Easy Chicken Feta Pasta (Without Tomatoes)

Inspired by the viral TikTok Baked Feta Pasta recipe, this chicken feta pasta is similarly made using feta, garlic, and olive oil. This recipe, however, has the addition of sweet minced shallot and chicken for protein. In addition, it is made without tomatoes.

The block of feta cheese is baked alongside olive oil, sliced garlic, and minced shallot like my Sun-Dried Tomato Feta Dip recipe. There is a small amount of crushed red pepper flakes for a subtle heat.

This quick pasta dish comes together in no time. The resulting pasta is creamy, flavorful, and absolutely delicious! If you love this recipe, then you will adore my Chicken Sausage Pasta with Broccoli or my Lemon Garlic Pasta.

Ingredients

• Cellentani Pasta - or your favorite dried pasta variety
• Feta - one 8oz block of feta cheese
• Shallot (minced)
• Garlic (sliced thin)
• Olive Oil
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
• Freshly Cracked Black Pepper (salt, if desired)
• Cooked Chicken - grilled, rotisserie, or boiled chicken
• Starchy Pasta Water (not pictured)
• Parmesan Cheese (grated) - for garnish

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

PREHEAT - Preheat the oven to 400° F.

BAKE - Place the block of feta cheese in the center of an oven-safe dish. Sprinkle the sliced garlic, minced shallot, and crushed red pepper flakes over the cheese. Drizzle the olive oil over everything.

Bake for 30 minutes.

BOIL - While the feta is baking, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. *Reserve ⅓ cup {or more} of pasta water.

Hint: Store extra starchy pasta water in the refrigerator for reheating the leftovers too. Transfer the pasta water to a jar or an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

COMBINE - Off the heat, return the pasta to the pot. Pour the feta mixture and starchy pasta water into the pot with the pasta. Toss until everything is coated. Stir in chicken and season with black pepper. *Add salt, if desired, but keep in mind that feta is already salty.

SERVE - Serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Substitutions

• Starchy Water - For extra creamy pasta, swap the starchy pasta water for heavy cream.
• Shallot - Use minced red or white onion.
• Chicken - Swap the chicken for chicken sausage.

Variations

• Cherry Tomato - Like the viral TikTok version, add one to two pints of cherry (or grape) tomatoes along with the feta and bake.
• Spinach - Toss six to ten ounces of baby spinach into the pasta when adding the sauce.
• Spicy - Double or triple the crushed red pepper flakes.

See this goat cheese version on my website!

Suggested Equipment

• STAUB Ceramics Oval Baking Dish, 11-inch (as pictured)
• Or use this 13x9-inch version so that you can mix everything in this dish.
• Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 6-Quart Stockpot
• Stainless Steel Colander
• imarku Japanese Chef Knife

Storage

Transfer cooled pasta to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Expert Tips

1. Reserve extra starchy pasta water. Starchy pasta water adds additional flavor and helps adhere the pasta and sauce together. It is also great for rehydrating the pasta the next day.
2. Salt the pasta water. Wait to salt the water until it is boiling, then add the pasta.
3. Cook pasta until al dente. Follow the package instructions to cook the pasta to al dente. Overcooked pasta will soften too much when the feta sauce and starchy water are added.
4. Slice the garlic thin. For best results and most evenly distributed flavor, slice the garlic thin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does feta taste good on pasta?Feta is delicious on pasta. It has a lovely creamy consistency when baked in the oven and a salty, funky taste that complements the other ingredients.

Why is my feta pasta not creamy?You did not bake the feta long enough. Add extra hot starchy {pasta} water or heavy cream.

Does feta need to be cooked?For this recipe, the feta cheese does need to be baked to achieve a creamy consistency.

Does feta cheese melt?Feta cheese softens when heated, however, it does not melt. This is because feta cheese has high acid and water content.

If you make the recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments on my website! Take pictures, tag, and share them with me on Instagram or Facebook.