This is my ULTIMATE comfort food for good reason! This easy pasta recipe takes only one pot, two minutes of chopping, and five minutes of actual work. It’s everything you love about Baked Ziti but spicier and with shortcuts, perfect when you’re cooking for one.
If you’re craving a hearty, cheesy meal that comes together in one dish, this one-pot pasta recipe is the answer. Let’s dive into this quick, comforting, and easy dinner that’s perfect for a busy weeknight.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Pasta for One
- It’s a 20-minute dinner with minimal prep and cleanup.
- Only takes 5-10 minutes of active work.
- Cheesy, creamy goodness
- You can easily adjust it to your liking, like adding in Italian sausage, veggies, or even change up the pasta type.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This baked ziti is perfect for nights when you’re craving a single-serving vegetarian dinner for one without making too much pasta & using only a couple ingredients
- Ziti or any type of pasta
- Garlic, not mandatory but always recommended
- Your favorite marinara sauce
- Your favorite Alfredo sauce
- Parmesan cheese
- Ricotta Cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Italian seasoning & Red Pepper Flakes
- Fresh basil or fresh parsley for garnish
How to Make this Pasta Recipe
- Sauté the garlic cloves – while you don’t NEED to use garlic I always like an aromatic in my pastas. Add some butter to a pan and sauté your garlic.
- Add everything except the cheeses : this is where you add the 1 cup of dry pasta, 2 cups of water, Alfredo sauce, marinara sauce, tomato paste, red chilli flakes and some salt.
- Bring the whole thing to a boil and then simmer on medium heat until most of the water evarporates. Taste & adjust any spices and salt.
- Once it’s looking saucy, mix in the ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook on low OR bake for 5-10 minutes at 350F.
It’s ready to eat!
Serving Suggestions
This easy one-pot pasta dish is delicious on its own, but if you want to pair it with something, here’s some suggestions. Since you’re into recipes for one, you can make this single serve apple crisp in the microwave as a dessert. You can also pair the pasta with a garlic bread or side salad.
Expert Tips for the Best One-Pot Pasta Recipe
- Use shorter pasta like ziti, penne or rigatoni because they hold sauce better.
- You don’t need extra starchy pasta cooking water for this. As the pasta and sauce cook together, the starch automatically goes into the sauce.
- When you make the pasta, make sure to mix well every few minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom
- When you add cheese, try to grate it yourself.
- If you have leftover pasta, it will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days in an airtight container.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use a Different Pasta Shape to make this recipe?
Absolutely! While penne is a favorite, you can use any type of pasta you like. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time according to the package instructions. Try to pick a thicker tubular pasta instead of spaghetti cause it holds heavy sauces better.
Can I Make Pasta Ahead of Time?
Yep this recipe keeps well as leftover pasta. You can also mix It all up ahead of time and just cook it when you’re ready.
Can I Make This Gluten-Free?
Yes, you can use gluten-free pasta to make this dish. Just make sure to watch the cooking time, as gluten-free pasta tends to cook faster than regular pasta.
How can I make this high protein?
There’s already a solid 2 grams for protein in this dish, but to make it higher protein you can swap in a protein pasta as well, or and in some cooked sausage.
How much pasta should I use when cooking for one?
1 cup of dry pasta makes enough for one bowl of pasta!
This one-pot pasta recipe is everything you need for a cozy night in! With just a handful of ingredients and minimal effort, you’ll have a flavorful, comforting pasta dish on the table in no time. Whether you’re making it for yourself or cooking for one, this recipe is perfect for any busy weeknight when you crave healthy and delicious comfort food.
Feel free to add a pinch of extra seasoning, garnish with fresh herbs, and enjoy your easy homemade ziti!
Other Popular Recipes for One
Halal Cart Chicken over Rice for One
Print
Easy Baked Ziti – Pasta for One
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 1
Description
This is my ULTIMATE comfort food for good reason! This easy pasta recipe takes only one pot, two minutes of chopping, and five minutes of actual work. It’s everything you love about Baked Ziti but spicier and with shortcuts, perfect when you’re cooking for one.
Ingredients
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp oil
- 1/3 cup marinara sauce
- 3–4 tbsp Alfredo sauce
- 1 cup dry ziti
- 2 cups water
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Italian Seasoning
- Red Chill Flakes
- Salt
- 1–2 tbsp ricotta cheese
- 3 tsp parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Sauté the garlic cloves – while you don’t NEED to use garlic, I always like an aromatic in my pastas. Add some butter to a pan and sauté your garlic.
- Add everything except the cheeses : this is where you add the 1 cup of dry pasta, 2 cups of water, Alfredo sauce, marinara sauce, tomato paste, red chilli flakes and some salt.
- Bring the whole thing to a boil and then bring t0 medium heat. Keep boiling on medium until most of the water evaporates. Taste & adjust any spices and salt.
- Once it’s looking saucy, mix in the ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook on low OR bake for 5-10 minutes at 350F.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Cuisine: Italian
The first ever recipe I made when I moved to a new country as a student a while ago. That is when I followed you too. Fell in love with it. Lovely channel and recipes!
★★★★★
I’m glad you’re finding the recipes for one helpful! I’ll be doing a lot more of those in the future.
so simple and so good!!
★★★★★
I loved it. I didn’t have Marina’s house. I used the Rio Bolognese and I didn’t have tomato paste, but I used a little bit of ketchup.. Excellent. And I made a nice salad with it
★★★★★