Like many, after watching Meghan whip up her one-pot pasta recipe on the first episode of With Love, Meghan, I got the hankering for it. Being such a simple dish, I decided to wing it, using what we had on hand and what sounded good at the time. We didn’t have parmesan on hand, but we did have feta and when I started throwing everything together, I realized that this dish is remarkably similar to the circa 2019 viral TikTok pasta. With minimal effort and little clean-up, this dish is a perfect balance of simplicity and flavor. Featuring fresh ingredients and a clever technique that ensures every noodle is coated in savory goodness, it’s the kind of meal you’d want to make after a long day of… Should we say preserve making? Quick, easy, and flavorful, this one-pot pasta is proof that you don’t need to be a chef to whip up something chic and delicious.
"It's a family favorite."
– MEGHAN MARKLE
All About ThIS ONE-POT PASTA
- Flavor: Thanks to the feta and lemon, this pasta has the bet tangy, savory flavor to it. That, paired with the garlic and the slightest heat from the chili flakes, it packs a delightful flavor punch.
- Texture: Since we’re cooking it all in one-pot, the starchy pasta water and feta combine to create a deliciously creamy sauce without the need for any additional thickeners.
- Ease: One pot, one knife, one spoon, and you’re good to go. A beginner can easily master this recipe by following the instructions below.
Frequently Asked Questions
what if i don’t have a big enough skillet?
If you don’t have a large enough skillet, you can easily make this in a Dutch oven or a large sauce pan. Anything large enough to hold the liquid and pasta will do.
what CAN I USE INSTEAD OF FETA?
If you’re not a feta fan, that’s okay. Simply substitute parmesan (like in Meghan’s version) or mozzarella.
what other types of pasta can i use?
Any type of small or spaghetti style pasta should work well with this recipe. I would avoid large, rounded noodles like paccheri for this one as they may not cook through quite as well with the one-pot method, but anything else is a go.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
To make this one-pot pasta, you will need the following ingredients. See the full recipe card below for detailed amounts and instructions.
- Cherry tomatoes – One to two pints of any color will do for this dish.
- Olive oil – This will help the tomatoes not to stick early on and provide a richness to the flavor.
- Sea salt – You know I love using the flaky salt. This really helps to not only season, but bring out the flavors.
- Garlic – Freshly and thinly sliced is always the best, but the minced jar kind works just as well.
- Pasta – You’ll need one pound or one box of pasta for this dish. I love using bucatini for this recipe, but any type will will work here, really – See note in previous section about pasta types. Just adjust your liquid as necessary for the consistency you want.
- Greens – We use a mix of both swiss chard and kale, but use whatever greens you have on hand. Spinach, arugula, kale, swiss chard – they all work.
- Lemon – A bit of lemon tang helps to round out and really perfect the flavoring of this pasta. You may think this is an easy ingredient to skip over, but I promise you, it makes a big difference. We’ll use the juice and zest in this dish.
- Chili flakes & Black pepper – You can easily omit these if you don’t like the heat, but if you like the flavor they add go for it. Just a bit goes a long way.
How to Make This one-pot pasta
To make this pasta, simply:
Start the tomatoes: Add halved cherry tomatoes, olive oil, sea salt, and garlic to skillet. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.
Cook the pasta: Add lemon zest, lemon juice, dry pasta, and 3 1/2 cups boiling water to the skillet. Cover with lid and allow to cook on medium heat for 10-12 minutes (or as long as your pasta’s cooking instructions read).
Add greens & cheese: Uncover skillet and add greens, feta, red pepper flakes and black pepper. Stir pasta until the greens are evenly incorporated and the feta has melted down to your liking.
NOTES
Do a quick taste test before plating to adjust the feta, salt, and red pepper flakes to your liking.
meghan's one-pot pasta meets viral tiktok pasta
Time: 20 MINS
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
1 to 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup olive oil
Sea salt, to your tastes
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Zest of 1 lemon & juice of half
1 pound (1 box) bucatini
3 ½ cups of boiling water
Handful of greens, chopped or torn
¼ cup feta cheese
Pinch of red pepper flakes and/or black pepper
Instructions
Start the tomatoes: Add halved cherry tomatoes, olive oil, sea salt, and garlic to skillet. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.
Cook the pasta: Add lemon zest, lemon juice, dry pasta, and 3 1/2 cups boiling water to the skillet. Cover with lid and allow to cook on medium heat for 10-12 minutes (or as long as your pasta’s cooking instructions read).
Add greens & cheese: Uncover skillet and add greens, feta, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Stir pasta until the greens are evenly incorporated and the feta has melted down to your liking.
NOTES
Do a quick taste test before plating to adjust the feta, salt, and pepper to your liking.