Description
Baked Feta Pasta with Chickpeas is a creamy, tangy, and protein-packed dish combining baked feta cheese, roasted cherry tomatoes, and hearty chickpeas tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. This easy, customizable meal is perfect for quick weeknight dinners, offering comfort food with a nutritious twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 block (about 7 oz / 200g) feta cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz / 425g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 12 oz (340g) penne or any short pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Fresh Herbs
- Fresh basil or parsley leaves, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prep Your Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Rinse the cherry tomatoes and chickpeas thoroughly. Peel the garlic cloves to prepare everything for easy assembly and even roasting.
- Assemble the Baking Dish: Place the block of feta in the center of a baking dish. Arrange the cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and peeled garlic cloves evenly around the feta. Drizzle all with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Bake Until Bubbling: Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst and the feta is soft and lightly golden on top, forming a rich, creamy sauce base.
- Cook the Pasta: While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving a bit of the pasta cooking water to adjust the sauce consistency later if needed.
- Combine and Toss: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Using a fork or spoon, mash the baked feta, tomatoes, and chickpeas to create a creamy sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss well, incorporating reserved pasta water if you prefer a looser sauce.
- Add Fresh Herbs and Serve: Stir in freshly chopped basil or parsley for brightness. Serve immediately while warm to enjoy the full flavor and creamy texture.
Notes
- Use full-fat feta for a creamier melting texture.
- Always salt your pasta water for flavorful pasta.
- Reserve some pasta water to loosen and bind the sauce if needed.
- Let the dish rest for a couple of minutes off the heat to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Keep an eye on baking time to avoid drying out the feta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: baked feta pasta, chickpeas, creamy pasta, easy dinner, vegetarian, protein-packed, gluten free pasta, Mediterranean recipe
