baked spinach and feta pasta

Dinner

Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta

Feta softens in the oven before it's combined with spinach and pasta, with the pasta cooking right in the baking dish. Enjoy this one-pan pasta with feta dish on its own as a vegetarian main, or serve with sautéed chicken breast for a boost of protein.

Ingredients

1 (5-ounce) block feta cheese
8 cups lightly packed baby spinach (about 5 ounces)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried dill
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
8 ounces penne or rotini
2 cups boiling water

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Place feta in the center of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bake until softened and starting to brown, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine spinach, oil, garlic, dill, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Use your hands to massage the spinach until it's reduced in volume by half. Stir in pasta.
After the feta has baked for 15 minutes, add the spinach and pasta mixture to the baking dish. Pour boiling water over the mixture and gently stir. Cover with foil and bake until the pasta is tender, about 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir. Cover and let stand for at least 3 minutes before serving.