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Meghan Markle Pasta Recipe

By The Modern Nonna

on Mar 19, 2025, Updated Apr 24, 2025

5 from 19 votes

Let me introduce you to my version of the Meghan Markle Pasta Recipe. This is going to be controversial, but this one-pot pasta recipe is actually incredible. Inspired by the new Netflix series “With Love, Meghan,” I attempted to make my own pasta fit for a princess 😉. Let’s get two things straight: despite Italians disapproving of this unconventional way of cooking pasta, I can confirm that this method is easy and delicious 👌.

And yes, I know it’s “Meghan of Sussex,” not Markle 👑. Now that that business is out of the way, let’s dive in to what makes this dish so incredible. Cooking pasta in just enough water to cover it, with seasoning and sauce ingredients, forces all the pasta starch to remain in the pot and transform into a creamy, luxurious, flavorful sauce. Not to mention, you only have to clean one dish 🙌! Cherry tomatoes 🍅 bring tart, sweetness and Parmigiano cheese 🧀 lends nuttiness and umami. You do not want to sleep on this 1000/10 recipe!

Why You’ll Love The Meghan Markle Pasta Recipe

What’s not to love about this one-pot wonder: comes together in under 20 minutes ⏲, no stirring or emulsifying, budget-friendly 💸, and incredibly customizable to whatever you have in the fridge and pantry. Let’s hear it for low-effort meals 📣! You can add pretty much any vegetables you have lying around—zucchini, bell peppers, cauliflower, you name it 🍅🌶🥦. Any pasta shape will do; you can even make this with mini pasta shapes, such as orzo or ditalini, and adjust the cook time according to the directions on the pasta packaging. Next time it’s you against the clock to get dinner on the table before you explode of hanger, whip up this show-stopping recipe.

How to Prepare

🥘 In a large pan with tall sides, add the garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, and two big pinches of salt.

💧Add the dry spaghetti on top and top with the water, which should be just enough to cover the ingredients.

🔥 Bring the contents to a boil, cover, and cook on medium-high heat until the pasta is al dente; about 8 to 12 minutes. You may need to uncover the pot every few minutes and give the pasta a stir, to prevent clumping.

🧀 Remove the pan from the heat, and add the spinach right away, so it cooks from the residual heat. Next, add the grated cheese and stir everything well. The stirring should produce a luscious, creamy sauce.

🍽 Finally, serve and enjoy!

Variations and Substitutions for The Meghan Markle Pasta Recipe

1. In place of or in addition to tomatoes, you can also use zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, or any quick-cooking vegetable you love 🥒🥦.
2. You can make this recipe with any pasta shape you like—from orzo to rigatoni. Let the cook time on the pasta packaging be your guide ⏲.
3. There are so many delicious ways to garnish this dish: fresh lemon zest 🍋, a handful of arugula, a sprinkling of red pepper flakes, or more grated cheese.
4. Instead of spinach, you can also use other leafy greens: thinly sliced chard, kale, or any greens of your liking 🥬.

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Best Served With

• You’ll probably want some bread to mop up all the delicious pasta sauce. Try my viral No Knead Bread. So easy! 🥖
• My family’s beloved Simple Green Salad is a crowd-pleasing side with any meal 🥗.
• I know Meghan would approve of serving this alongside an elegant platter of branzino 🐟.
• For a bit of added crunch, sprinkle some homemade Italian Breadcrumbs, lightly toasted in olive oil, on top of the finished dish.

Kid-Friendly Tips

This is such a great meal for serving diners of all ages. To make this super kid-friendly, consider using a fun shape, like orzo, farfalle, or fusilli. If your children are old enough, have them get involved in picking which vegetables to add to the dish, and letting them top the pasta with grated cheese. If your kids won’t eat greens, you can always serve up their dishes, and then add the greens to the remaining pasta in the warm pan.

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Meghan Markle Pasta

This one-pot wonder is a 1000/10. Pasta cooks in the same pot as the sauce and toppings and all the starchy cooking water transforms into a luscious sauce, fit for a princess 👑😉

5 from 19 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Makes: 2 Portions

Author: The Modern Nonna

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Equipment

Cutting Board

Chefs Knife

Large Sauté Pan with lid

Measuring Cups + Spoons

Box Grater

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 7 cloves garlic, sliced
• ▢ 25 cherry tomatoes, halved
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ salt, to taste
• ▢ ½ pound spaghetti
• ▢ 3.5 cups boiling water
• ▢ big handful baby spinach
• ▢ ⅓ cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated

US Customary – Metric

Instructions 

• In a large pan with tall sides, add the garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, and two big pinches of salt.
  
• Add the dry spaghetti on top (break in half, if necessary, to fit in the pan—don't tell any Italians 🤫) and top with the water, which should be just enough to cover the ingredients.
  
• Bring the contents to a boil, cover, and cook on medium-high heat until the pasta is al dente; about 8 to 12 minutes. Depending on the size of your pan and brand of pasta, you may need to uncover the pot every few minutes and give the pasta a stir, to prevent clumping.
• Remove the pan from the heat, and add the spinach right away, so it cooks from the residual heat. Add the grated cheese and stir everything well. The stirring should produce a luscious, creamy sauce. Serve and enjoy!
  

Video

Notes

• A Note on Water Level: You want the water to just cover the ingredients. They shouldn’t be swimming around. While checking on the dish as it cooks, if the water level seems too low, add about 1/4 cup water at at time. 
• Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta, and be sure to check for doneness well before the suggested cooking time on the packaging.
• Dairy-Free: Simply swap out the Parmigiano Reggiano for your favorite shredded dairy-free cheese or a few dollops of a creamy, spreadable dairy-free cheese.
• Adding Protein: You can easily increase the protein on this recipe by mixing in a big spoonful of cottage cheese to the finished dish. Or garnish the finished dish with cooked, sliced chicken, shrimp, salmon, or scallops. 
• Nutrition Note: This recipe makes 2 servings. One serving is 605 calories with 24 grams protein. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 605kcal, Carbohydrates: 98g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 311mg, Potassium: 857mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 2577IU, Vitamin C: 56mg, Calcium: 278mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

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