Trust us, the best part of this recipe isn’t eating it. The best part comes from the smells that fill your home when you are making it. This baked feta pasta is a surefire cheesy, comfort meal and an easy recipe to throw together on a weeknight. It uses plenty of fresh flavors, herbs, and seasonings as well as two pints of cherry tomatoes and a block of feta cheese.
The block of cheese will go directly into the pan. There is no need to crumble or shred this cheese. You can use crumbled feta cheese for this recipe if that’s what you have on hand. While it will still work well enough, crumbled cheese, similar to shredded cheese, will have anti-caking agents that won’t help the cheese form with the sauce once melted.
Many of your ingredients will go in the 13x9-inch baking dish: cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, black pepper, Italian seasoning, basil, and sea salt. Make a little space for your block of cheese in the middle and place it there, coating the cheese and the rest of the pan with more olive oil. These ingredients will cook in the oven for about 40 minutes.
When the tomatoes blister, it is ready. Remove from the oven and create your sauce by mashing and mixing the garlic, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and feta cheese with a heavy spoon. And your pasta, spinach, and pasta water if it is not saucy enough. Mix together and serve immediately. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Editorial contributions by Keaton Larson
Ingredients
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2 pints cherry tomatoes
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½ cup sliced red bell pepper
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½ cup sliced red onion
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½ cup olive oil
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4 cloves peeled garlic, or more to taste
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2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
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1 tablespoon lemon zest
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½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
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½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
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½ teaspoon dried basil
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¼ teaspoon sea salt
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1 (8 ounce) package feta cheese
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1 (12 ounce) package penne pasta
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1 cup baby spinach
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
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Combine cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, black pepper, Italian seasoning, basil, and sea salt in a 13x9-inch baking dish.
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Make room in the middle of the pan and add block of feta cheese. Flip in oil, making sure cheese remains intact and becomes well coated.
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Bake in the preheated oven until the cherry tomatoes begin to blister and split, 40 to 45 minutes.
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Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
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Remove feta-tomato mixture from the oven. Mash garlic, tomatoes, onions, and peppers with a heavy spoon and mix with the feta cheese, creating a sauce. Stir in spinach and cooked pasta. The spinach will get cooked from the heat of the pasta sauce and pasta. Add pasta water, a little at a time if needed, to reach desired consistency. Mix well and serve.
From the Editor
Greek feta cheese made from sheep's milk produces a creamier pasta than feta made from cow's milk.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 385 | Calories |
| 27g | Fat |
| 27g | Carbs |
| 10g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 6 | |
| Calories 385 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 27g | 35% |
| Saturated Fat 8g | 42% |
| Cholesterol 34mg | 11% |
| Sodium 451mg | 20% |
| Total Carbohydrate 27g | 10% |
| Dietary Fiber 4g | 13% |
| Total Sugars 6g | |
| Protein 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin C 28mg | 31% |
| Calcium 225mg | 17% |
| Iron 2mg | 10% |
| Potassium 390mg | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
