Description
Baked Feta Pasta features mouthwatering flavors of baked feta, juicy tomatoes, and fresh spinach, making it an ideal choice for a quick, comforting meal. Perfect for busy weeknights!
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.
- In a 3 quart baking dish, combine grape tomatoes and garlic, then toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the feta in the center, coating it with oil.
- Bake for 30 minutes in the center of the oven.
- After 30 minutes, move the baking dish to the upper 1/3 of the oven and increase the temperature to 450 degrees. Bake for an additional 10 minutes until the tomatoes and feta start to brown.
- While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook the pasta in salted water (1 tablespoon of salt for 3-4 quarts of water) until al dente, according to package instructions.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then add the spinach to the boiling pasta to wilt it just before draining. Drain the pasta and spinach together.
- Using a wooden spoon, smash the tomatoes, garlic, oil, and feta together until well combined. Toss the pasta in with this mixture, adding the basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes.
- If needed, thin the mixture with reserved pasta water, adjusting to your desired consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper if required, then serve warm.
Notes
Feel free to adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
This dish is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To make it gluten-free, choose a gluten-free pasta variety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 25mg