Baked Feta Honey Chili (Printable)

Creamy baked feta paired with roasted tomatoes, honey, and a hint of chili flakes for vibrant flavors.

# What you'll need:

→ Cheese & Dairy

01 - 7 oz block feta cheese

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 lb cherry tomatoes
03 - 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

→ Pasta

04 - 12 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)

→ Oils & Acids

05 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

→ Spices & Seasonings

06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, plus extra for garnish
08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
09 - Kosher salt, to taste

→ Garnishes & Sweeteners

10 - 2 tablespoons honey
11 - Zest of 1 lemon
12 - 1 handful fresh basil leaves, torn

# Preparation steps:

01 - Set the oven to 400°F to prepare for baking.
02 - Place the cherry tomatoes in a baking dish and add the chopped garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and season with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, dried oregano, and half of the red pepper flakes. Toss to combine evenly.
03 - Center the block of feta cheese amidst the tomatoes. Drizzle a little more olive oil over the feta and sprinkle with the remaining red pepper flakes.
04 - Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the tomatoes burst and the feta becomes golden and slightly softened.
05 - While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions. Reserve half a cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
06 - Remove the baking dish from the oven. Drizzle honey over the feta and tomatoes, then sprinkle lemon zest on top. Stir gently to combine into a creamy sauce.
07 - Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish and toss thoroughly to coat. Incorporate reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky consistency.
08 - Transfer to plates immediately and garnish with torn fresh basil leaves and additional red pepper flakes to taste.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It looks impressive but requires almost no actual cooking skill, just patience while the oven does the work.
  • The honey and chili create this addictive sweet heat that makes you go back for seconds even when youre full.
  • One dish, minimal cleanup, and everyone thinks you spent hours on it.
02 -
  • Do not drain the feta before baking, pat it dry with a towel or the excess moisture will make the sauce watery instead of creamy.
  • Reserve that pasta water, it contains starch that binds everything together and turns a broken sauce into something velvety.
  • Add the honey right after baking, not before, or it will burn and turn bitter in the oven.
03 -
  • Use a shallow baking dish instead of a deep casserole so the tomatoes roast instead of steam, you want blistered skins and caramelized edges.
  • Toss the hot pasta with the sauce in the baking dish itself to save dishes and let every noodle soak up the flavors directly from the source.
  • Zest the lemon right over the finished dish so the oils spray onto the hot cheese, it makes the whole thing smell bright and alive.
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