Description
Baked Feta Chickpeas combines juicy cherry tomatoes, tender chickpeas, and creamy feta cheese roasted to perfection with garlic and spices. This easy, flavorful dish bursts with rich tomato sauce and melty browned feta, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner served with toasted bread and fresh basil.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomato and Chickpea Mixture
- 16 oz. cherry tomatoes, stemmed and washed
- 1 (14.5-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Cheese
- 1 (4″ x 3″) block feta (about 8 oz.)
To Serve
- Fresh basil leaves
- Toasted bread, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Tomato Mixture: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400°F. In a 13″ x 9″ baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, finely chopped garlic, 1/4 cup olive oil, kosher salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and freshly ground black pepper. Toss everything together evenly to coat.
- Roast Tomatoes and Chickpeas: Place the baking dish in the oven and roast until the tomatoes burst and start releasing their juices, about 15 minutes. This step creates a fresh, saucy base.
- Prepare Feta Cheese: On a cutting board, use a sharp knife to cut the block of feta lengthwise into 4 planks, each about 3/4″ thick. Nestle the feta planks gently into the tomato and chickpea mixture in the baking dish. Drizzle additional olive oil over the feta.
- Continue Roasting: Return the baking dish to the oven and roast for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the feta softens and the tomatoes become saucy and fully burst.
- Broil for Finish: Remove the dish from the oven and switch the oven setting to broil. Broil the feta and tomatoes, watching closely, until both are blistered and browned slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, top with fresh basil leaves, and serve immediately with toasted bread alongside to soak up the vibrant tomato sauce and creamy feta.
Notes
- This dish features a fresh burst of cherry tomato sauce combined with chickpeas and bubbling browned feta, making it an ideal quick and satisfying weeknight meal.
- Serve with crunchy toasted bread to balance the luscious textures and soak up the sauce.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- Use high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for best flavor.
- For a vegetarian diet, ensure the feta is made with vegetarian-friendly rennet.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 481
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 977 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
