It may be winter in the Midwest, cold days chasing even colder nights, but that doesn’t mean we’re not wishing it was warm and sunny. This dish, a Greek pasta bake bursting with flavor, will have you thinking you’re on the shores of the Mediterranean in summer.
It’s sure to be a family-favorite recipe, one you can easily make dairy-free or gluten-free. It’s a simple, easy recipe that is sure to brighten up long winter days and nights!
What are kalamata olives
You may associate all olives with Greece and the Mediterranean, and you’d be mostly right to do so — they are very common in those regions! There are a few things that make kalamata olives stand out from green olives and black olives (though they are part of the black olive family).
The first is that kalamata olives are from the Kalamata region of Greece, whereas regular black olives can be found in other locales as well. They’re much larger and more purplish in color than regular black olives, and have a different taste as well. Kalamata olives are somewhat milder, more fruity than black olives, but with the traditional sharpness of an olive as well. They’re perfect for this recipe as they bring their sweetness to the pasta bake!
Is Greek pasta bake healthy
This recipe is delightful, with so many veggies and fresh seasonings! Olives are super rich in antioxidants, and very good for you, and they form the basis of this recipe. In addition, we’ve got tomatoes, red onion, and olive oil, all of which have their own health benefits.
Of course, everything in moderation, but we really think this pasta is great for you! In addition the vegetables are baked rather than fried or some other preparation that would have them losing their nutritional value.
Why we love Greek pasta bake
This is such a super-delicious, nutritious meal that also tastes absolutely divine, which is why we love it so much! It’s packed with delicious vegetables and has a distinct Mediterranean flavor — no matter where in the world you are, one bite and you’ll feel transported to the edge of the sea, a gentle breeze wafting around you.
We really love the way the vegetables burst with flavor and the feta cheese really brings it all in. All in all, this is one of those easy, simple meals that we will absolutely return to whenever we can!
How to make Greek pasta bake
- Preheat oven at 400 degrees F.
- In a 11×7 baking dish, add tomatoes, green manzanilla olives, kalamata olives, onion, olive oil, marinara, salt, oregano, thyme, and garlic.
- Toss everything together to make sure everything is combined.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes.
- While the sauce bakes, boil pasta in salted water, approximately 9-10 minutes or until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water.
- Remove the sauce from the oven, tomatoes should be blistered, mix together with the cooked pasta, stirring well so the sauce covers all the pasta. Add reserved pasta water as needed.
- Garnish with feta cheese crumbles and fresh Italian parsley or cilantro!
- Enjoy!
How to make Greek pasta bake dairy-free or gluten-free
If you have a need for dairy-free meals, this is honestly ideal, because the only dairy in it is in the feta we use to top it! Simply skip that step and you’ve got a delicious, dairy-free meal ready to go, still packed with flavor and nutrients.
If you’d also like to make this gluten-free, swap out regular pasta for a gluten-free brand.
This Greek Pasta Bake will pair so well with our Whipped Feta Baked Chicken and the Green Goddess Salad.
Greek Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 3/4 cup kalamata olives
- 3/4 cup manzanilla olives
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup good quality marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 3 cloves chopped garlic
- 16 ounces spirali pasta
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a 11x7 baking dish, add tomatoes, green manzanilla olives, kalamata olives, onion, olive oil, marinara, salt, oregano, thyme, and garlic.16 ounces cherry tomatoes, 3/4 cup kalamata olives, 3/4 cup manzanilla olives, 1/2 cup chopped red onion, 3 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 cup good quality marinara sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 3 cloves chopped garlic
- Toss everything together to make sure everything is combined.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes.
- While the sauce bakes, boil pasta in salted water, approximately 9-10 minutes or until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water.16 ounces spirali pasta
- Remove the sauce from the oven, tomatoes should be blistered, mix together with the cooked pasta, stirring well so the sauce covers all the pasta. Add reserved pasta water as needed.
- Garnish with feta cheese crumbles and fresh Italian parsley or cilantro!
- Enjoy!
Video
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe, super fast and soooo tasty !!!
Thank you so much, Stephanie!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
This is the most delicious recipe ever! My family and I have this once a week, and we need shovels instead of forks to eat it! It is a huge favorite. I highly recommend it. So amazing.
This is a new family favorite! So delicious!!