A professional chef tests Meghan Markle’s one-pot pasta recipe with love, Meghan—here’s the verdict

Meghan Markle’s new Netflix cooking and lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, has sparked plenty of conversation, but one dish in particular has caught the internet’s attention. The single-skillet spaghetti recipe, demonstrated by Markle in an episode where she cooks for friends, has become a hot topic of debate. Unlike traditional pasta recipes, where noodles are boiled separately, this method involves layering dry spaghetti, tomatoes, and greens in a skillet before pouring over precisely 3½ cups of boiling water.

This cooking style isn’t new—Italians have been making one-pot pasta for generations, and even Martha Stewart popularized a version in 2013. The idea is that starch released from the pasta thickens the sauce naturally, creating a creamy, glossy texture without the need for heavy cream.

Recreating the dish required careful attention since the exact ingredient amounts weren’t provided on the show. While Markle specifies boiling water must be poured directly onto the pasta, the rest of the measurements were estimated based on what was shown on screen.

Cooking the dish revealed a few key details. The pasta needed a bit more cooking time than it appeared to on-screen, likely because Markle’s boiling water retained more heat. The dish also seemed slightly soupy at first, but as it rested, the sauce thickened beautifully, creating a rich, tomato-infused glaze that clung to the noodles.

Using high-quality tomatoes is crucial for maximizing flavour, as they enhance the depth of the sauce. The final result was simple, flavorful, and easy to prepare—a dish that delivers on taste and convenience.

Overall, the one-pot pasta method worked exactly as Markle described. It’s a quick, fuss-free recipe that yields delicious results, making it an excellent option for busy cooks looking for a no-mess, satisfying meal.