Description

Baked Feta Pasta offers a delicious combination of roasted tomatoes, creamy feta, and fresh spinach. This recipe is simple yet satisfying, making it ideal for a quick dinner or a healthy meal option. Enjoy the flavors of fresh basil and garlic, all tossed with your favorite pasta for a comforting homemade dish.

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

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a 3-quart baking dish, combine grape tomatoes and garlic, coating them with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Center a block of feta cheese among the tomatoes, coating it with oil.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C) and move the dish to the upper third of the oven. Bake for an additional 10 minutes until the tomatoes and feta begin to brown.
While the feta and tomatoes are roasting, boil your pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente.
Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then add spinach to the boiling pasta for the last minute to allow it to wilt. Drain the pasta and spinach together.
In the baking dish, mash the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and feta with the back of a wooden spoon until well combined. Mix in the drained pasta and spinach along with fresh basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes, tossing everything together.
Add pasta water gradually until you reach your desired consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper, then serve warm.

Notes

For extra creaminess, consider using a sheep’s milk feta cheese.
Feel free to swap in your favorite vegetables or greens for added flavor and texture.
Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper to suit your spice preference.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 530
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 550mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 18g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 60g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 16g
Cholesterol: 25mg