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One Pot Tomato and Pesto Pasta

One Pot Tomato and Pesto Pasta – a delicious 30 minute dinner. Use store-bought or homemade pesto and add shaved parmesan cheese to make this easy pasta dish!

pan filled with tomato and pesto pasta

This one pot tomato and pesto pasta recipe is a year-round recipe but it’s particularly perfect for the summer and fall seasons. The times of year when tomato vines are lush and ripe and your basil plant is producing a vast number of leaves.

Ahhh, there is nothing better than adding fresh vegetables and herbs to your dinner. 

But, luckily, both tomatoes, basil, and pre-made pesto can be found at grocery stores. Making this easy one pot recipe delicious every month of the year.

tomato pesto and pasta in a pan

One Pot Tomato and Pesto Pasta

I have made a slew of popular one pot recipes in the past. My one pot spicy sausage skillet is one of the most popular recipes on my website and is often what I use as my base when experimenting in the one-pot recipe world.

My favorite part about this is that you can use store-bought pesto. In fact, I don’t include a recipe for pesto because I almost always just buy it instead of making it from scratch.

Using store-bought pesto makes this one of the quickest recipes ever with next to no prep work. Bam. Everyone’s a winner with a full belly after going back for seconds for sure.

shaved parmesan being sprinkled over pasta with tomatoes and pesto

Colorful cherry or grape tomatoes are my tomatoes of choice – feel free to use your favorite. Though if you don’t like the colorful tomatoes, I don’t think we can be friends. Just kidding. Maybe.

I have an obsession with freshly shaved parmesan but if you decide to use grated parmesan, only use a little bit. I really like the way the pesto and parmesan compliment each other but parmesan can easily overwhelm this pasta dish.

Serve this pasta with some red wine and a salad and some crusty bread. 

tomato and pesto pasta on a wooden spoon

What can I add to this pesto pasta dish?

You could add more tomatoes, basil, and parmesan or any of these other examples:

  • shredded rotisserie chicken
  • fresh mozzarella balls
  • burrata
  • olive oil drizzle
  • asparagus
  • sweet bell peppers
  • crushed red pepper flakes
tomato and pesto pasta on a white plate with a glass of red wine
pan filled with tomato and pesto pasta

One Pot Tomato and Pesto Pasta

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

One Pot tomato pesto pasta - use pesto, cherry tomatoes and shaved parmesan cheese to create this flavorful and easy 30 minute dinner!

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 16 ounces uncooked penne
  • 2.5 cups chicken broth
  • 12 ounces cherry tomatoes, cut in half (about 2 cups)
  • ⅔ cup pesto
  • ¼ cup shaved parmesan

Instructions

  1. In a large pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent.
  2. Add the penne, chicken broth and cherry tomatoes. Stir and bring the liquid to a boil, then cook for 10 minutes. Occasionally stir and make sure the noodles are covered with the liquid.
  3. When the noodles are firm, but cooked, add the pesto. Stir to combine and heat for an additional minute.
  4. Remove from heat and sprinkle the parmesan on top before serving.

Notes

Pasta will be cooked al dente. If you would like a less firm pasta, add an additional ½ cup of broth or water and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 320Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 605mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 10g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

one pot tomato and pesto pasta pinterest image

Looking for more easy, 30-minute meals? Try these burrito bowls.

Loaded Burrito Bowls | Honey and Birch

Sharing is caring!

Jamie

Tuesday 22nd of December 2015

Yum - that looks amazing and easy, my favorite!! Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty

LizZ H.

Tuesday 15th of December 2015

This looks absolutely AMAZING!! I love one pot wonders.

Michelle @ The Complete Savorist

Monday 14th of December 2015

I love one pot meals and when they are delicious like this one, I'm in heaven.

Serene @ House of Yumm

Friday 11th of December 2015

Love one pot meals! This sounds fantastic with or without the chicken :)

Renee - Kudos Kitchen

Friday 11th of December 2015

Such a simple and delicious one pot pasta meal. I love it!

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