If there’s one thing Meghan Markle knows, it’s how to turn a simple dish into something special. On March 4, the Duchess of Sussex debuted her eight-part Netflix series With Love, Meghan. Fans were quick to latch onto one of the first episode’s most talked-about recipes: her one-pot spaghetti or as she calls it, “Single Skillet Spaghetti.” It’s a dish she loves making for her family, including Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and it has since gone viral for its incredibly simple, one-pot method.
“When I make this, I make this for my family. Not that my children are eating heaps of noodles, but I’ll make enough that I can put leftovers in their lunchbox,” Meghan explained to her close friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin, who was blown away by the final dish. “So [expletive] good,” he declared after taking a bite.
What’s in Meghan Markle’s one-pot spaghetti?
Markle’s version of spaghetti is creamy without a drop of dairy, infused with garlic and finished with a gentle kick of heat. The ingredients list is refreshingly short, featuring cherry tomatoes, garlic, parmesan and olive oil. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in extra greens like kale and arugula for a boost of nutrients.
Unlike traditional pasta recipes, where you cook the noodles separately in boiling water, Markle allows everything (even the sauce) to cook together. “You do the whole thing in one pan, just like making a frittata,” she says. “We don’t have time for all these pot changes.” The pan of choice? Her signature ($600) Le Creuset Cast Iron Shallow Casserole Dish that she uses for nearly everything in the series.
But besides a faster cleanup, the one-pot method also helps the consistency. “You put the dry pasta in, you pour boiling water on top, and that’s it,” Meghan explains. The starch released from the pasta thickens the sauce, creating what Meghan describes as “this creamy quality without any cream.”
Meghan-approved tips for success
Before you grab your skillet, here are a few key tips to ensure your one-pot pasta turns out just like Markle’s:
- Use hot water for faster cooking. Boiling water speeds up the cooking process and helps the pasta cook evenly while absorbing all the flavors.
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Since the pasta is cooking directly in the sauce, giving it a quick stir every few minutes ensures even cooking and prevents clumping.
- Adjust the greens to your liking. Meghan uses kale and arugula, but you can swap in spinach, Swiss chard, or even fresh basil for a different flavor profile.
How to make Meghan Markle’s one-pot spaghetti
While Markle didn’t provide an exact recipe during the episode, content creators on social media did. Food blogger Danny Freeman shared his version of the dish on Instagram, and it now has over 12 million views. We think Markle would approve!
Ingredients:
- 3½ cups water
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Olive oil
- Salt
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- 1 lemon, zested
- 2-3 pieces Swiss Chard or Lacinato Kale, stems removed
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- ½ cup argula
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
Directions:
- Total time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings
- Bring the water to a boil in a tea kettle.
- Meanwhile, sauté the cherry tomatoes and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Drizzle them generously with with olive oil and salt.
- Then comes the slightly controversial step: adding uncooked spaghetti directly into the pan. It’s a similar technique to another cooking queen, Martha Stewart. Cover the pasta with the lemon zest.
- Add the boiling water to the skillet, cover, then cook over medium-high heat for about six minutes. Remove the cover, then add the leaves of your chard or kale, loosely chopped. Cook for another four to five minutes, until the pasta is al dente.
- Remove skillet from the heat and add in a pinch of red pepper flakes, arugula and Parmesan. Toss together and serve. Markle plates it up with fresh basil and extra Parmesan.
Storage and reheating notes
Meghan makes a big batch of her one-pot spaghetti so there are leftovers, and this pasta keeps well. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, add a splash of water or olive oil and warm it over low heat on the stove, stirring occasionally to revive the sauce.
