Looking for an effortless dinner that tastes standout? One pot lentil pasta is the recipe for you! It’s a vibrant, light, yet satisfying vegetarian main or side tossed with diced tomatoes and herbs. It can be ready to serve truly speedy and tastes so flavor-packed! The whole family will be loving it!

Reasons worth repeating this dish

Speedy & straightforward: This lentil pasta recipe is hassle-free and will be ready-to-serve in no time!
Versatile: Customize this dish with any regular mix-ins. It’s great on its own as either the main course or a side dish, but it’s flexible enough to add in other veggies, chicken or shrimp.
Family-friendly: This simple and satisfying pasta recipe is packed with all the right flavors and is one of those recipes that everyone loves.

Ingredients you’ll need

Only simple ingredients that are mostly pantry staples are required for this lentil pasta recipe. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

Lentil pasta: This gluten-free pasta is one of my favs! It holds its shape and texture well and has the same al dente bite that regular pasta does.
Vegetable broth: Cook the pasta in veggie broth instead of water for extra flavor.
Garlic: Fresh is particularly important in this method.
Diced tomatoes: Adds lots of texture and subtle sweet flavor.
Onion: I used sweet onion but genuinely any kind will do.
Herbs: A mix of dried thyme, dried oregano and a handful of fresh basil will bring flavor-packed herby flavor to this pasta recipe.
Salt and pepper: To enhance and bring out all of the flavors.

Variations and substitutions

Pasta: Feel free to use a different type or shape of noodle. You may need to adjust the cooking time, depending on the type of noodle.
Protein: If you’re not concerned with keeping this meal vegan, you can add in cooked ground beef, Italian seasoned ground turkey, or Italian sausage.
Vegetables: Sneak in some extra veggies, if you’d like. Try adding sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, zucchini, or bell pepper. Wilted spinach or kale would also be nice!
Fresh herbs: I typically use fresh basil to garnish this method but fresh parsley is also a great choice.
Cheese: I truly love adding parmesan cheese to this dish! If you’re wanting to keep it vegan, Violife makes a SATISFYING vegan parmesan.

bag o trader joes organic red lentil pasta spilling out of the bag. sitting on top of a marble board

How to cook this method

Combine the ingredients: In a large pot over medium heat, combine all ingredients MINUS the basil. Stir to thoroughly combine.
Simmer: Once boiling, reduce heat and let simmer for 13-15 minutes. Dish is done when the pasta is tender to the bite. Watch the pasta carefully because you don’t want to over cook it! Once done, take off of heat and let sit for a couple minutes to let the pasta absorb any remaining liquid.
Garnish, season and serve: Stir in the chopped herbs and season with salt and pepper if needed. ENJOY!

a medium white pot filled with the ingredients for the recipe: uncooked red lentil pasta, diced onion and tomato, minced garlic, spices, and fresh basil

Helpful tips

Using lentil pasta: I’ve found several great lentil pastas (and other gluten-free pastas) at Trader Joe’s but this red lentil pasta is certainly my regular. It doesn’t get genuinely mushy (unless you overcook it) and has a genuinely nice bite to it that’s as similar to regular pasta as I’ve ever come across. It’s also great for one-pot pasta dishes, since lentil noodles are dependable for genuinely absorbing the extra liquid in the pan.
Do not overcook the noodles: The biggest tip when it comes to cooking with lentil pasta is to simply not let the noodles cook too long. Once you master that, the dish is basically done (yay for one pot dishes!!).
Serving: This is a complete meal on its own, but this earns a repeat to serve it with a fresh green salad and some crusty bread on the side!

Frequently asked questions

a large pot full of red lentil pasta cooked together with diced tomatoes and topped with fresh basil

Storage recommendations

Leftover lentil pasta can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave, splashed with a bit of water or broth to keep it from drying out as you rewarm it.

white bowl sitting on navy blue napkin. the bowl is filled with red lentil pasta cooked together with tomatoes and topped with fresh basil

More straightforward pasta recipes

I hope that there is LOTS of one pot pasta on your weekly menu:) As always, if you end up making this dish, PLEASE snap a photo and tag me on Instagram @!