Meghan Markle’s One-Pot Creamy Tomato & Spinach Pasta (Sorry Nonna!) — The Italian Culinary Offense You’ll Make Again Tomorrow

Look, as an Italian, making One Pot Pasta Recipes feels like committing a culinary crime. But then Meghan Markle waltzed into my algorithm with her Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta and—boom—I was stirring tomatoes, garlic, and spaghetti in the same pan like a total traitor. No regrets though.

This One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta is the kind of dish you throw together on a Tuesday night when your energy is nonexistent but you still want to eat like someone who has their life together. It’s creamy, comforting, scandalously simple, and yes—Nonna would absolutely disown me if she saw me skipping the colander.

So if you’re into Quick Pasta Dishes, Healthy One Pot Meals, or just looking for a Pasta Dinner that tastes like effort without actually requiring any, this is your moment.

Meghan Markle One-Pot Pasta

This one-pot pasta is so easy, even your dishwasher will thank you. Tomatoes, garlic, and spinach swirl together with melty Parmesan and spaghetti in a creamy sauce that basically makes itself—just toss, boil, and stir like royalty.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course First Course

Servings 2

Equipment

• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Large sauté pan with lid
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Box grater

Ingredients

  

• 7 cloves garlic sliced
• 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes halved (about 25 tomatoes)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
• 8 ounces spaghetti about half a standard box
• 3 ½ cups boiling water
• 1 cup baby spinach loosely packed handful
• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano

Instructions

• Toss Aromatics: In a large sauté pan with tall sides, add the sliced garlic, halved cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and salt. Toss gently to coat the tomatoes and garlic evenly in oil.
  7 cloves garlic, 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt
  
• Add Pasta and Water: Place the dry spaghetti on top (break it in half if needed to fit), then pour the boiling water over it—just enough to barely cover everything.
  8 ounces spaghetti, 3 ½ cups boiling water
  
• Cook It All Together: Cover the pan and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 8 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. If the water runs low before the pasta is cooked, add ¼ cup more hot water as needed.
• Finish with Spinach and Cheese: Remove the pan from the heat. Add the spinach and stir until it wilts. Add the grated cheese and mix until a creamy sauce forms.
  1 cup baby spinach, ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  
• Serve Like Royalty: Plate it up, twirl with flair, and enjoy your low-effort, high-reward masterpiece.
  

Secrets, Sins, and Shortcuts: Surviving Meghan Markle’s One-Pot Pasta Like a Pro (Sorry Again, Nonna)

After making this One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta more times than I’d ever admit at an actual Italian dinner table, I’ve collected all the juicy little secrets. Think of this as your backstage pass to one-pan pasta greatness—with just the right amount of guilt and cheese.

🍝 Break the Pasta (Yes, You’re Allowed—Just This Once)
If your pan isn’t pasta-palace long, break that spaghetti in half. Will Nonna cry? Yes. Will your dinner cook perfectly? Also yes. Life’s about balance.

💦 Add Water Like You Mean It
Pasta is a thirsty little diva. If things start drying out before it’s cooked, add hot water ¼ cup at a time and keep stirring. Don’t panic. It’s not risotto.

🥬 Greens Are a Vibe, Not a Rule
No spinach? No meltdown. Use kale, chard, arugula—heck, even a bag of “power greens” that’s been loitering in your fridge. Just toss it in after cooking. Instant health halo.

🧀 Parmesan Measurements Are… Suggestions
The recipe says ⅓ cup, but who are we kidding? Keep grating until your ancestors whisper “basta”—and even then, give it one more pass for luck.

🌶 Want Drama? Add Heat
Feeling bold? Toss in a pinch of red pepper flakes or a little chili oil before serving. Because sometimes this pasta needs a little gossip-level spice.

🍋 Fancy It Up
A quick zest of lemon on top and suddenly you’re that person who “just throws things together” but somehow it tastes like a $24 dinner special.

🧊 Leftovers = Next-Day Glow-Up
If you somehow have leftovers (respect), add a splash of water when reheating and a little fresh cheese. It’s basically a brand-new dish. Reinvention? Meghan would approve.