Description
Baked Feta Pasta is a delightful blend of roasted tomatoes, creamy feta, and fresh spinach tossed with pasta. This easy recipe delivers an irresistible taste for quick dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 20 oz grape tomatoes
- 5 medium garlic cloves, peeled and halved
- 8 oz spinach, roughly chopped about 8 packed cups
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
- 7 – 8 oz block feta cheese (sheep's milk variety) drained
- 10 oz dry pasta such as campanelle, rigatoni, rotini, penne, bow tie, or cavatappi
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp salt for pasta water
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes or more to taste
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place grape tomatoes and garlic in a 3-quart baking dish. Toss with olive oil and a few pinches of salt and pepper. Set the feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes, turning to coat it with oil.
- Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove the baking dish, move the oven rack to the upper third, and increase the temperature to 450 degrees. Bake until the tomatoes and feta begin to brown, roughly 10 more minutes.
- While the baking occurs, boil the pasta in salted water (1 tablespoon salt in about 3 to 4 quarts of water) until al dente, according to the package instructions.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then add spinach to the pasta pot just before draining. The spinach will wilt immediately. Drain both pasta and spinach.
- Smash the roasted tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and feta together with a wooden spoon. Toss this mixture with the pasta, adding basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes.
- Gradually thin the mixture with reserved pasta water to achieve the desired consistency. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Notes
For a creamier texture, ensure the feta cheese is a high-quality variety.
Feel free to mix in other vegetables or proteins for added nutrition.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg