One-Pot Diavola Pasta Shrimp (Printable)

A vibrant, spicy dish blending chicken, shrimp, and pasta with a rich tomato sauce cooked all in one pot.

# Ingredient List:

→ Proteins

01 - 9 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 7 oz frozen raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, thawed if possible

→ Pasta

03 - 10.5 oz dried penne or rigatoni

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 fresh red chili, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Sauce

08 - 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 3 cups chicken broth
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1 tsp dried basil
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 to 1 tsp red pepper flakes, to taste
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ To Finish

17 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
19 - Lemon wedges, to serve

# Directions:

01 - Warm olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
02 - Add chopped onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Stir in garlic, red bell pepper, and chili if using; cook 2 more minutes.
03 - Add chicken pieces and sauté until lightly browned on all sides, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Pour in crushed tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring mixture to a boil.
06 - Stir in pasta and a generous pinch of salt. Reduce heat to a simmer and partially cover. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
07 - Add shrimp to the pot and stir. Cook uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes until pasta is al dente and shrimp turns pink and opaque. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
08 - Remove from heat and fold in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and combined.
09 - Plate immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves and lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot, which means less time scrubbing dishes and more time actually enjoying dinner.
  • The shrimp adds a luxurious touch without making you feel like you're fussing—it's genuinely easy.
  • That Diavola heat is customizable, so whether you like things spicy or mild, it bends to your mood.
  • Forty minutes from raw ingredients to something that tastes like you've been cooking all day.
02 -
  • Don't let the shrimp cook too long or they'll turn tough and bouncy; they need just until pink and through, which is faster than you'd think.
  • If your pasta looks dry at any point, add a splash more broth; the pasta absorbs liquid as it cooks, and you want a saucy finish, not a gluey one.
03 -
  • Don't skip the smoked paprika; it adds a quiet depth that makes people wonder what your secret ingredient is.
  • Keeping the pan partially covered while the pasta cooks helps it cook evenly without the liquid evaporating too fast, but uncovering it for the shrimp lets some of that steam escape so the sauce gets glossier.
Go Back