Description

This Easy One Pot Spicy Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta is a flavorful and hearty dish that combines ground meat, fragrant spices, tangy crushed tomatoes, fresh basil pesto, and creamy burrata cheese. Perfect for a quick and comforting meal, it cooks all in one pot for minimal cleanup and maximum taste, featuring a nice balance of spicy, savory, and fresh herbal notes.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Seasonings

1 pound ground chicken, turkey, or pork
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1–2 teaspoons chipotle chile powder
1 teaspoon crushed fennel seed
1 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and black pepper to taste
Chili flakes to taste

Tomato and Pasta

2 (28 ounces) cans crushed tomatoes
1 pound short-cut pasta (such as penne or rigatoni)
2 big cups water (approximately 4 cups)
1 teaspoon salt

Finishing Ingredients

1/2 cup basil pesto
1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fresh chopped basil or micro basil
2–3 balls burrata cheese, at room temperature
Extra olive oil for drizzling
Extra black pepper for topping

Instructions

Brown the Meat and Add Spices: In a large pot over high heat, brown the ground meat, breaking it up as it cooks. Add Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, chipotle chile powder, crushed fennel seed, and onion powder. Season with salt, black pepper, and chili flakes. Cook until the meat is fully cooked through and the spices are fragrant, about 8-10 minutes.
Add Tomatoes, Water, and Pasta: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and add about 4 cups of water (2 big cups). Stir in the short-cut pasta and sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix well and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed much of the liquid, about 8 minutes. Do not drain the water.
Incorporate Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Stir in the basil pesto, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy throughout the pasta. Remove the pot from heat.
Add Fresh Basil and Season: Stir in the fresh chopped basil or micro basil. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
Serve with Burrata: Break the burrata cheese over the top of the pasta. Divide the pasta into serving bowls and drizzle with extra olive oil and a sprinkle of black pepper. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

You can substitute the ground meat with ground beef or switch to a plant-based ground meat for a vegetarian version (omit burrata or replace with vegan cheese).
If you prefer a less spicy dish, reduce or omit the chipotle chile powder and chili flakes.
Use short-cut pasta such as penne or rigatoni for best results, as it holds the sauce well.
Do not drain the pasta water – this helps create the creamy sauce.
Allow the burrata to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta instead.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: one pot pasta, spicy pasta, tomato basil pesto, burrata pasta, easy dinner, ground meat pasta