Budget-Friendly One-Pot Pasta Primavera

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A vibrant pasta dish featuring seasonal vegetables and pantry staples for a wallet-friendly weeknight dinner. This Mediterranean-inspired one-pot recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 35 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil; add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat; add 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion and cook for 4 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until golden, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 1 medium sliced zucchini, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, and 1/2 cup frozen peas; cook for 3 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
  5. Step 5: Add 1/2 cup vegetable broth and 1 tsp dried oregano; simmer for 2 minutes until liquid reduces slightly.
  6. Step 6: Return drained spaghetti to the skillet with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper; toss vigorously for 2 minutes until sauce coats pasta and thickens.
  7. Step 7: Remove from heat, stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted, and serve immediately.

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