Easy To Make, Easy To Clean
This Baked Feta Pasta dinner consists of creamy, tangy feta cheese that melts into sweet roasted cherry tomatoes and garlic. Add a sprinkle of herbs and a drizzle of olive oil, and this Mediterranean-inspired dish is sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
The best part? It’s all baked into one dish, making clean up a breeze!
Jump to RecipeWhy Baked Feta Pasta is a Great Family Dinner
- Simple Ingredients: Feta cheese aside, you’ll likely have all of the ingredients stored in your kitchen.
- Easy Prep: This dish is assembled and cooked in one baking pan. Just add your cooked pasta and you’re ready to bake!
- Customizable: Toss in spinach, chicken, olives, or whatever your family loves to add more flavor and fun!
- A Crowd-Pleaser: Creamy, cheesy, and tomato-rich—what’s not to love?
- Minimal Cleanup: Fewer dishes mean more time together post-dinner.
Benefits of Letting Your Kids Help
- Strengthens Sensory Development: Touching pasta, crumbling feta, and smelling herbs offers a full sensory experience for your children.
- Builds Confidence: Measuring and pouring gives your child a sense of achievement, while sharpening their motor skills.
- Promotes Healthy Eating: Kids are more likely to try the food that they helped make.
- Teaches Life Skills: Cooking introduces important life skills like sequencing, patience, and responsibility.
- Encourages Family Bonding: Shared tasks create meaningful moments in the kitchen.
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Baked Feta Pasta
This dish became a sensation for good reason: cherry tomatoes and a block of feta roast together, creating a creamy, savory sauce with minimal effort. Penne pasta is added to finish off this hearty meal that is sure to please the whole family.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a baking dish, toss cherry tomatoes, garlic, herbs, salt, pepper, and most of the olive oil
- Nestle the feta block in the center and drizzle with remaining oil.
- Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, until tomatoes burst and feta is golden.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Remove dish from oven. Mash tomatoes, garlic, and feta into a creamy sauce.
- Add cooked pasta and stir to coat. Use reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Garnish with fresh herbs and serve warm.
Notes
Ingredient Alternatives
- Feta: Try goat cheese or a vegan feta-style block.
- Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes or chopped Roma tomatoes also work.
- Pasta: Use gluten-free pasta or even spaghetti squash.
- Herbs: Swap parsley for dill or thyme.
- Add-ins: Stir in spinach, olives, or cooked chicken for extra flavor and nutrition.