Baked Feta Pasta Cranberries (Printable)

A creamy pasta dish featuring baked feta, tart cranberries, olive oil, and fresh basil in a savory blend.

# 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 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Sweetener

10 - 2 tbsp honey

→ Herbs

11 - ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

# Method:

01 - Heat oven to 400°F to prepare for roasting feta and fruits.
02 - Place feta block centrally in a baking dish; surround with halved cherry tomatoes, fresh cranberries, and smashed garlic cloves.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over contents; evenly sprinkle dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes if desired, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
04 - Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until feta develops golden edges and cranberries burst.
05 - Simultaneously, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente; reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
06 - Remove baking dish from oven; mash feta, tomatoes, and cranberries together using a fork, creating a creamy sauce base.
07 - Add drained pasta, reserved pasta water, honey, and chopped basil to the baking dish; toss thoroughly to blend into a smooth, creamy mixture.
08 - Adjust seasoning to taste and serve warm, garnished with additional fresh basil leaves.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks fancy enough for guests but comes together in under 45 minutes with minimal actual work.
  • The sweet-tart-salty balance keeps you coming back for another forkful.
  • One baking dish means less cleanup, and the pasta water does the heavy lifting for the sauce.
02 -
  • That reserved pasta water is the secret—it emulsifies with the feta and creates a silky sauce that coats the pasta instead of sliding off.
  • Don't skip smashing the garlic cloves; it roasts mellow and sweet instead of sharp and raw, which completely changes the dish.
03 -
  • Use a good quality feta that's creamy, not crumbly—it'll mash into a silky sauce instead of staying grainy.
  • Don't crowd the baking dish; give everything room to roast and caramelize rather than steam.
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