The one-pot pasta trend makes dinner simple, fast, and satisfying. Food blogger @chez.paulinette shares a cozy recipe built around coquillettes, peas, mushrooms and ham. It’s a family-friendly bake that blends creamy cheese and broth into a fuss-free weeknight meal.
One-pot coquillettes: ingredients for an easy pasta bake
- 200 g coquillettes (small elbow pasta)
- 50 g frozen or fresh peas
- 50 g sliced mushrooms
- 75 g diced ham
- 2 generous handfuls grated Comté or similar melting cheese
- 250 ml (25 cl) heavy cream
- 200 ml vegetable broth
- Salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil to taste
How to assemble and bake this one-pot pasta
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F). Choose an ovenproof dish large enough for even cooking.
- Place the uncooked coquillettes in the dish in a single layer.
- Scatter peas, mushrooms and diced ham evenly over the pasta.
- Sprinkle the grated Comté on top, reserving a little for finishing.
- Pour the cream and then the vegetable broth so the pasta is mostly covered.
- Season lightly with salt and pepper, then drizzle a touch of olive oil.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, until the pasta has absorbed most of the liquid and the top is golden.
- If you prefer a less-browned cheese, add the last handful of Comté once the dish is out of the oven.
Smart cooking tips to guarantee a perfect one-pot
- Cut for even cooking: Chop vegetables to match their cooking time. Smaller pieces cook through faster.
- Match flavors: Pick ingredients that complement each other, like ham and Comté.
- Avoid soggy veg: Skip ingredients that turn mushy or lose color in long baking.
- Add cheese at the right time: Put most cheese in before baking and extra at the end if you want a creamier finish.
- Stagger additions: For different textures, add quick-cooking items later in the bake.
- Control liquid: Adjust broth amount slightly depending on pasta type and dish depth.
Flavor variations and quick swaps
- Replace ham with cooked shredded chicken for a milder flavor.
- Use bacon or pancetta for a smoky twist.
- Swap Comté for Gruyère, cheddar, or a mix of cheeses.
- For a vegetarian version, use smoked tofu instead of ham and vegetable broth.
- Add herbs like thyme or parsley before serving for freshness.
- Top with panko or breadcrumbs mixed with butter for a crunchy finish.
Serving suggestions and who will love it
- Serve straight from the oven in the baking dish for a casual family meal.
- Pair with a simple green salad to balance the richness.
- This recipe is ideal for busy evenings and is popular with both kids and adults.
- Scale up quantities to feed a crowd or prepare in individual ramekins for portion control.
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