One-Pot Tomato and Milk Pasta with Mozzarella
A creamy, kid-friendly one-pot pasta combining tangy marinara, milk, and melted mozzarella for a quick, comforting meal. This Italian-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs penne pasta, whole milk, marinara sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large saucepan, combine 8 oz uncooked penne pasta, 1 1/2 cups whole milk, 1 cup marinara sauce, and 1 cup water. Stir gently until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Step 2: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Cook uncovered for 12-15 minutes until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Step 3: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy and coats the pasta evenly.
