Baked Feta Pasta Cranberries (Printable)

Creamy baked feta combined with tomatoes, cranberries, and honey for a flavorful Mediterranean-inspired pasta.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dairy & Cheese

01 - 7 oz block feta cheese

→ Vegetables & Fruits

02 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup fresh cranberries
04 - 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

→ Pasta

05 - 10 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)

→ Oils & Seasonings

06 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Sweetener

10 - 2 tablespoons honey

→ Herbs

11 - ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (plus extra for garnish)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Place the feta block at the center of a baking dish. Surround with cherry tomatoes, fresh cranberries, and smashed garlic cloves.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over the ingredients. Sprinkle dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and freshly ground black pepper evenly.
04 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until feta is golden and cranberries begin to burst.
05 - Simultaneously, cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
06 - Remove baking dish from oven. Use a fork to mash feta, tomatoes, and cranberries to form a creamy sauce.
07 - Add cooked pasta, reserved pasta water, honey, and chopped basil to the baking dish. Toss to combine until sauce is creamy and pasta is fully coated.
08 - Adjust seasoning as needed. Serve warm, garnished with additional basil leaves.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The feta melts into a luscious, naturally creamy sauce without any cream in sight.
  • Tart cranberries and sweet honey create this perfect balance that makes you want another bite the second you finish.
  • It looks restaurant-worthy but comes together in under an hour with just one baking dish.
02 -
  • Don't skip reserving pasta water—this starchy liquid is what transforms a pile of ingredients into a proper creamy sauce without any cream needed.
  • Mashing the roasted vegetables gently rather than aggressively creates that luxurious, naturally creamy texture that makes people ask for the recipe.
  • Taste before you add much salt because the feta and tomatoes are already quite flavorful, and you can always add more.
03 -
  • Save your best olive oil for drizzling over the finished bowls—it's the final flavor note and worth using something really good.
  • If your feta seems very salty, a quick rinse under cold water before roasting brings that intensity down slightly without washing away any of the creaminess.
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