Description
A delicious and creamy baked feta chicken pasta dish featuring tender chicken breasts, whole cherry tomatoes, garlic, and a block of feta cheese all baked together and combined with perfectly cooked pasta and fresh basil for a flavorful and comforting meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Feta
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (two 8-ounce breasts)
- 8 ounce block of feta cheese
Vegetables and Seasonings
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes (about 20 ounces)
- 5-6 cloves garlic, whole and peeled
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
Pasta
- 8 ounces uncooked fusilli or any type of short pasta
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 °F to prepare for baking the chicken, feta, and tomatoes together.
- Arrange Ingredients: In a 9×13-inch ceramic casserole dish, evenly place the chicken breasts and the block of feta cheese. Surround them with the cherry tomatoes and whole peeled garlic cloves, filling the dish as needed.
- Add Oil and Seasonings: Pour the olive oil evenly over all ingredients in the dish. Sprinkle kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) on top. Use your hands to gently toss and coat the chicken and feta with the oil and seasonings. Wash your hands afterward for safety.
- Bake: Bake the dish uncovered in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Begin checking the chicken for doneness after 30 minutes using a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches at least 165 °F.
- Cook Pasta: While the chicken bakes, cook the fusilli or chosen pasta according to package directions. Reserve half a cup of pasta cooking water to adjust the sauce consistency if desired.
- Rest Chicken: Remove the chicken breasts from the oven and transfer to a clean cutting board to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. This helps retain juices.
- Optional Broil: For a blistered finish, increase the oven to broil and return the feta cheese and tomatoes to the oven for about 3 minutes until tomatoes blister and cheese slightly browns.
- Make Sauce: Stir the baked feta and tomatoes directly in the casserole dish, gently squishing the tomatoes and garlic to create a creamy, flavorful sauce. Add the fresh basil and stir until evenly distributed.
- Combine Pasta and Chicken: Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss until well coated, adding reserved pasta water as needed to thin the sauce. Slice the rested chicken breasts and add them to the pasta mixture. Toss gently to combine.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil if desired. Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator and consume within 4 days.
Notes
- This recipe serves 4 but can serve up to 6 depending on appetite and whether served with sides like a green salad.
- The dish is inspired by Yumna’s viral TikTok from Feel Good Foodie and adapted from Grilled Cheese Social’s recipe.
- Using a meat thermometer is recommended to ensure chicken safety and avoid overcooking.
- For extra spice, increase or omit red pepper flakes based on preference.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days and reheat nicely.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
