By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 11, 2026
Serves 4
125 cal · 45 min
One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
Recipe GLPR0574736a0d24c2
A rustic, comforting one-pot pasta where tender penne cooks directly in a fragrant broth infused with fresh tomatoes, basil, and parsley. The pasta absorbs all the flavors as it simmers, creating a lightly creamy dish finished with melted butter and topped with tangy parmesan cheese.
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Ingredients
8 ounces short pasta (penne, ziti, or campanelle)
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and black pepper to taste
Grated parmesan cheese for garnish
Directions
In a large pot, combine the pasta, chicken broth, water, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped onion, fresh basil, and fresh parsley. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium-high heat.
Once simmering, reduce heat to medium and stir occasionally. Cook for the time indicated on your pasta box until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, usually 8-12 minutes.
When the pasta reaches your desired tenderness, remove from heat and stir in the butter until it is completely melted and incorporated throughout the dish.
Taste the pasta and season generously with salt and black pepper according to your preference.
Divide the pasta among four serving bowls. Top each portion with grated parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of additional fresh basil before serving.
Comments
All ingredients are grocery staples widely stocked at every Charlotte chain, and the cost per serving lands around $2–$2.50, driven mainly by the pasta and parmesan. The stated 45 minutes is honest for browning onion, simmering pasta in broth, and finishing with fresh basil, though active time is closer to 10 minutes. This is a solid weeknight one-pot dish that feeds a family without fussy technique, but the fresh basil and parsley mean it needs to be eaten same-night; it does not reheat well once the pasta has absorbed the liquid.
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