Description
This Salmon Feta Pasta Bake is a brilliant, minimal-effort weeknight dinner that combines rich, flaky baked salmon with a creamy, bright, and tangy sauce base of baked feta and cherry tomatoes. With minimal active prep, this recipe delivers maximum savory flavor and satisfying comfort in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked pasta (such as penne, rotini, or farfalle)
- 8 oz cooked salmon
- 1 block feta cheese
- Olive oil (for drizzling)
- Seasoning to taste (such as Za’atar, Italian seasoning, or oregano)
- 1 (10 oz) container cherry tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
Step 1: Prep and Preheat
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Cook the pasta according to package directions until cooked, drain, and set aside.
Step 2: Prepare Salmon
Place the salmon in a small, separate baking dish. Season it generously with salt, pepper, and your preferred seasoning blend.
Step 3: Prepare Sauce Base
In a second baking dish, place the cherry tomatoes and the entire block of feta cheese. Add the minced garlic, sprinkle with your preferred seasoning, and drizzle generously with olive oil.
Step 4: Simultaneously Bake
Place both the pan of seasoned salmon and the dish of feta and tomatoes in the preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and the tomatoes have burst and softened.
Step 5: Create the Sauce
Remove the feta-tomato dish from the oven. Using a fork or a potato masher, mash the softened, roasted cherry tomatoes. Continue mixing the mashed tomatoes with the melted feta cheese and olive oil until they combine to form a uniform, creamy sauce.
Step 6: Assemble and Mix
Add the cooked pasta to the dish containing the sauce and mix everything together until the pasta is completely coated.
Step 7: Add Salmon and Serve
Remove the cooked salmon from its pan and place it on top of the pasta. Break up the salmon into smaller, flaky pieces right over the dish, and gently mix it into the pasta and cheese sauce. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
Add Greens: For added freshness and nutrition, stir in a handful of fresh spinach, kale, or arugula into the sauce after mashing the tomatoes (Step 5), just before adding the cooked pasta. The residual heat will wilt the greens.
Spice it Up: For a pleasant touch of heat, sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes over the tomato and feta mixture before baking.
Reheating Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The pasta will absorb the sauce, so you may need to add a small splash of olive oil when reheating to restore moisture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean / Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 654
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 735mg
- Fat: 37g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: salmon feta pasta, baked feta pasta, easy weeknight dinner, minimal effort recipe, one pan meal, mediterranean flavors, tomato feta salmon