Baked Feta Pasta with Chickpeas
This Baked Feta Pasta with Chickpeas is a creamy, flavorful, and easy pasta dish made by roasting feta cheese with cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and hearty chickpeas. Once baked, everything is mixed with pasta to create a rich and tangy sauce that comes together with minimal effort. Perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta penne, rigatoni, or rotini
- 1 block feta cheese 7–8 oz
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 can chickpeas 15 oz, drained and rinsed
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
- ½ cup roasted zucchini or mushrooms
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare the Baking Dish
- In a large baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, minced garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Toss everything together so the tomatoes and chickpeas are evenly coated.
- Add the Feta
- Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the dish and drizzle a little olive oil over the top.
- Bake
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the tomatoes burst and the feta becomes soft and slightly golden.
- Cook the Pasta
- While the feta mixture bakes, cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Make the Sauce
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and mash the softened feta and roasted tomatoes together to create a creamy sauce.
- Combine Everything
- Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish and toss until evenly coated. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve
- Top with fresh basil or parsley and serve warm.
Video
Notes
📝 Notes
- Use block feta cheese for the best creamy baked texture.
- Rinse and drain chickpeas well before adding to prevent excess moisture.
- Cherry or grape tomatoes roast beautifully and add natural sweetness.
- Short pasta like penne, rotini, or fusilli holds the sauce well.
- Add garlic, red pepper flakes, or Italian herbs for extra flavor.
- Reserve a little pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Stir everything together while hot so the feta melts into a creamy coating.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat with a splash of milk or olive oil.
🍽️ Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 540 kcal |Carbohydrates: 64 g |
Fiber: 8 g |
Sugars: 6 g |
Protein: 20 g |
Fat: 24 g |
Saturated Fat: 11 g |
Cholesterol: 45 mg |
Sodium: 620 mg |
Potassium: 560 mg |
Calcium: 260 mg |
Iron: 3.6 mg