Save A festive, colorful pasta dish featuring creamy baked feta, cherry tomatoes, and holiday herbs, all cooked together in one pan for a simple yet elegant meal.
This recipe quickly became a holiday favorite in our family because of its simplicity and vibrant flavors.
Ingredients
- Feta cheese block: 200 g
- Cherry tomatoes: 500 g whole
- Garlic: 2 cloves minced
- Red onion: 1 small thinly sliced
- Baby spinach: 100 g
- Red bell pepper: 1 small diced
- Lemon zest: Zest of 1 lemon
- Short pasta: 300 g penne fusilli or rigatoni
- Extra-virgin olive oil: 2 tbsp
- Dried oregano: 1 tsp
- Dried thyme: 1 tsp
- Crushed red pepper flakes: ½ tsp optional
- Salt and black pepper: to taste
- Fresh basil leaves: 2 tbsp torn for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven:
- Set to 200°C (400°F)
- Arrange ingredients:
- In a large ovenproof baking dish, place the feta cheese block in the center surrounded by cherry tomatoes red onion red bell pepper and garlic
- Add seasonings:
- Drizzle olive oil over vegetables and feta sprinkle with dried oregano thyme red pepper flakes if using salt and black pepper toss vegetables gently keeping the feta in the center
- Bake:
- Bake for 25 minutes until tomatoes burst and feta is golden and soft
- Cook pasta:
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente reserve 100 ml about ⅓ cup pasta water then drain
- Add spinach and zest:
- Add spinach and lemon zest to the baking dish after removing it from oven
- Combine pasta:
- Add cooked pasta and reserved pasta water stir together until feta melts and coats pasta in creamy sauce
- Adjust seasoning:
- Taste and season if needed
- Garnish and serve:
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves serve warm
Save We love gathering around this dish during the holidays it's quick simple and always a crowd-pleaser.
Notes
For a festive touch use tricolor cherry tomatoes and red bell pepper for extra color add roasted walnuts or pine nuts for crunch serve with a crisp white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc.
Required Tools
Ovenproof baking dish large pot for pasta colander mixing spoon
Allergen Information
Contains dairy feta cheese and gluten pasta. For gluten-free use certified gluten-free pasta always check cheese and pasta labels for hidden allergens.
Save This one-pan pasta combines ease with elegant flavors making it perfect for festive occasions.
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of pasta works best with this dish?
Short pasta shapes like penne, fusilli, or rigatoni work well as they hold the creamy feta sauce effectively.
- → Can I use a different cheese instead of feta?
Feta's tangy and creamy texture is key, but a firm, salty cheese like halloumi could be a substitute, though the texture and flavor will differ.
- → How do the herbs enhance the dish?
Dried oregano and thyme provide a warm, earthy flavor that complements the tomatoes and feta, while fresh basil adds a bright, aromatic finish.
- → Is it necessary to reserve pasta water?
Yes, adding reserved pasta water helps create a silky sauce by loosening the baked feta and tomato mixture to coat the pasta evenly.
- → Can this be made gluten-free?
Absolutely, swapping pasta for a certified gluten-free variety is a simple way to accommodate gluten-free diets without losing flavor.