Vegetarian One Pot Spaghetti

One Pot Veggie Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce

How to Make One Pot Spaghetti with Jar Sauce, Mushrooms, Zucchini & Spinach

This easy vegetarian one pot spaghetti recipe is perfect for a meal prep dinner or lunch! Comforting noodles, savory marinara sauce, and tender veggies—all cooked together at the same time, in the same pot. Learn how to make an easy one pot veggie spaghetti with mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach in just 20 minutes.

Personally, I don’t have time to cook extravagant meals, and I actually enjoy meals with simple ingredients and simple flavors. This meal prep one pot spaghetti recipe is the perfect combination of tasty, nutritious, and convenient. Each serving is loaded with vegetables, you can use your favorite store-bought jar sauce, and you’re left with only one dish to wash!

Rather than cooking noodles separately and draining them, this vegetarian one pot spaghetti involves sauteing your veggies and then boiling your pasta in the very same pot. Plus, this recipe boils the noodles in broth and sauce, so they turn out extra flavorful. You can use regular spaghetti noodles or a gluten free variety like chickpea noodles—whichever you prefer!

How do I make easy spaghetti?

Generally, spaghetti is a tried-and-true easy meal to prepare—whether you’re meal prepping or cooking a family weeknight dinner. In my experience, this one pot spaghetti with marinara sauce is about as easy as it gets! Everything goes into one pot, and no draining is necessary. (For another easy option, try my instant pot spaghetti and meatballs recipe.)

What is one pot pasta?

A one pot pasta is a pasta dish that’s cooked all at the same time, in the same pot. That means you don’t need to boil and drain noodles separately before combining with other ingredients. In this one pot veggie spaghetti recipe, you’ll saute the veggies, add sauce and broth, bring it to a boil, and add spaghetti noodles. After 8-12 minutes, the noodles will cook through and the liquid will reduce!

Can you cook raw spaghetti in sauce?

Yes, you can cook raw spaghetti noodles in sauce—but you need to add more liquid for the pasta to absorb as it cooks. To cook this vegetarian one pot spaghetti in marinara sauce, I also needed to add enough vegetable broth to dilute the sauce. This way, the noodles can cook through until tender, and they turn out more flavorful after simmering in savory sauce and broth!

How to Make One Pot Spaghetti

• Saute onions, garlic, and mushrooms in a deep pot for 3-4 minutes.
• Add sauce, seasonings, and broth and bring everything to a boil.
• Add dry spaghetti and zucchini, then reduce to a simmer. Allow the pot to sit uncovered for 8-12 minutes, stirring regularly, until the pasta is cooked through and the liquid reduces.
• Stir in spinach and allow to wilt for 1-2 minutes.
• Serve warm with parmesan and enjoy!

How much spaghetti should I cook per person?

Typically, a standard serving is 2oz of dry spaghetti per person, which yields around 1 cup of cooked spaghetti. However, you can vary the serving size based on your preference. Since this easy one pot spaghetti uses 16oz of dry pasta, this recipe yields 8 servings. But, keep in mind, serving sizes are arbitrary! Eat according to your individual needs.

Substitution Notes

• Sauce: Use any sauce that you like in this recipe—store-bought or homemade, red or white! Personally, my favorite way to make this one pot spaghetti is with a jar of marinara sauce.
• Spaghetti: I like to make this one pot veggie spaghetti with regular spaghetti noodles, but you could also use a gluten free variety like chickpea noodles! If you do, just check the package instructions to adjust the cook time. Since regular spaghetti noodles require around 9 minutes to cook on their own, I recommend a cook time range of 8-12 minutes for this one pot spaghetti. For chickpea noodles, which need 6-8 minutes to cook on their own, I recommend a cook time range of 6-10 minutes for this recipe.
• Vegetables: Feel free to use whichever veggies you enjoy in this recipe! Just be sure to add vegetables that require longer to cook first (like mushrooms), and save shorter-cooking veggies (like spinach) for the end. (Check out my Best & Worst Foods for Meal Prep PDF for guidance on cook times.)

Mind Over Meal Prep

If you enjoy this spaghetti meal prep dinner and you want to learn how to meal prep easily and efficiently—for your needs—check out my Mind Over Meal Prep course! Whether you are a beginner at meal prep or you’re looking to make meal prep simpler and sustainable, this course will guide you in designing your perfect meal prep.

See how to make this one pot veggie spaghetti in my Stress-Free Meal Prep video!