Easy Pasta with Ricotta Recipe (One Pot)

This easy Pasta with Ricotta recipe is made in one pot and takes just 15 minutes from start to finish! It has the flavor of stuffed pasta shells without all of the work, making it a crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Fast - The best part about this one-pot pasta is that it is so easy. It is literally 15 minutes from start to finish.

One Pan - Dishes are a breeze when you only use one pan for the meal! This pasta is well rounded with all of your food groups, including vegetables, in one dish!

Flavorful - But it tastes as if you spent a lot longer on it! The secret is the layers of flavor that you get from this delicious combination of ingredients.

And if you love quick and easy pasta dinner, check out this Garlic Butter Pasta recipe!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Italian Sausage: I like to use hot Italian sausage to give this dish a little extra flavor, but mild or sweet sausage could also be used.

Vegetables: Add in chopped spinach, bell peppers, shredded zucchini, shredded carrots, or mushrooms!

Spaghetti Sauce: Instead of having to add a whole bunch of ingredients to flavor tomato sauce, this recipe uses spaghetti sauce that is already seasoned. I recommend Rao's Roasted Garlic spaghetti sauce, but you can use your favorite! If you want a saucier pasta, then use 32 ounces instead of 24.

Pesto: Make your own lemon pesto for extra flavor, or use store-bought. I like to make this recipe when I have leftover pesto to use up. But in place of pesto, you could instead use ¼ cup of fresh basil, ¼ cup of Parmesan, and 2 cloves of garlic.

Pasta: Shaped pasta has a texture that holds up well to the weight of the other ingredients and does not get mushy, as can sometimes happen with a one-pot pasta. This time I used cellentani, and it worked well, but I prefer to use textured pasta like fusilli and Cavatappi as the sauce seems to adhere to it a little better.

Ricotta: The cool and creamy ricotta offers a welcomed break from the subtle spiciness of the pasta. It keeps the heat from building so that every bite can be enjoyed.

Instructions

Step One: Cook the sausage

Grab your favorite big pot and cook up some Italian sausage over medium heat.

Once it is cooked, pour it into a bowl and set it aside. This is the only dish that you will need to use in addition to the one pot. And it doesn't really count since it is a small item that can be thrown in the dishwasher, right?

Step Two: Saute the vegetables

There is no need to wipe out the pan. The sausage bits will help season the rest of the dish. Add a teaspoon of oil and saute the onions and spinach until they are soft.

Step Three: Add remaining ingredients

Stir in the spaghetti sauce, pesto, red pepper, water, and pasta.

Bring everything to a boil and cook to the al dente recipe time that is directed on your pasta package.

Step Four: Mix the sausage back into the dish

Step Five: Add the ricotta

Small dollops of ricotta can be added to the pot, across the top of the pasta. Or you can add the ricotta once the ricotta has been portioned onto each individual plate

When dishing up this pasta I like to sprinkle a little grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil over the top, to add another dimension of flavor. If you have it, use it! But if you don't, the pasta will still be delicious.

Serving Recommendations

• Just like the easy Marry Me Tortellini, this is a one-pan meal so you can serve it by itself.
• You could also serve this pasta with steamed broccoli or a garden salad. Green beans are another great side dish.
• Pair with a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir.
• When you want a lighter option without sacrificing comfort, Lemon Orzo Pasta is fresh, zippy, and still satisfying.

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