• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Natural Nurturer
  • Home
  • Info
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
  • Recipes
    • Recipes by Type
      • Breakfast
        • Muffins
        • Oatmeal
        • Pancakes & Waffles
      • Desserts
      • Dinner
      • Dips, Sauces & Spreads
      • How To
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Smoothies & Drinks
      • Snacks
      • Soups
    • Recipes by Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Grain Free
      • Nut-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • Recipes by Cooking Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Instant Pot
      • Meal Prep
      • No Cook
      • Roasted
      • Slow Cooker
    • Recipe Search
    • Recipe Index
    • Recipe Stories
  • Shop
    • Ebooks and Meal Plans
    • Recommended Products
  • Blog
    • Food For Thought
Home » Recipes » Dinner » Spinach Chickpea Baked Feta Pasta

Spinach Chickpea Baked Feta Pasta

By Taesha Butler April 7, 2021 (Updated December 30, 2022) 8 Comments

Servings6 servings
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Jump to Recipe
5 from 4 votes

This is my twist on the infamous TikTok baked feta pasta. This EASY dinner recipe is super delicious, creamy, and flavorful. The addition of cooked chickpeas gives this dish a punch of protein + spinach for some green goodness make this simple meal extra good!

I truthfully am not on TikTok (maybe I should be?). But I DID take note of the many, many, many people on social media making this creamy dreamy looking baked feta pasta dish and crediting MacKenzie Smith for sharing it on her TikTok.

I admit. I was intrigued. And after watching everyone drooling over it, I had to give this easy dinner a go.

When I originally made this recipe, it was 💯 on a whim. I shared it on my Instagram Stories as I made it, using the original uunifetapasta recipe as inspiration. But, of course, I put my own twist on it!

I dumped some canned chickpeas into the dish for a boost of easy pant protein. Sprinkled in some red pepper for *just the right amount* of kick that was still family friendly. And spinach (of course) got stirred into the hot, melty cheese and popping cherry tomatoes at the end.

OH. MY. Yep. I get the craze. It is THAT good, TNNers.

And while this recipe is super easy and there are LOTS of variations out there, I found myself drowning in DMs for details on MY version of the recipe.

So, by some seriously popular request, here is my Spinach Chickpea Baked Feta Pasta.

Process shots of how to make chickpea spinach baked feta pasta.

Why this baked feta pasta is so good.

You mean besides it being out-of-this-world delicious?

  • Quick! Very little prep is needed for this dish and it is cooked and on the table in about 30 minutes.
  • A complete meal. With the addition of chickpeas and spinach, this pasta dish becomes a triple threat dinner that tastes amazing, gets veggies in AND satisfies you.
  • Makes great leftovers. Easy to make and reheats like a dream! I love recipes that I can cook once and eat twice.
  • Family-friendly. My crew inhaled this! The creamy cheese sauce has a great flavor that really ties everything together!
  • Adaptable. As always, I offer up lots of idea of how to make this baked feta pasta recipe fit YOUR life! This recipe is how I did it, but we don’t have to be the same! Check out the Suggested Adaptation section of this post for ideas on how to tweak this recipe for family.

Baked Feta Pasta ingredients

  • Feta cheese. The original recipe for this pasta calls for a block of feta cheese. That is about 8 ounces here in the United States. And sometimes a block of feta can be hard to track down (especially now since everyone and their mother is trying out baked feta). So if you can’t find a block of feta, just grab some crumbled and measure out 8 ounces. Pour it into the center of the dish where you would put the block of feta and carry on. There is no wrong way to feta.
  • Cherry or grape tomatoes. The little tomatoes pop when they cook, adding just enough liquid to this baked feta dish to help make the melty cheesy into a sauce.
  • Olive oil. I drizzle this over the veggies and chickpeas before they cook to help them get all roasty and awesome. The olive oil also brings a rich “omph” to this pasta dish.
  • Red onion for that added flavor and color. If you don’t have red onion, yellow or brown onion will work just fine too!
  • Fresh garlic. And lots of it! Roasted garlic makes any pasta dish better, in my book. However, adjust the amount of garlic in this recipe to fit your personal taste.
  • Canned chickpeas. Because they are easy and they add some plant-based protein to make this dish more filling. If you prefer to cook your own chickpeas, you can easily do so ahead of time and use them in this dish.
  • Crushed red pepper flakes. I have recently fallen in love with adding a touch of red pepper flakes to pasta dishes. Just a touch to add a little depth to flavor but not enough heat to make it off-putting to kids. My daughter loved this dish, but if your kids, partner, or you yourself are sensitive to spice….feel free to omit the red pepper.
  • Cumin. You weren’t expecting that one, were you? Cumin has a hearty, earthy flavor that adds depth to any dish. It makes this already good recipe next level in my book!
  • Pasta. Whatever small kind you like! This also makes this dish really easy to make gluten free when you opt for brown rice pasta!
  • Fresh spinach. I love adding fresh baby spinach to hot dishes because it wilts quickly, gives the dish an instant boost of nutrients and color….and there is no prep beyond washing and drying it!

Will you have some leftover spinach after making this baked pasta—and don’t want it to go to waste?  Check out How to Store Spinach (and keep it fresh all week long).

Suggested Adaptations

  • Add more veggies. I think some diced zucchini, chopped asparagus, or canned artichoke hearts would be a dreamy addition to this bake feta recipe. The sky is the veggie limit with this dish!
  • Use vegan feta to make this dish dairy-free.
  • Replace the chickpeas with cooked chicken or cooked shrimp when you stir in the cooked pasta if you prefer.
  • Make it gluten free by using your favorite gluten free pasta.

Other veggie-loaded pasta dishes you are going to want to add into your rotation

  • One-Pot Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta
  • Baked Pasta with Eggplant
  • Mushroom Lentil Pasta
  • Veggie-Loaded Spaghetti Pie (vegetarian)
  • Quick & Easy Guacamole Pasta

Did you try this baked feta pasta and now you’re hungry for more? 

Sign up so that my newsletter is delivered straight to your inbox. And be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all kinds of veggie-loaded living ideas!

Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Spinach Chickpea Baked Feta Pasta

This is my twist on the infamous TikTok baked feta pasta. This EASY dinner recipe is super delicious, creamy, and flavorful. The addition of cooked chickpeas gives this dish a punch of protein + spinach for some green goodness make this simple meal extra good!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: greek
Keyword: baked feta, easy pasta dish, pasta casserole
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 303kcal
Author: Taesha Butler

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 2 15 ounce cans cooked chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup chopped red onion
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 8 ounce block of feta cheese can use crumbles if needed
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 8 ounces pasta of choice
  • 2 handfuls baby spinach

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 400℉.
  • In a large baking dish ( I used a 9-by-13 inch), combine tomatoes, chickpeas, red onion, and garlic. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat.
  • Season with cumin and red pepper flakes. Toss again.
  • Place block of feta in the middle of veggies and chickpeas and put in the preheated oven. Cook for 30 minutes.
  • While the tomatoes and chickpeas roast, cook your pasta according to the directions on the package. Once pasta is cooked, reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain the rest. Set pasta aside until your tomatoes and chickpeas are done cooking.
  • Once done cooking, remove the baking dish from the oven.  Use a spoon to break up the warm feta, squish any whole tomatoes, and gently mix it with the vegetables and chickpeas to create a sauce.
  • When the tomatoes and chickpeas are coated in cheese, add in the cooked pasta and spinach. Toss until the pasta is evenly coated in cheese and the spinach has begun to wilt in the hot sauce.  If the sauce seems too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water (I start with 2 tablespoons) and stir until your desired consistency is reached. Add more pasta water if needed, but be careful to do it a little at a time so you don't thin our your sauce too much.
  • Taste. Season with more cumin, red pepper, or even salt and pepper if desired.
  • Enjoy warm! Allow leftovers to cool completely before storing in your fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 440mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1755IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 230mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and may vary based on the product type, servings and other factors. If you are following a diet, please consult with a professional nutritionist or your doctor. Stay healthy!

Sharing is caring!

302 shares
  • Share2
  • Tweet

Filed Under: Dinner, Roasted, Vegetarian Tagged With: spinach

Previous Post: « Rainbow Veggie Breakfast Casserole
Next Post: Baked Potatoes in the Instant Pot »

Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment & rate this recipe Cancel reply

    Did you make this recipe? So good, right? It would mean the world to me if you left a comment and star rating so that more people can see how delicious veggie-loading can be. Plus, it helps me to see what recipes you are all loving so I can make more like them.

    Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback.

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

  1. Jessie Root

    April 8, 2021 at 5:32 pm

    5 stars
    Soooo simple and also full of flavor!! I love that this is a complete and healthful meal all on its own…. plus delicious leftovers!!

    Reply
    • Taesha

      April 8, 2021 at 6:24 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed, Jessie!

      Reply
  2. Brittney Kyser

    April 11, 2021 at 3:41 am

    5 stars
    As soon as this recipe posted I had to run to the store to get what I needed. I’m so glad I did! This was such an easy dish that was packed with flavor. So so so good!!! (As is everything I’ve tried from your blog!)

    Reply
    • Taesha

      April 11, 2021 at 7:43 pm

      I am so happy to hear all of that, Brittney!

      Reply
  3. Kate

    May 11, 2021 at 11:55 pm

    Made this tonight. So simple and delicious. Share with friends and family. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Taesha

      May 13, 2021 at 4:22 pm

      I am so glad you enjoyed it, Kate!

      Reply
  4. Katie

    February 8, 2022 at 12:52 am

    I’ve made this so many times and it’s the perfect weekday meal for the family or for entertaining. I normally reduce the chickpeas to one can and add artichoke hearts and chicken on occasion. So tasty and yummy!!!

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      February 9, 2022 at 12:19 am

      I love that! And I am so glad you enjoy it s much!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Taesha! I help busy people fall in love with healthy eating with my simple, family-friendly, veggie-loaded recipes. I believe vegetables can and SHOULD be delicious. Here, let me show you how!
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Categories

Newsletter

Subscribe to our email list.

Never miss a new veggie-loaded recipe or natural living rambling.

Once you have subscribed, you will receive an email asking you to confirm. Please click "yes" and you'll be added to my list. And just my list. Your privacy is important and I totally respect it. I won't be sharing your email with anyone else....no matter how nicely they ask.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Footer

As seen in…

As seen in brand wall collage

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

© 2023 The Natural Nurturer - Privacy Policy - Accessibility Policy - Support by Foodie Digital

  • 2