Description
This Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken is a creamy, savory dish combining tender baked chicken, roasted cherry tomatoes, and melting feta cheese tossed with al dente pasta. Infused with fresh herbs and garlic, it’s a comforting yet elegant meal perfect for a family dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1/2 lb Gigli Pasta, or your favorite small pasta
Produce & Herbs
- 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes, the riper the better
- 1 bundle Thyme sprigs, or basil, rosemary, oregano
- 2 cloves fresh Garlic
Dairy
- 1 block Feta Cheese, about 8oz
Protein
- 2, 6oz Chicken Breasts, seasoned with salt and pepper
Pantry
- 1/2 cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Kosher Salt
- Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400˚F to prepare for roasting the chicken, tomatoes, and feta together.
- Assemble baking dish: In a large baking dish, combine cherry tomatoes, thyme bundle, garlic cloves, block of feta cheese, and seasoned chicken breasts. Drizzle olive oil over everything, then season generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Bake the mixture: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160˚F. The tomatoes will begin to burst and the feta softens.
- Cook pasta: While baking, cook the gigli pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta water before draining and set the pasta aside.
- Finish baking: After 30 minutes, check the chicken temperature. If done or nearly done, increase oven temperature to 450˚F and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the feta and tomatoes brown nicely. Optionally, broil for 3-5 minutes to achieve a browned top.
- Combine pasta and baked ingredients: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Take out the chicken breasts, thyme sprigs, and garlic cloves. Add the cooked pasta and crushed red pepper flakes to the dish. Stir well until the feta breaks up and creates a creamy sauce, adding reserved pasta water 1/2 cup at a time if the sauce is too thick.
- Shred chicken and mix: Shred the baked chicken breasts either by hand or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, incorporating the roasted garlic cloves for extra flavor. Return the shredded chicken to the pasta mixture and stir to combine thoroughly.
- Garnish and serve: Finish the dish with a sprinkle of fresh chives, extra crumbles of feta cheese, and additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm and enjoy a delicious, creamy baked feta pasta with chicken.
Notes
- If your pasta sauce becomes too thick as it cools, add reserved pasta water 1/2 cup at a time to loosen it and maintain warmth.
- Using fresh herbs like thyme adds aromatic flavor; feel free to substitute with basil, rosemary, or oregano depending on your preference.
- Checking the chicken temperature is important to ensure it’s cooked safely to 160˚F.
- Broiling at the end enhances the browning on the feta and tomatoes, adding texture and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
