Description
This Easy Baked Feta Chicken Pasta is a delicious and viral recipe combining creamy baked feta cheese with roasted cherry tomatoes, tender chicken, and fresh spinach. Baked together to perfection, the flavors meld beautifully creating a savory, comforting pasta dish that’s easy to prepare and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 15 ounces (453g) pasta
Vegetables and Herbs
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes (approx. 1 and 1/2 pounds)
- 2 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 cups baby spinach
Dairy
- 8 ounces (225g) feta cheese block
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional for serving)
Protein
- 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded
Oils and Seasonings
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking the feta and tomatoes.
- Prepare Tomatoes: In a 9×13-inch casserole dish, add an even layer of cherry tomatoes, chopped garlic cloves, 1/2 cup olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to evenly coat the tomatoes with olive oil and seasonings.
- Add Feta Cheese: Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the baking dish, turning it over to coat it thoroughly with olive oil. Sprinkle the feta with black pepper evenly.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes until the cherry tomatoes have burst and the feta is softened and creamy.
- Cook Pasta: When there are 15 minutes remaining on the feta bake, cook the pasta in boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining and set pasta aside.
- Combine Ingredients: Remove the baking dish from the oven and immediately add fresh basil leaves, baby spinach, and chopped or shredded cooked chicken to the baked tomato and feta mixture.
- Add Pasta and Mix: Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish, stirring well with a wooden spoon to combine all ingredients.
- Mash and Stir: Use a fork to gently mash some of the softened feta cheese and roasted tomatoes, mixing to create a creamy texture while leaving some chunks intact for variety in texture.
- Serve: Serve the pasta warm, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional) and additional chopped fresh basil if desired.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
- Use al dente pasta to prevent overcooking when mixing with hot feta and tomato mixture.
- Bake the feta and tomatoes until tomatoes burst and feta softens for best flavor and texture.
- Fresh spinach wilts quickly; add it right after removing from oven to preserve texture and nutrients.
- Parmesan cheese is optional but adds a nice nutty flavor as a topping.
