Main image of One-Pot Tomato Lentil Pasta

One-Pot Tomato Lentil Pasta

30 min

Meal

One-bowl / one-pot
Spaghetti in tomato sauce is such a classic dish. This one-pot version cuts down on the dishes without cutting down on all the deliciousness.

Servings

Total

30 min

Prep

10 min

Cook

20 min

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tree nut

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sesame

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp (15 mL)
    vegetable oil
  • 4
    cloves garlic, minced
  • 1
    medium onion, chopped
  • 1
    vegetable bouillon cube
  • 1 tsp (1 g)
    Italian spice mix
  • ½ tsp
    chili flakes (optional)
  • 11 oz (300 g)
    dry spaghetti noodles
  • 3 cups (792 g)
    tomato-based pasta sauce
  • 2 cups (480 mL)
    boiling water
  • 2 cups (298 g)
    cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1½ cups (297 g)
    cooked brown lentils
  • ½ cup (68 g)
    green olives, sliced or chopped
  • ⅓ cup (50 g)
    sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp (9 g)
    capers
  • 2 cups (60 g)
    fresh spinach

Optional garnish

  • fresh basil

Directions

  1. Add the oil to a large pot on medium-high heat. When hot, add the garlic, onion, bouillon cube, Italian seasoning, and chili flakes. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes.
  2. Then add the pasta, pasta sauce, boiling water, cherry tomatoes, lentils, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers.
  3. Bring to a gentle simmer and partially cover with a lid. Cook for 10 - 15 minutes on medium heat until pasta is al dente. Stir every few minutes to ensure the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.
  4. When the pasta is al dente, add the spinach and stir, cooking for an additional minute.
  5. Serve it generously into bowls, garnish, and enjoy!

Storage

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Let us know what you think

Plate method

The Plate Method is a visual tool that helps us ensure our dietary needs are on track. Touch the image below to see how this recipe measures up.

Grains & Starches 43%

• dry spaghetti noodles

Proteins 10%

• cooked brown lentils

Fruits & Veggies 47%

• clove garlic

• medium onion

• tomato-based pasta sauce

• cherry tomato

• green olive

• sun-dried tomatoes in oil

• capers

• fresh spinach

Calcium
No significant sources of calcium
Fat

• vegetable oil

• green olive

• sun-dried tomatoes in oil

Nutrition info

We believe that focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. If you require specific nutrition information due to a medical condition, please consult with a dietitian or physician. The nutritional information provided is composed with the utmost care. However, we cannot guarantee the correctness of the displayed values, see also our disclaimer.

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Discussion & Rating

Rate this post

Taylor - March 22, 2023, 5:35 p.m.

Great flavor! I don't know if I messed something up but it was a tiny bit dry.

Reply
sofia - Jan. 23, 2023, 7:27 p.m.

i tried it several times. I'm in Italy and my husband was worried I was a traitor to the italian tradition. I wasn't. It's good and perfectly cooked.

PUL Team - Jan. 25, 2023, 4:38 p.m.

A massive compliment, Sofia, we're so glad it's being enjoyed!

Reply
Tracy - Sept. 22, 2022, 4:54 a.m.

This was so good! Everyone in my family loved this!

Reply
Sarah - June 21, 2022, 10:53 p.m.

Made it tonight for dinner, it was really delicious and easy to plan ahead.

PUL Team - June 22, 2022, 4:18 p.m.

So glad it was enjoyed, Sarah!

Reply
Fiona - June 13, 2022, 10 p.m.

Incredible! As always an amazingly tasty recipe, easy to make and satisfyingly filling.
Thank you PUL ❤️

PUL Team - June 16, 2022, 2:33 a.m.

We appreciate it so much, Fiona! Thank YOU 💛

Reply
Andy - May 8, 2022, 10:39 a.m.

It’s a really great pasta recipe! Thank you!

PUL Team - May 8, 2022, 7:42 p.m.

Thank YOU, Andy ☺️

Reply
S B - March 29, 2022, 6:47 a.m.

This was delicious! I needed a quick meal, this looked good, so I made it. My family enjoyed it, too! Your recipes never disappoint!!

PUL Team - March 29, 2022, 7:58 p.m.

Thank you for taking the time to share the kind words, S B!

Reply
Kristen - March 9, 2022, 2:49 a.m.

Made this for my elderly meat loving parents and it was a huge hit! My dad even said it was “better than regular spaghetti!”. Thanks so much for this recipe!

PUL Team - March 10, 2022, 8:03 a.m.

Awe we're so glad it was enjoyed, Kristen, it means so much!

Reply
Clara - Feb. 28, 2022, 8:29 a.m.

One of my favourite noodle recipes of yours !! Easy to make, not much cleaning and a lovely mixture of all different kind of flavours. Thank you :)

PUL Team - Feb. 28, 2022, 8:16 p.m.

So happy to hear! Thanks a bunch, Clara 😃

Reply
Elizabeth - Feb. 27, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

Hello! This recipe’s very nice but could you please add the fact that the water needs to be boiling when poured in the pan ? It’s actually not that obvious :)

PUL Team - Feb. 28, 2022, 7:51 p.m.

Hey Elizabeth, a sincere thank you for the kind words and request! It's super valuable to help us improve. The recipe has been updated accordingly. Do let us know if there's any other feedback 😊

Reply
Belle - Feb. 16, 2022, 7:31 a.m.

Yummy!! So good and very easy to make, perfect weeknight dinner

PUL Team - Feb. 16, 2022, 10:05 p.m.

Thank you, Belle, it means so much!

Reply
Tynisha - Feb. 16, 2022, 12:22 a.m.

It taste very good and a quick satisfying meal for the family.

PUL Team - Feb. 16, 2022, 9:52 p.m.

So glad to hear, Tynisha, and do let us know if there's any other feedback 😊

Reply
Alexandra - Feb. 11, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

This turned out super delicious and creamy! I love the recipe and will definitely make it again - this time for my non-vegan parents-in-law to impress them. :)

PUL Team - Feb. 14, 2022, 2:33 a.m.

Woohoo! We hope they enjoy the pasta, Alexandra, so nice of you to make it for them 😃

Reply
Waleed - Feb. 8, 2022, 3:24 p.m.

Wow, this recipe tasted amazing! Unfortunately, the lentils were only half-cooked because they weren't pre-cooked. Should I let the lentils boil in the tomato sauce/water mixture for 10 minutes before adding the spaghetti?

PUL Team - Feb. 8, 2022, 11:27 p.m.

Hi Waleed, yes you can cook the lentils for longer before adding the pasta noodles. This will help to ensure they're cooked when the pasta is done. We hope this helps for now 😊

Waleed - Feb. 8, 2022, 11:31 p.m.

Thanks you!

Reply
Georgiana - Feb. 5, 2022, 6:09 p.m.

One of my favorite pasta recipes from PUL! I've made it several times (including today) and not only with spaghetti, I've tried maccheroni and it works really well!
The lentils & pasta combo is simply amazing, so tasty and nourishing!

PUL Team - Feb. 6, 2022, 8:40 p.m.

Oh we're so honoured, Georgiana! Love changing up the pasta noodles too :)

Reply
Joseph - Jan. 31, 2022, 12:38 p.m.

tasty

PUL Team - Jan. 31, 2022, 8:04 p.m.

Thanks, Joseph! Do let us know if you have any other feedback to help PUL improve :D

Reply
V - Oct. 31, 2021, 12:21 a.m.

Not a 'one pot recipe' if I have to precook lentils. Super delicious though.

PUL Team - Oct. 31, 2021, 8:06 p.m.

Thanks for the review, V, that's a great point and really valuable to help us improve! Perhaps using the same pot beforehand to pre-cook lentils if needed is one idea. Canned lentils are often pre-cooked which may be another option to consider if desired 😊

Reply
Marina - Oct. 28, 2021, 12:33 p.m.

I'm making this for the third time, I love it because it's tasty and I also make a big batch which is useful for a college student. For my budget it's better if I cut out the dried tomatoes and capers but the recipe is super tasty nonetheless. Thank you, Sadia and the PUL team!

PUL Team - Oct. 29, 2021, 5:21 a.m.

Thanks for sharing your take on the pasta, Marina! All the best with your studies 📚✨

Reply
Kaylin - Oct. 26, 2021, 8:01 p.m.

I've made this about 10 times. Absolutely one of the most amazing recipes I've ever had. Tastes like it comes from a 10 star restaurant. I love it so much.

PUL Team - Oct. 27, 2021, 2:28 a.m.

You're much too kind, Kaylin, thank you for the glowing review 🤗

Reply
Athina - Sept. 25, 2021, 3:29 p.m.

I just cooked and ate it. One of the most special and delicious pasta dish I have ever tasted.

PUL Team - Sept. 26, 2021, 1:52 a.m.

A huuge compliment, Athina! Thank you for sharing 😊

Reply
Prianca - Sept. 24, 2021, 7:32 p.m.

I was having food aversion due to 🤰🏻, scrolled down your recipes and prepared this tomato pasta, literally licked my plate. Happy me :) thank you for this recipe.

PUL Team - Sept. 24, 2021, 7:44 p.m.

Aw so happy to hear, Prianca! Wishing you and your little one an abundance of health and wellness 💚

Reply
Luisa Hdez. - Sept. 17, 2021, 4:52 a.m.

Really loved this recipe, it's really easy to make and it tastes very delicious. I've been trying a lot of recipes from Pick up limes and they don't really dissapoint. Thank you for all your extraordinary job.

PUL Team - Sept. 17, 2021, 5:28 a.m.

Aw a sincere thank you for the support and being here, Luisa! We're so happy you're enjoying the PUL content 🤗

Reply
Elisabeth - Sept. 11, 2021, 2:59 p.m.

Wow! This recipe is so quick and easy yet so so delicious. I prepared it for myself and my mum the other day, and she loved it :). I didn't have brown lentils though, so I used red lentils, and it was amazing choice. I love that Pick Up Limes provides us with so many delicious, easy and healthy recipes. I feel the good energy from their meals and I love it. Thanks a lot!

PUL Team - Sept. 12, 2021, 4:48 a.m.

Aw we're so glad the pasta was enjoyed, Elisabeth! Thank you for being here and sharing the glowing feedback 🥰

Reply
CL - Sept. 8, 2021, 9:04 p.m.

It's my first time putting lentils in spaghetti. I really love the nutty texture it gives to the spaghetti! This dish is full of flavors and easy to make, and definitely gonna be a "signature dish" when hosting friends. :D

Thank you! <3

PUL Team - Sept. 8, 2021, 9:57 p.m.

Hi CL! So happy the pasta was enjoyed, thank YOU 😊

Reply
Rene - July 29, 2021, 7:40 a.m.

I have been a meat eater my whole life and am now venturing into a plant based way of eating. I made this with 1 substitution - I didn’t have lentils so I used chickpeas instead. This was by far the best spaghetti I have ever made!! This dish is bursting with flavor and just feels nourishing. Add as a bonus, my husband, who is a meat eater, gobbled this up! A new staple! Thank you 😊

PUL Team - July 29, 2021, 5:57 p.m.

We appreciate this so much, Rene, thank you for sharing! We're so thrilled the pasta has been enjoyed ☺️💚

Reply
Clare - July 28, 2021, 8:20 a.m.

I love it!

Reply
Mil - July 24, 2021, 6:22 p.m.

I made it for my birthday party, everyone loved it. Some of them made it themselves later. Super easy to make and delicious. Even if you left out some of ingredients pasta is still going to be good.

PUL Team - July 25, 2021, 11:51 p.m.

So honoured a PUL recipe was part of the birthday, Mil, thanks for the lovely review 🤗

Reply
Paula - July 22, 2021, 7:58 a.m.

I have been checking out recipes here and there and your website is unmatchable!! Wow. Beautiful pictures, videos, nutritionally balanced and can add to my Amazon cart with 1 click! Thank you so so much. Finally, a user friendly vegan site with delicious food.

PUL Team - July 23, 2021, 2:21 a.m.

So glad you're enjoying the recipe and new website, Paula, it means so much! 💖

Paula - July 23, 2021, 3:47 a.m.

I’m making this recipe tomorrow 😁 Keep up what you’re doing! It is helping so many people live healthier lives.

Reply
Lyn - July 21, 2021, 9:04 p.m.

This looks delicious — planning on making it soon. Could I replace the bouillon cube with vegetable stock, and, if so, how much vegetable stock should I use? Thanks!

PUL Team - July 22, 2021, 6:02 a.m.

Hi Lyn, thanks for the question! You can use totally use vegetable stock in place of bouillon cubes. Half to one cup should do for this one, although we'd recommend giving it a taste test and add more salt or stock if desired. Let us know how the recipe goes if you give it a try 😃

Reply
Babet - July 9, 2021, 3:01 p.m.

Wow. This must be one of my favorite things to make as comfort food. I once made it for my mom and me but she didn't enjoy it. I was so confused but I guess there was more for me! So easy but it has such a rich flavour, I love it.

Reply
Emily - July 9, 2021, 1:05 a.m.

It was so easy to make and super delicious!

Reply
Alexxis - July 8, 2021, 10:55 p.m.

Perfect comfort food meal!

Reply
Carolina S - July 8, 2021, 6:57 p.m.

This is one of my favorite recipes that I keep on rotation! It's really cozy, creamy and easy to make. A true staple! :)

Reply
Yvonne - July 6, 2021, 6:30 p.m.

Love this recipe! Have made it a couple times and always find myself coming back to it :) This is the only dish I've cooked with lentils and I've been using canned lentils. so they're cooked, but how can I use dried lentils instead? I'm not sure how to cook those and any help would be appreciated!

PUL Team - July 8, 2021, 6:36 a.m.

Hello Yvonne, we're so glad you're enjoying the pasta! It may be easiest to cook dried lentils separately. You could follow a recipe based on the type you have, but generally cooking dried lentils involves the following steps:
1) When we have time, we like to soak our lentils for at least a couple of hours beforehand to help decrease the cooking time and to help increase nutrient absorption. Soaking, though, is not necessary. We do recommend rinsing them at least though 🙂
2) Add one part of rinsed lentils to a pot with 3-4 parts liquid (such as water or stock). The liquid should usually sit around an inch above the lentils in the pot. Add salt, a bouillon cube, or other spices if desired.
3) Bring the pot to boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through (squishy but not mushy). If using unsoaked lentils, add an extra ~15 minutes to the cooking time.
4) Drain and enjoy!

We hope this helps. Happy cooking ✨

Reply
Rosie - June 18, 2021, 4:57 a.m.

This was my first ever lentil dish, always wanted to try them but was afraid I’d hate them but holy cow!! This pasta was amazing! Thank you!

PUL Team - June 19, 2021, 10:42 p.m.

So lovely the lentils were a nice surprise, Rosie! Glad the pasta was enjoyed :D

Reply
Emiliana Chateau - May 11, 2021, 4:24 a.m.

It was delicious and easy! I made it with red lentils :)

Reply
Tereza - April 27, 2021, 11:35 a.m.

Amazing recipe! All the family loved it. At first I was nervous about not being able to stuff the dry spaghetti into the pot as it took some time for it to get soft enough to fit in, but it just needed a bit of patience and it turned out just perfect. :D Thanks and greetings from Czechia! :)

PUL Team - April 27, 2021, 4:32 p.m.

So happy with some time the recipe turned out as planned! Thanks for sharing, Tereza, and lots of love back to Czechia! 😀

Reply
Tanrada - April 25, 2021, 9:44 p.m.

I have recently started plant-based diet and I have to say that this dish is AMAZING, very tasty and easy to cook! I love it so much! Thank you Sadia for this recipe and the inspiration :)

PUL Team - April 26, 2021, 6:33 a.m.

We're so glad to hear, Tanrada! All the best on your journey and thanks for allowing PUL to be part of it ✨😊

Reply
Agnieszka - April 16, 2021, 2:07 p.m.

This is soo flavourful and delicious! Very easy to prepare too :)

PUL Team - April 19, 2021, 1:56 a.m.

We're so happy to hear this, Agnieszka 🤩

Reply
Sarah - April 1, 2021, 6:34 p.m.

Absolutely delicious. It's ike a vegan Bolognese. With parmesan even more delicous and with whole grain pasta even healthier. Thanks for the recipe!

PUL Team - April 3, 2021, 1:25 a.m.

So glad you enjoyed the lentil pasta, Sarah!

Reply