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Meghan Markle’s ‘skillet spaghetti’ stirs debate: Is she a culinary genius or a copycat?

The one-pot pasta that caused all the trouble on TikTok, as made by our K@K Cook Ray Mahlaka. (Photo: Ray Mahlaka)

4 Apr 2025

Meghan Markle’s spaghetti recipe from her Netflix series has ignited an online backlash, with critics accusing her of stealing from Martha Stewart. I explored the controversy and even put my flavourful spin on the recipe.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has again divided the internet and caused a furore. This time, Markle has been trashed for her recipe called “skillet spaghetti” in the first episode of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan. In essence, the recipe is a one-pot spaghetti.

I have to declare my bias at the outset. I love Markle and the intense media scrutiny she has faced has been unjust, especially after she and her husband, Prince Harry, accused the royal family of “unconscious” racism — prompting the couple to leave the royal family.

Markle continued to face widespread criticism for her Netflix series, released on 4 March 2025.

With Love, Meghan has been criticised for its lack of authenticity (she attempts to portray a warm and domestic lifestyle, which is seen as inconsistent with her public image. After all, she has been accused of being a bully.) The series has been slammed for its unrelatable content (she partakes in extravagant activities, such as crafting beeswax candles or constructing balloon arches with hired help).

Critics have also accused Markle of trying to reinvent herself as a lifestyle guru, following in the footsteps of Martha Stewart, Nigella Lawson, or Gwyneth Paltrow.

The eight-episode Netflix series carried me while I was battling a nasty flu infection. For two weeks, I was bedridden and couldn’t cook. This is why I have been out of action and you, dear reader, haven’t received a food column from me in a while.

I enjoyed Markle’s Netflix series. For me it was easy viewing that provided escapism and a break from daily turmoil, or an escape from thinking about my flu infection. Markle’s personality shines; she is a hoot, a breath of fresh air in the food and lifestyle industry, and has a feelgood demeanour about her.

Now, let’s go back to Markle’s pasta recipe, which is controversial because the preparation method is different. The traditional method usually involves pasta being submerged in a large stand-alone pan of salted boiling water. However, Markle pours “three cups” of boiling water onto raw spaghetti that is placed on top of the ingredients (tomatoes and greens), and then puts a lid on it.

Some critics claim that Markle “'stole” the spaghetti recipe from Martha Stewart, the domestic doyenne. Stewart didn’t help in quelling the allegations of Markle’s theft as she updated her “similar” recipe for a one-pan pasta a month before Markle’s series premiered on Netflix.

Read more: Martha Stewart’s One-Pan Pasta.

From my observation, the recipes of Markle and Stewart are similar in ingredients and methods in preparing the pasta. Both recipes require cherry or grape tomatoes, plenty of garlic, grated parmesan cheese, and use a similar one-pot method.

However, Markle has made the recipe her own as he uses a lot of greens (swiss chard leaves, kale leaves, and rocket), red chilli flakes, and lemon zest. Markle omits onions, which Stewart includes.

I’m still new to cooking. However, I think recipes evolve and are constantly tweaked. I could be wrong, but I think every recipe is built on other recipes. I don’t think Markle did anything wrong. Maybe she should have mentioned in her Netflix series that her recipe was inspired by Stewart. On the other hand, Stewart did not invent one-pot pasta. Even ChatGPT was unsure about the original inventor of one-pot pasta when I asked it.

“The exact inventor of the ‘one-pot pasta’ recipe isn’t clear…,” the artificial intelligence chatbot replied to my question. ChatGPT went on to say that the concept of one-pot pasta is accredited to an unnamed Italian cook from Peschici, Italy. However, this pasta method became widely popular after being introduced to the US by TV chef Nora Singley, who found the recipe during her travels. The dish gained significant attention when it was published in Martha Stewart Living magazine in May 2013.

I took inspiration from Markle and Stewart and recreated the one-pot pasta. I have even created a video on TikTok for the recipe.

@ray_mahlaka Meghan Markle One-Pot Pasta. #meghanmarkle #pasta #pastatiktok #withlovemeghan #netflixseries ♬ original sound - ray_mahlaka

I tweaked the recipe to include vegetable stock (Markle and Stewart don’t include stock in their versions), used a lot of spices, and substituted parmesan cheese for feta. I’m biased again, but my one-pot pasta version is more flavourful.

Ray’s (or Meghan’s, or Martha’s) one-pot pasta

The one-pot pasta that caused all the trouble on TikTok, as made by our K@K Cook Ray Mahlaka. (Photo: Ray Mahlaka)

Ingredients

3 Tbsp olive oil

4 bella rosa tomatoes, halved

1 onion, thinly sliced and diced

3 tsp crushed garlic

1 vegetable stock pot

4 cups boiling water

250g spaghetti

1 tsp mixed herbs

1 tsp chilli flakes

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp lemon and black pepper spice

1 round feta cheese

Salt to taste

Handful of baby spinach

Method

In a deep frying pan, add olive oil and saute diced onion over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add crushed garlic and all spices (mixed herbs, chilli flakes, turmeric, paprika, lemon and black pepper spice, and salt).

Add halved tomatoes, cover with a lid and cook on high heat for six minutes.

Using a wooden spoon, squish tomatoes while cooking to release their juices.

Add vegetable stock pot and cups of boiling water. Cover with lid and simmer for five minutes.

Place the spaghetti on top and add boiling water until the pasta is covered.

Remove the lid, stir gently to loosen the pasta, and mix in baby spinach until wilted.

Cook until the pasta is tender. Serve warm, garnished with feta, and drizzle with olive oil. DM

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