Description
This Baked Feta Pasta boasts an irresistible blend of roasted tomatoes, creamy feta, and fresh spinach. Perfect for a quick dinner that’s bursting with flavor and simple to prepare!
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 Fahrenheit.
- In a 3-quart baking dish, combine grape tomatoes and garlic, tossing with olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Place the feta in the center and turn to coat it with oil.
- Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, raise the oven rack to the upper third and increase the temperature to 450 degrees. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes and cheese start to brown slightly.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente in salted water (using 1 tablespoon of salt and about 3 to 4 quarts of water).
- Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Just before draining the pasta, add the spinach to wilt it almost instantly. Drain both pasta and spinach together.
- Smash together the roasted tomatoes, garlic, oil, and feta using the back of a wooden spoon. Toss the drained pasta and spinach into this mixture along with basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes.
- Thin the mixture with reserved pasta water, adding a few tablespoons at a time until the desired consistency is achieved. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Notes
Feel free to add other vegetables like zucchini or bell peppers for additional flavor.
Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 30mg