Baked Goat Cheese Pasta
Baked goat cheese pasta is an easy, flavor packed main course that can be on the table in 30 minutes. The juicy tomatoes and warm soft goat cheese blend together creating a creamy sauce for the wilted spinach and basil. This is the perfect meal for a quick Meatless Monday or any day of the week.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 24 oz. grape tomatoes
- 1 large shallot sliced
- 3 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 8 ounce goat cheese log
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- ½ cup Kalamata olives rinsed and drained
- 2 cups 8 oz. fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup ¾ oz. fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 425°F
- To a 9x13 inch baking dish, add the tomatoes, shallot, garlic, salt and pepper. Toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
- With a spoon, clear away an area of the tomatoes in the center of the dish and place the goat cheese log in the cleared area. Drizzle the goat cheese with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle the dried thyme over the top of the goat cheese.
- Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tomatoes are blistered and the cheese has become soft and slightly melted.
- While the tomatoes and goat cheese are baking, cook the pasta according to the manufacturer's’ directions. Drain the pasta reserving ½ cup of the pasta water. Reserve the pasta, covered, in the pan to stay warm.
- Transfer the dish from the oven and add the olives, spinach, basil, and thyme leaves. Toss with the tomatoes and goat cheese, breaking up the cheese and adding a little of the reserved pasta water until there is a creamy sauce and the spinach and basil wilt; then add the pasta tossing to combine. Serve immediately with warm crusty bread.
Notes
- Try subbing a herb-crusted goat cheese log for variation.
- We used penne pasta but you can choose any shaped pasta such as radiatori, rigatoni, cavatappi or even one of the fun shapes such as trottole.
- It may not take the entire reserved pasta water, use a small amount then add additional water to make a creamy sauce.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 654mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g
