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One Pan Mediterranean Pasta Dinner - A Bright, Weeknight-Friendly Meal

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • Dry pasta: 12 ounces short pasta like penne, rigatoni, or fusilli
  • Olive oil: Extra virgin for sautéing and finishing
  • Garlic: 4–5 cloves, thinly sliced
  • Yellow onion or shallot: 1 small, finely chopped
  • Cherry or grape tomatoes: 2 cups, halved (or a 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes)
  • Vegetable or chicken broth: 3 1/4 cups, low sodium
  • Kalamata olives: 1/2 cup, pitted and halved
  • Capers: 2 tablespoons, drained
  • Sun-dried tomatoes: 1/3 cup, chopped (oil-packed preferred)
  • Spinach or baby arugula: 3–4 cups, loosely packed
  • Feta cheese: 1/2 cup, crumbled (plus more for serving)
  • Lemon: 1, for zest and juice
  • Fresh herbs: Parsley and/or basil, roughly chopped
  • Red pepper flakes: 1/2 teaspoon, or to taste
  • Dried oregano: 1 teaspoon
  • Salt and black pepper: To taste

Method
 

  1. Warm the pan: Heat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil.
  2. Sauté aromatics: Add onion with a pinch of salt. Cook 3–4 minutes until soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant.
  3. Build the base: Stir in cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook 2–3 minutes until the fresh tomatoes start to slump and release juices.
  4. Add pasta and liquid: Pour in the broth and bring to a lively simmer. Add the dry pasta and a small pinch of salt. Stir well so nothing sticks.
  5. Simmer uncovered: Cook 9–11 minutes, stirring often so the pasta cooks evenly and the sauce thickens. Adjust heat to keep a steady simmer, not a hard boil. If it looks dry before the pasta is tender, add a splash of water or broth.
  6. Layer in the briny bits: When the pasta is almost al dente, stir in olives and capers. Simmer 1–2 more minutes to warm through.
  7. Finish with greens: Turn off the heat. Fold in spinach (or arugula) until wilted. The residual heat will do the work.
  8. Brighten it up: Add lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
  9. Creamy, salty finish: Gently fold in feta. It should soften slightly into the sauce while leaving some creamy crumbles.
  10. Serve: Drizzle with a little olive oil, scatter chopped parsley or basil, and add extra feta if you like.