That is how I did it and that's what you will need to do unless you set up a software serial port on the ESP to talk to the Uno and upload via Serial. But does the ESP8266-01 have enough pins? I have an FTDI connected to the ESP. Vcc, ground, RX and TX of the FTDi to the ESP. Upload the code to the ESP. Disconnect the FTDI TX and RX. Use just the FTDI Vcc and ground to power the ESP. Connect the Uno software serial RX and TX to the TX and RX of the ESP with Uno TX through the voltage divider to ESP RX.