Easy One-Pot Italian Ratatouille (Stovetop)

This fresh vegetable Italian ratatouille is mouth-wateringly delicious and so easy to make on the stovetop! This healthy ratatouille is bursting with vegetables and flavor and only needs ONE pan (or pot) on the stovetop!

Easy Italian-style Ratatouille - One Pan Recipe on the Stove

I really love this ratatouille – it is truly a delicious, fun and unique way to incorporate vegetables into your meal! 

This ratatouille recipe is perfect for weekdays, weekends and holidays! A dish packed with vegetables, infused with delicious flavors and simple to make with just one pan! And no hassle of using an oven to roast vegetables! 

This fresh ratatouille will make your mouth water and taste buds dance with delight!

Can you tell how much I love this dish? … Thought so…

Ratatouille is a popular dish enjoyed all over the world, including the South of France (where it originates).

My love for this dish actually began back when I was a kid and visited the South of France on a family vacation! We ordered a dish of ratatouille and well… the rest is history! I fell in love with the wonderful flavors – I have been making ratatouille ever since!

After experimenting with different vegetables, flavors and herbs I perfected this recipe and am so excited to share this with you!

This recipe celebrates the authentic style of ratatouille, with our own special Italian-inspired twist! This ratatouille is made using a variety of vegetables, herbs and spices (including oregano) for an Italian-style dish. This dish is a fusion between French and Italian-styles to celebrate both cuisines!

You may have also heard of the film Ratatouille (great film… to all my fellow Disney fans)! Although Remy had quite the ‘sophisticated palate’ to make his ratatouille, you do not need to be a professional chef to make this simple, delicious and vibrant Ratatouille. Brighten your day with a splash of fun, colour and this healthy vibrant ratatouille! 

Jump to:

• Easy Italian-style Ratatouille - One Pan Recipe on the Stove
• What is Ratatouille?
• Why You'll Love this Ratatouille Recipe
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Equipment
• How to make Ratatouille on the Stove
• Tips to Make the Perfect Ratatouille 
• How to Serve This Ratatouille
• Storage Tips
• Fresh drinks
• Room for dessert
• Easy One-Pot Italian Ratatouille (Stovetop)

What is Ratatouille?

Ratatouille (pronounced ‘rat-tah-too-ee’) is a colourful and flavorful vegetable stew originating from Provence (in the South of France). The word ratatouille comes from the French “touiller” which means “to stir up” and the word “rata” which can refer to a stew or a simple mix of vegetables. 

Ratatouille is a popular dish enjoyed all over the world, including France. It is made with a number of vegetables (including courgettes/zucchini, aubergine/eggplant and peppers) as well as herbs, garlic and onion to create a hearty, tasty and traditional dish.

Why You'll Love this Ratatouille Recipe

1. Delicious and authentic with an Italian-style twist: this dish is absolutely scrumptious and inspired by ratatouille from the South of France. This dish has a slight twist of herbs for an Italian-style twist. The vegetables are chopped a bit more finely than other recipes (this releases more flavor!)!
2. Healthy, hearty and wholesome – this ratatouille is not just colourful and vibrant to look at – it is packed with nutrition, so many fresh vegetables – this dish is healthy, hearty and wholesome
3. Easy and quick to make (cooked on the stove) – just ONE pan, you cook this dish on the stove (just like they do in Provence). This ratatouille is also quick to make (as you only make it on the stove) and can be made within 35-40 minutes! 
4. Cheap and cheerful – this dish is affordable – you only need a handful of affordable ingredients and it works out MUCH cheaper to make than if you bought a dish of this magnificence at a fancy restaurant around the world!
5. Just a handful of FRESH ingredients – from carrots and celery to courgettes and peppers, this dish is bursting with freshness and wonder!
6. Unique, extraordinary and fun – this dish is so extraordinary and perfect when you are looking for a tasty, effortless way to add vegetables to your meal! 
7. Vegan and gluten-free – a dish for everyone! 
8. Easy to store and reheat – this dish is delicious served immediately … and just as good the following day! Many say they prefer the dish the next day as the flavors infuse even more – however I have noticed either way works just as well with this recipe! This dish can be stored in the fridge and reheated the next day so can easily be made in advance!
9. SO versatile – this dish can be served on its own, with rice or pasta, served with bread, eggs and even as a sandwich filler! The options are endless…
10. Mix it up and adjust as preferred – this dish is easy to make and so easy to adjust – you can mix and match the vegetables and herbs to your liking! For a spicier ratatouille, add more chilli, alternatively for a slightly sweeter taste, add ¼ teaspoon basil and ½ teaspoon maple syrup!

Ingredients You'll Need

• Olive oil: I recommend using extra virgin olive oil for its added health benefits and richness, but you can use regular olive oil. The extra virgin olive oil is added to the pan before adding the ingredients, this helps to gently roast them and release their flavor. 
• Garlic: garlic is sautéed and used to flavor this dish 
• Yellow/brown onions: I recommend finely chopping the onions to release their flavor which is perfect for this dish.
• Celery: celery is diced into small-medium chunks and added soon after the onions to sauté and adds a wonderful texture to this ratatouille (plus another healthy vegetable!) 
• Carrot: carrot is also diced into small chunks and added after the celery, contributing to the delicious, vibrant and healthy ratatouille 
• Red Bell Pepper: red bell peppers bring a sweet taste to make this ratatouille refreshing 
• Zucchini/courgette: these are added after the first batch of vegetables and cooked to release the flavor
• Red jalapeño pepper or chilli: this is used to bring some spice to the dish
• Aubergine (or eggplant): this ingredient is optional but recommended for a classic ratatouille. Aubergine (eggplant) is softer so added towards the end with the courgettes to prevent both vegetables from becoming mushy. Once you prepare aubergine/eggplant, I recommend adding the chopped ingredient in a bowl of cool water whilst cooking the dish, this prevents the vegetable from darkening and keeps it fresh. 
• Seasoning: salt and oregano are used to season this dish
• Tomato passata (tomato puree): you can also use puréed fresh or canned tomatoes in this dish. Tomato passata is also referred to as tomato puree (if you are in the US).

Equipment

You only need one pot or pan to make this ratatouille!

I recommend using a non-stick medium/large pan or pot to help evenly cook the vegetables and sauce without any of the ingredients sticking to the surface of the pan. 

I also recommend using a silicone spatula or wooden spatula to help you mix the vegetables and cook the ratatouille.

How to make Ratatouille on the Stove

1. Add garlic to the pan and gently cook. Heat oil in pan, add garlic and cook on medium heat for 1-2 mins, use a silicone spatula or wooden spatula to stir and sauté the garlic. You’ll notice the aroma of garlic and the raw smell going away. 
2. Add onions. Add onions and stir with the garlic, cook for 30 seconds
3. Add celery. Add the celery and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until soft and onions become slightly translucent. 
4. Add carrots. Stir in the carrots.

5. Cover with lid and cook for 5 mins on low-medium heat.
6. Stir in the red bell peppers, courgette, aubergine and red chilli/jalapeño pepper. Then add oregano and salt and stir to season all vegetables, cover and cook for another 10 mins, stirring every 2-3 minutes. You’ll notice water coming out of the vegetables, continue to mix and cook, this allows the flavors to be released.
7. Add the tomato passata, cover and cook. Add passata and mix and cover and cook for 10 minutes on low-medium heat, allow the tomato passata sauce to slowly boil. Once the tomato sauce is cooked, you’ll see the bubbling and some oil droplets at the top of the sauce (image 8). Once cooked, switch off heat. Serve and enjoy!

Tips to Make the Perfect Ratatouille 

• Use the best equipment for optimum results – use medium or large non-stick pan and silicone spatula to evenly stir and cook the vegetables and sauce. 
• Avoid overcooking – it is important to avoid overcooking the garlic, onions, vegetables and tomato sauce, the vegetables are added in different stages (the celery and carrot first, followed by the bell peppers, courgettes and aubergines) this is to allow each vegetable to cook in enough time and avoid overcooking the softer vegetables. The tomato sauce is added at the end, once the vegetables are nearly cooked – to avoid overcooking the sauce. This helps create the perfect tasting ratatouille.
• Cover and cook – during many stages of this recipe, the pan is covered to cook the vegetables and sauce, this allows the flavors to be released and to retain the moisture. 
• Aubergine/eggplant – Once you dice the aubergine/eggplant, I recommend adding the chopped ingredient in a bowl of cool water whilst cooking the dish, this prevents the vegetable from darkening and keeps it fresh. 

How to Serve This Ratatouille

• This Ratatouille is so versatile and can be served as an appetizer or main meal!
• You can serve this ratatouille with grated cheddar cheese and fresh bread as a side, or add to a crusty baguette/slices of bread as a sandwich filler. Enjoy with roasted vegetable risotto!
• Ratatouille can be served with rosemary potatoes. 
• Alternatively, you can turn this into ratatouille spaghetti (my favourite!) or serve with rice!

Storage Tips

• This Ratatouille can be served immediately or made in advance.
• Fridge: if you wish to make in advance, transfer the ratatouille in an airtight container and refrigerate once cool for up to 1 day.
• To reheat: place in pan and cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 minutes, stirring intermittently. Alternatively, heat in a microwave-safe dish or bowl for at least 2 minutes (more depending on quantity) or until steaming. I recommend covering with a heat proof lid or cover to keep the moisture in the dish. 

Fresh drinks

Looking for some fresh juice and smoothies on the side? Try these:

Room for dessert

Check out our healthy, refined sugar-free desserts and snacks: