Creamy One-Pot Spaghetti Dinner
A quick and easy creamy one-pot spaghetti dinner perfect for busy weeknights, combining simple ingredients into a comforting, flavorful meal with minimal cleanup.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) dry spaghetti, broken in half
- 4 cups (960 ml) chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter option)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup (about 90 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional add-ins: baby spinach, sliced mushrooms, cooked chicken, or sausage
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and chopped onion, cooking for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and translucent, stirring often to avoid burning.
- Pour in 4 cups chicken broth and 1 cup heavy cream. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Break the spaghetti in half and add it to the pot. Push the strands down to submerge them as much as possible.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered. Stir every 2–3 minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking together or to the bottom. Cook for about 12–15 minutes until the pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. The sauce should be creamy and cling to the pasta.
- If using spinach, mushrooms, or cooked protein, stir them in now until warmed through.
- Let the pasta rest for a couple of minutes to thicken further. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before plating.
Notes
Stir regularly during the last 5 minutes to prevent pasta clumping. Adjust sauce thickness by adding broth or cream if too thick, or simmer longer if too thin. Break spaghetti in half for even cooking. Add veggies towards the end to avoid sogginess. Pre-cook proteins before adding to prevent overcooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
Keywords: one-pot spaghetti, creamy pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, quick pasta recipe, comfort food, simple ingredients