Spinach Feta Pasta
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more details.
You’ll love this scrumptious spinach feta pasta that is a breeze to whip in a skillet. It’s a weeknight dream that comes together in 15 minutes with just 6 ingredients!
It’s an amazing vegetarian pasta dish perfect for your meatless Monday.
This is not the oven-baked feta pasta recipe that went viral on social media. This spinach and feta pasta is one of my go-to recipes when I need dinner on the table in 15 minutes flat!
It’s incredibly easy to make and crazy delicious. Bonus? No oven is required.
For the spinach and feta sauce, you must sauté garlic in olive oil with a touch of chili flakes for more seasoning and heat. Once the garlic is fragrant, stir in spinach until just wilted. Next, add the feta cheese.
Finish it by adding the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir it all up. And for an extra delicious final touch, don’t forget the lemon juice to brighten all the flavors.
Dinner is served!
This is one of those recipes you’ll go back to again and again, similar to my popular spinach pasta or even my creamy spinach tomato pasta.
Pair it with a glass of white wine and some crispy bread and you’ll have the perfect meatless meal the whole family will love.
List of the ingredients
- Pasta
- Fresh spinach
- Feta
- Garlic
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Salt, pepper & chili flakes (optional)
How to make Spinach Feta Pasta
(Note: this is a quick description; the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)
- Cook your pasta until al dente.
- Sauté the garlic in olive oil in a large skillet with a touch of chili flakes (optional).
- Stir in the spinach and toss until wilted.
- Using your hands, break the block of feta into crumbles and add it to the spinach.
- Finally, add the drained pasta, cooking water, and lemon juice to the skillet.
- Toss until well combined and coated. Season to taste.
- Serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and grated parmesan cheese if desired. Yum.
Recipe Notes
Spinach Feta Pasta
Pasta: I prefer penne, rigatoni, or fusilli for pasta with spinach. The little tubes are great for capturing wilted spinach and creamy feta. And, of course, if you want to make it gluten-free, cook up your favorite kind of GF pasta.
Garlic, chili flakes, and extra virgin olive oil: The perfect combination to cook your spinach. You’ll love that smell in the kitchen, but feel free to omit chili flakes (aka red pepper flakes) if you’d like.
Spinach: Fresh spinach is my favorite option for this pasta recipe. At first, the volume looks enormous, but it will wilt in a couple of minutes. You can use frozen spinach if it’s all you have on hand, but remember that the texture will not be as nice as fresh spinach.
Feta: Instead of buying crumbled feta, which usually contains ingredients to prevent caking, look for a block of feta cheese that is creamier and more flavorful. I use the whole block for the recipe (it’s about 200 grams/7 oz here in the UK).
Lemon juice: This adds such an amazing brightness. Don’t skip it!
Salt & pepper: Taste and add accordingly – keep in mind that feta is quite salty.
Jazz up your pasta with spinach and feta!
As always, feel free to add any meat, seafood, or other kinds of protein that you might like with this pasta.
- Choose your protein. Grilled chicken breast or salmon, cooked shrimp, or even cooked white beans would all be delicious!
- Add extra textures. Toasted almonds or walnuts would be a great way to add another layer of texture.
Serving suggestions
- A light side like this carrot salad or lettuce salad would be a great complement.
- If you want to add more protein to the meal, a chickpea salad, cannellini bean salad, or a quick frittata with arugula would be great options for a balanced and meatless meal.
Pasta recipes you’ll love!
Let’s make pasta! Pick out a couple of new recipes to make this week, you’ll be spoilt for choice with so many ideas, from these Super Quick Pastas to vegan pasta recipes, from my favorite Italian pastas to these incredible creamy pasta recipes. Plus, one-pot recipes and penne pasta ideas! Here are a few of my favs:
- Pasta with artichokes
- Creamy spaghetti
- Spinach pesto pasta
- Creamy tomato pasta
- Lemon caper pasta
- Penne arrabbiata
- Creamy spinach tomato pasta
- Spinach spaghetti
Lastly, I hope you’ll love this spinach and feta pasta as much as we do. And if you have any questions, let me know! Leave a comment, send me a message, or rate it. I would love to hear from you!
Spinach Feta Pasta
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 oz (220 grams) Penne (or similar pasta shape)
Spinach and feta sauce
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced or sliced
- ¼ teaspoon chilli flakes, or more to taste
- 10 oz (300 grams) spinach, washed*
- 7 oz (200 grams) block of feta
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or more to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to the boil, add salt and pasta, and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve about ½ cup of hot pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Cook the spinach: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and chili flakes, and cook until fragrant (about 60 seconds). Add the spinach, a handful at a time, stirring until wilted (it takes a few minutes).
- Add the feta cheese: Using your hands, break the block of feta into crumbles and add it to the skillet. Turn the heat off.
- Assemble: Drain and add the pasta to the skillet along with the lemon juice and ¼ cup of the reserved pasta cooking water. Toss until well combined and coated, taste, and make sure you're happy with the overall flavor (you might need more salt or lemon juice).
- Serve: Serve immediately with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, chili flakes for extra heat, and freshly grated parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!
