though, Great Recipe. Thanks for Sharing !!!

  5. Kim says:

    Question, if I use Angel hair pasta, what do you think the cooking time would be and should I use less chicken broth. Thanks!

    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      You can use angel hair pasta instead of spaghetti. I would use the same amount of chicken broth but the pasta will cook quickly so watch is closely once it’s added to the pot.

  6. Amy says:

    5 stars
    Came out great. I used half pound of hot Italian sausage to a half pound lean ground beef. 4 cups of chicken broth instead of three and used slightly more spaghetti (about 1lb) and a touch of heavy cream at the end. Rao’s marinara for one 24oz container and Rao’s tomato and basil 24oz for the other. Italian seasoning instead of oregano and a touch of smoked paprika. It went OFF. Thank you so much!

    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Your changes to the recipe sound delicious. Thank you for sharing!

  7. Alesha says:

    3rd time making this and it came out so well!! I love this recipe and everyone that I make it for loves it too!! Only recipe I use for spaghetti!!

  8. mary says:

    I liked it…didn’t think it was watery at all..

  9. Fanny says:

    Wont/the sauce be too watery p, runny with that much water?

    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      Since you are cooking the spaghetti in the pot, the pasta will absorb the moisture.

  10. Christie Woodard says:

    5 stars
    This was incredibly good!! I used gluten free spaghetti and made this recipe exactly as directed, with only one addition. I baked some meatballs while the spaghetti was cooking and threw them into the pot of spaghetti when it was finished. The sauce was so silky and rich! I will make this again!!

  11. Barbara says:

    5 stars
    This is yummy, love doing one-pot meals. Wondered about making it in the crockpot. Any suggestions? I was looking at your Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce recipe and thought about adding the spaghetti to that.

  12. Sarah says:

    5 stars
    Yum ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Sarah says:

    This was really easy and really yummy ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Patrice says:

    5 stars
    Thanks