Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” has sparked controversy over her one-pan pasta recipe. In the show, Meghan places spaghetti, cherry tomatoes, greens, and other ingredients in a cold pan and covers it with boiling water from a kettle. She claims this method makes the dish creamier without adding cream.
While some viewers thought the technique was clever for an easy meal, others criticized Meghan’s cooking skills. One Twitter user wrote, “Netflix paid a lot of money just to let us know Meghan doesn’t know how to cook pasta.”
Pasta expert Danny Freeman recreated Meghan’s dish in a video that went viral. He boiled water in a kettle, sliced cherry tomatoes, and added them to a skillet with garlic, olive oil, and salt.
He then added spaghetti and covered it with the boiling water, cooking everything together until the pasta was al dente. He finished the dish with red pepper flakes, arugula, and Parmesan. Danny’s video got over 10 million views on social media.
meghan’s one-pan pasta debate
Many fans defended Meghan, noting that celebrity chefs like Martha Stewart have used similar one-pan pasta techniques without backlash. As a father of two young kids, Danny appreciated Meghan’s quick and practical approach.
“My kids are one and four years old, so I’m always looking for quick cooking hacks,” he told Tasty. His new cookbook focuses on weeknight-friendly Italian-American recipes. When asked about tweaks he’d make to Meghan’s recipe, Danny suggested sautéing the garlic and tomatoes first and using chicken broth instead of water for more flavor.
But overall, he praised Meghan, saying, “Meg is obviously doing amazing. She doesn’t need any advice from me.”
For future pasta nights, Danny recommended trying a quick pesto dish made with blended greens, almonds, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. This would be a healthy and tasty option that aligns with Meghan’s love of easy family meals.
Despite some initial criticism from pasta purists, the buzz around Meghan’s dish has generated more curiosity than outrage. Most people seem eager to see what other recipes and tips Meghan will share in her new series.
