Description
This viral baked feta pasta recipe is an incredibly easy and delicious dish featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and creamy baked feta cheese combined with pasta and fresh spinach. The baking process softens the tomatoes and feta, creating a luscious sauce with minimal effort, perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, whole
- 6 cloves garlic, whole and peeled
- A few pinches each of salt and pepper
Cheese & Seasoning
- 8 ounces feta cheese (approximately 220 grams)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Pasta & Greens
- 1/2 pound pasta (small shells recommended)
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 to 1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the tomatoes and feta.
- Prepare Baking Dish: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, add the olive oil, cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, salt, and pepper. Place the block of feta cheese in the center and drizzle it with a bit more olive oil. Sprinkle Italian seasoning evenly over everything.
- Bake Ingredients: Bake the dish at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, until the tomatoes and feta soften and start to brown slightly, releasing their flavors.
- Cook Pasta: While the feta and tomatoes bake, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (about 2 teaspoons salt). Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water.
- Create Sauce: Once baked, use a spoon to break up and mash the softened feta and tomatoes to form a creamy sauce in the baking dish.
- Combine Pasta & Spinach: Add the hot pasta and fresh baby spinach into the baking dish. Pour in about 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water and toss everything together to combine and wilt the spinach.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency & Serve: If needed, add more reserved pasta water to reach your preferred sauce consistency. Toss everything again, then serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- You can substitute gluten-free or whole grain pasta to suit dietary preferences or needs.
- Adjust the amount of reserved pasta water used to achieve your desired sauce thickness and creaminess.
- Use small shell pasta for best sauce adherence, but any pasta shape can work.
- Leftovers can be stored refrigerated and reheated gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or olive oil.
