Creamy feta is baked with marinara sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic for the most delectable bite.

This is a low effort appetizer you can make in just 20 minutes!

While you may have seen the original viral recipes using baked feta in tomato sauce to create a luscious pasta sauce, this baked feta is a take on that idea!

Baked feta is so versatile – you can enjoy baked feta as an appetizer or as a light meal with summer vegetables.  This baked feta in marinara is perfect to throw together when you need a quick and tasty appetizer to serve guests.

Why you’ll love this baked feta in marinara

• Quick: Prep and bake this feta in marinara in just 20 minutes with a handful of ingredients.
• Comforting: A cozy and easy recipe for a date-night in.
• Versatile: This is a wonderful recipe to double and make for a larger crowd!

Ingredients

Feta cheese: You’ll need an 8oz (200-225 gram) block of feta cheese. For best results, be sure to buy a Greek block of feta cheese (sometimes sold in brine) instead of crumbled feta.

Marinara sauce: Make sure to buy a jar of marinara sauce that you enjoy! Or, use a homemade marinara sauce.

Seasonings: extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh garlic cloves, chili flakes (or red-pepper flakes), dried oregano and fresh herbs like basil round out the flavours 

How to make this baked feta recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 400F.
2. Add the marinara sauce, sliced cloves of garlic and sundried tomatoes to a small baking dish and stir together.
3. Nestle the feta block into the marinara sauce and sprinkle with chili flakes (or red pepper flakes) and dried oregano. Drizzle the feta with olive oil and then bake for 15-20 minutes until the feta is quite soft and the sauce is bubbling just around the edges. 
4. Let cool for a few minutes before garnishing with fresh basil and serving with crostini or crusty bread.

Tips & Tricks

• Make your own crostini: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Use a bread knife to slice a baguette into 1-inch thick slices, about 20-24 slices. Place the baguette slices on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush the bread slices with olive oil on one side and place in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 minutes until toasted. Set aside.
• Serve a larger crowd: Easily double this recipe to serve more people!
• Use quality feta cheese: A good quality Greek feta cheese in brine is preferred to get that creamy texture once baked.

Substitutions and Variations

• Use dried Italian seasoning instead of dried oregano if desired.
• Garnish with fresh parsley instead of fresh basil if that’s all you have on hand.
• Instead of making crostini, serve this feta dip with crusty bread that is torn into pieces.
• If you don’t have sun-dried tomatoes, a handful of halved cherry tomatoes will add some texture to the marinara sauce.
• Add olives or diced red onion to the marinara sauce for more variety of flavours.
• While this is delicious as an appetizer, you can also bake the feta in the marinara sauce and use it as a pasta sauce. Once the feta is quite soft, use the back of a spoon to break it down and mix it into the marinara. Then, mix in some cooked pasta for a quick and delicious dinner!

Common Questions

How to store and reheat this appetizer

Baked feta is most delicious on the day it’s made; however, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Gently reheat leftovers by placing in a baking dish and warming at 325F until the feta is soft and creamy again.

More baked feta appetizers to make from the blog

• Phyllo-Wrapped Baked Feta Appetizer with Walnuts
• Baked Feta Appetizer with Dates, Pistachios & Honey
• Easy Baked Feta Appetizer with Tomatoes and Peppers

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Quick and Easy Baked Feta in Marinara Appetizer

Make this Baked Feta in Marinara in 20 minutes! Creamy feta baked in marinara sauce with fresh herbs & garlic is a perfect quick appetizer.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mediterranean-inspired

Keyword baked feta

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 8 oz (200-225 grams) block feta cheese
• 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
• ¼ cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
• 2 small garlic cloves, sliced
• ¼ tsp chili flakes (optional)
• ¼ tsp Dried oregano
• Extra-virgin olive oil to drizzle
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish
• Crostini or other crusty bread for serving

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400F.
• Add the marinara sauce, sliced garlic and sundried tomatoes to a small baking dish and stir together.
• Nestle the block of feta cheese into the sauce and sprinkle with chili flakes and dried oregano. Drizzle the feta with olive oil and then bake for 15-20 minutes until the feta is quite soft and the sauce is bubbling just around the edges.
• Let cool for a few minutes before garnishing with fresh basil and serving with crostini.

Optional: make your own crostini

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Use a bread knife to slice a baguette into 1-inch thick slices, about 20-24 slices. Place the baguette slices on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush the bread slices with olive oil on one side and place in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 minutes until toasted. Set aside.

Photography by: Kaeleigh Pugliese

The post Quick and Easy Baked Feta in Marinara Appetizer appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

The crispy phyllo pastry is filled with creamy feta cheese and topped with honey and walnuts once baked. 

Plus, this phyllo-wrapped feta only takes 5 minutes to prep!

Think salty, creamy feta with a drizzle of sweet honey and some crunch from walnuts in a flaky pastry – it’s the perfect balance of flavours in an appetizer? Just like all of my appetizers, this simple baked feta appetizer is a breeze to make but packed with so much flavor. 

I love that I can make this up to a month ahead of time, making my life so much easier, especially during the holiday season! This baked feta cheese appetizer is the perfect combination sweet and salty.  I love bringing this out for dinner parties and anytime during the holidays.

Why you’ll love phyllo-wrapped feta

• Simple: You only need 7 simple ingredients to make this feta appetizer. 
• Easy: You can easily make this simple recipe ahead of time, but it only takes 5 minutes to prep. 
• Flavor: It’s packed with flavor thanks to a combination of feta, walnuts, a generous drizzle of honey, and a sprinkle of chili flakes.

Ingredients Needed for this delicious appetizer

Feta Cheese: make sure you buy blocks of feta and not crumbled feta as you will wrap the feta blocks with a phyllo sheet. Sheep’s milk or goat milk feta are both fine to use.

Phyllo Dough: You want the phyllo dough to be completely defrosted before you start making this recipe. You can use store-bought phyllo dough to make this 

Butter: if you don’t have any butter on hand, you can use extra virgin olive oil instead!

Chili Flakes: I love adding a pinch of chili flakes (or red pepper flakes) for a little bit of spice.

Honey: A drizzle of honey ties the flavours all together. Alternatively, you could use hot honey instead of chili flakes and honey on their own

Fresh rosemary: Fresh herbs like rosemary add a festive touch to this phyllo-wrapped baked feta. Alternatively you could use fresh thyme

How to make this feta recipe

Step 1: The night before, take the phyllo dough out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge.

Step 2: Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 3: Gently place one sheet of phyllo dough onto a clean work surface. Use a pastry brush to cover the sheet with melted butter. Then repeat once more with another sheet of phyllo dough so you have two sheets layered on top of each other.

Step 4: Place one piece of feta on top of the sheet of phyllo pastry, towards the bottom of the sheet. Wrap the feta with the phyllo so you’re wrapping up and towards the center, just like a parcel. Set on the baking sheet. 

Step 5: Repeat this whole process one more time with 2 more sheets of phyllo and the second block of feta, so now you have two phyllo-wrapped feta parcels on the baking tray.

Step 6: Brush both of the feta packages on top of the phyllo and the sides with melted butter.

Step 7: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. If the bottom of the phyllo is golden but the top isn’t, carefully flip it and cook for a few more minutes.

Step 8: Place the baked feta on a serving plate and top with liquid honey, chopped walnuts, chili flakes and fresh rosemary. 

Tips and Tricks

• You can swap out the melted butter for an equal amount of olive oil.
• Don’t love walnuts or don’t have any? Swap them out for chopped almonds or pistachios! You could even try nutty sesame seeds.
• Make this ahead of time by wrapping both blocks of feta in the phyllo, following steps 3-5. But do not coat in butter after wrapping them up. Wrap in parchment paper and then plastic wrap. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 1 month. When ready to bake, place on the baking sheet and brush with melted butter, then bake for 15-20 minutes. 
• Serve this as the star of a cheeseboard! 
• Instead of using chili flakes and honey, use just hot honey instead.

Seasonal Variations on this phyllo-wrapped baked feta

• In the Fall, add roasted grapes as a topping or option to serve with.
• For Christmas or New Years Eve, add pomegranate seeds for a festive touch
• In the Spring or Summer, serve topped with fresh berries for a pop of warm-weather flavour.

Common Questions

How to store and reheat this baked feta appetizer    

I recommend serving this baked feta appetizer on the day it’s made! However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container for 1 day. Then, reheat in the oven at 350F on a parchment paper lined baking sheet for 5-15 minutes until crispy again and the cheese is softened. Alternatively, you can reheat in the air fryer at 325F for 5-10 minutes.

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Phyllo-Wrapped Baked Feta Appetizer with Walnuts

This party-worthy Phyllo-Wrapped Baked Feta Appetizer is ready in 30 minutes! Topped with honey, walnuts & rosemary for a festive bite.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mediterranean-inspired

Keyword baked feta, feta

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 6 -8

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 2 blocks feta cheese, about 150-200g / 6-8oz each (½-¾ inch thickness)
• 4 sheets phyllo dough, defrosted
• ½ cup butter, melted (or olive oil)
• ¼ cup liquid honey, divided
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts. divided
• pinch of chili flakes, divided
• 1 tsp minced fresh rosemary
• Crackers for serving
• Optional: Garnish the serving plate with seasonal Fall and Winter fruits like grapes, clementines and/or figs. Alternatively, choose fruits like berries in the Spring or Summer.

Instructions

• The night before, take the phyllo dough out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge.
• Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Gently place one sheet of phyllo dough onto a clean work surface. Use a pastry brush to cover the sheet with melted butter, then repeat once more with another sheet of phyllo dough so you have two sheets layered on top of each other.
• Place one piece of feta on top of the sheet of phyllo pastry, towards the bottom of the sheet. Wrap the feta with the phyllo so you’re wrapping up and towards the center, just like a parcel. Set on the baking sheet.
• Repeat this whole process one more time with 2 more sheets of phyllo and the second block of feta, so now you have two phyllo-wrapped feta parcels on the baking tray.
• Brush both of the feta packages on top of the phyllo and the sides with melted butter.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. If the bottom of the phyllo is golden but the top isn’t, carefully flip it and cook for a few more minutes.
• Place the baked feta on a serving plate and divide the liquid honey, chopped walnuts, chili flakes and fresh rosemary between the two baked feta parcels.

  Optional: Garnish the serving plate with seasonal Fall and Winter fruits like grapes, clementines and/or figs. Alternatively, choose fruits like berries in the Spring or Summer.

Notes

• Since you are using just 4 sheets of phyllo dough, the remaining phyllo can be wrapped in plastic wrap and place in the box it came in or in a zip top bag and frozen again for later use.
• You can swap out the melted butter for an equal amount of olive oil.
• Make this ahead of time by wrapping both blocks of feta up, following steps 3-5, but do not coat in butter after wrapping them up. Wrap in parchment paper and then plastic wrap. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 1 month. When ready to bake, place on the baking sheet and brush with melted butter, then bake for 15-20 minutes.
• Don’t love walnuts or don’t have any? Swap them out for chopped almonds or pistachios! You could even try nutty sesame seeds.

Photography by: Kaeleigh Pugliese

The post Phyllo-Wrapped Baked Feta Appetizer with Walnuts appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

Juicy, fresh figs and grapes are roasted with creamy feta, honey and balsamic for the most divine appetizer bite.

Top with fresh thyme leaves and serve with crostini or crusty bread for the most warm and cozy bite of the season.

Baked feta is so versatile as an appetizer or a meal.  Because of it’s neutral flavours, you can pair it with the flavours of the season, like figs and grapes, for a beautiful appetizer. This baked feta with figs is the perfect Fall or holiday appetizer!

Why you’ll love this baked feta with figs appetizer

• It’s so easy to make!
• You only need a handful of fresh and pantry ingredients.
• Easy to double for a larger crowd.

Ingredients needed

Feta cheese: you’ll need one block of feta cheese, be sure to buy a Greek feta block instead of crumbled feta.

Figs: make sure to use fresh, ripe figs that will bake down nicely into jammy figs

Grapes: roasted grapes add a nice pop of flavour to this appetizer recipe

Honey: make sure to use liquid honey as it mixes best with the balsamic vinegar

Balsamic vinegar: the balsamic vinegar flavour pairs well with the honey

Walnuts: crunchy walnuts add a nice bite

Seasonings: orange zest, chili flakes, a pinch of salt and fresh thyme leaves are the perfect accompaniments to the baked feta with figs

How to make baked feta with figs

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375F.

Step 2: Line a small baking dish with parchment paper. Add the block of feta to the center of the baking dish on the parchment paper.

Step 3: In a small bowl whisk together the honey, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, chili flakes and a pinch of salt. Set aside.

Step 4: Place the sliced figs and grapes around the block of feta cheese. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts on top of everything in the pan. Drizzle the honey-balsamic mixture over everything in the pan (feta cheese, figs and grapes) and gently toss around the feta to ensure figs and grapes are coated.

Step 5: Bake for 24-28 minutes or until the feta is quite soft, the grapes are starting to burst and the figs are starting to soften and get jammy.

Step 6: Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and serve with crostini, baguette, pita chips or crackers. To serve, you can keep everything in the baking dish you baked it in and let it cool a bit before serving.

Expert tips

• Make crostini to serve with this baked feta appetizer:  Preheat the oven to 400°F. Use a bread knife to slice a baguette into 1-inch thick baguette slices. Brush the sliced baguette with olive oil on one side and place in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 minutes until toasted. Set aside.
• Serve this easy appetizer as the centrepiece if a cheese board for the holidays! Simply let it cool for 5-10 minutes and then transfer the feta to the center of a cheeseboard. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the cooked figs, grapes and walnuts in and around the feta. Then, drizzle with some of the sauce from the pan (but not too much so it goes all over your cheeseboard!)
• You can substitute the walnuts for pistachios if desired.

Common questions

What type of dish should I bake this appetizer in?
I used an oven-safe enamel pan but you could use any type of oven-safe dish. A larger cast iron pan would make a lovely presentation for serving guests too (just make sure to let the pan cool a bit before serving).

How can I make this feta dip for more people?
To make this recipe for more people, add a second block of feta cheese and double the rest of the ingredients to serve 6-8 people. Make sure to use a larger baking dish too.

How to store and reheat this baked feta with figs

Baked feta is most delicious on the day it’s made; however, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Gently reheat leftovers by placing in a baking dish and warming at 325F until the feta is soft and creamy again.

More seasonal recipes to make from the blog

Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer with Fig Jam & Pecans

Baked Feta Appetizer with Dates, Pistachios & Honey

Quick and Easy Maple Pecan Baked Brie Appetizer

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Easy Baked Feta with Balsamic Figs & Grapes Appetizer

This Baked Feta with Balsamic Figs & Grapes is the perfect holiday appetizer. Quick to make, guests will love this during the cooler seasons.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mediterranean-inspired

Keyword baked feta, baked feta appetizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 6 -8

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 150-200 grams (about 6-8oz) block of feta cheese
• 6 ripe fresh figs, ends trimmed and sliced
• 1/2 cup seedless red grapes
• 3 tbsp liquid honey plus more for drizzling
• 1 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp orange zest
• 1/4 tsp chili flakes or red pepper flakes
• pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
• fresh thyme leaves

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375F.
• Line a medium-sized baking dish with parchment paper. Add the block of feta to the center of the baking dish on the parchment paper.
• In a small bowl whisk together the honey, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, chili flakes orange zest and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
• Place the sliced figs and grapes around the block of feta cheese. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts on top of everything in the pan. Drizzle the honey-balsamic mixture over everything in the pan (feta cheese, figs and grapes) and use a spoon to gently toss the fig slices, walnuts and grapes in the honey-balsamic mixture around the feta.
• Bake for 24-28 minutes or until the feta is quite soft, the grapes are starting to burst / soften and the figs are starting to soften and get jammy.
• Garnish with fresh thyme leaves, a drizzle of honey over the feta cheese and serve with crostini, baguette, pita chips or crackers. To serve, you can keep everything in the baking dish you baked it in and let it cool a bit before serving.

The post Easy Baked Feta with Balsamic Figs & Grapes Appetizer appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

Creamy feta is bake with sweet dates and salty pistachios for the most divine appetizer bite.

Add a drizzle of honey and pinch of chili flakes to finish off the flavours.

I love to bake feta as a meal or as an appetizer; it’s so versatile! So, I knew I needed to create a delicious baked feta appetizer for the Fall and Winter season.

By baking feta with dates, pistachios, honey and bit of olive oil you get a luscious, creamy spread that’s sure to delight!  This simple appetizer is perfect for sharing during the holiday season.

Why you’ll love this baked feta appetizer

• You only need 6 key ingredients to make this easy baked feta appetizer
• It’s easy to add in more blocks of feta cheese to make this for more people
• This only takes 5 minutes to prep and under 20 minutes to bake

Ingredients needed for this delicious recipe

Feta cheese: you’ll need one block of feta cheese, be sure to buy a Greek feta block instead of crumbled feta.

Dates: dried medjool dates bring a beautiful sweetness to this recipe and pair lovely with the salty feta cheese

Pistachios: salted pistachios work best for this recipe

Chili flakes: red pepper flakes add a nice flavour balance with the crunchy pistachios and sweet dates

Olive oil: you need 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil to make this baked feta and dates appetizer

Honey: liquid honey works best to drizzle over the feta before baking

Fresh thyme: I love to add a sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves to finish off this appetizer, if you don’t like fresh thyme you can try a sprinkle of minced fresh rosemary instead

​how to make baked feta with dates

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375F.

Step 2: Line a small baking dish with parchment paper.

Step 3: Add the block of feta to the center of the baking dish on the parchment paper.

Step 4: Drizzle the olive oil over the feta cheese. Sprinkle the chopped dates and pistachios over and around the feta cheese. Add a small or big pinch of chili flakes (depending on your tastes). Then drizzle the honey over top of the whole dish – the feta and everything else in the baking dish.

Step 5: Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the feta is softened. Serve with crostini, pita chips or your favourite crackers.  To serve, you can keep everything in the baking dish you baked it in and let it cool a bit before serving OR transfer the feta as the centrepiece to a serving dish.

expert tips

• To serve, you can keep everything in the baking dish you baked it in and let it cool a bit before serving OR transfer the feta as the centrepiece to a serving dish or serving platter.
• If you don’t have salted pistachios, make sure to add a pinch of salt to the baked feta.
• Serve this easy appetizer as the centrepiece if a cheese board for the holidays!

common questions

How do I make crostini to serve with this recipe?
Preheat the oven to 400°Fahrenheit. Use a bread knife to slice a baguette into 1-inch thick baguette slices. Brush the sliced baguette with olive oil on one side and place in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 minutes until toasted. Set aside.

What type of dish should I bake this appetizer in?
I used an oven-safe enamel pan but you could use any type of oven-safe dish. A larger cast iron pan would make a lovely presentation for serving guests too (just make sure to let the pan cool a bit before serving).

Can I reheat the leftovers?
This baked feta is most delicious on the dates it’s made, however, you could also reheat at 325F in the oven until just softened again.

How can I make this feta dip for more people?
To make this recipe for more people, add a second block of feta cheese and double the rest of the ingredients to serve 6-8 people. Make sure to use a larger baking dish too.

storage

Baked feta is most delicious on the day it’s made; however, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

more holiday appetizers to love from the blog

Easy Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie (holiday appetizer)

Quick Whipped Ricotta Dip with Hot Honey Appetizer

Easy Herb & Walnut Mini Cheese Balls Appetizer

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Baked Feta Appetizer with Dates, Pistachios & Honey

Make this Baked Feta with Dates, Pistachios and Honey in just 20 minutes! This easy appetizer is a true crowd-pleaser during the holidays!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Greek-inspired

Keyword baked feta

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 306kcal

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 1 150-200g block feta cheese (about 6-8oz)  double the feta cheese to serve more people 
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup packed chopped dates
• 1/4 cup chopped salted pistachios
• 3 tbsp liquid honey
• 1/4 tsp chili flakes
• fresh thyme for garnish
• For serving: crostini, baguette, pita chips or crackers

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375F.
• Line a small baking dish with parchment paper.
• Add the block of feta to the center of the baking dish on the parchment paper.
• Drizzle the olive oil over the feta cheese. Sprinkle the chopped dates and pistachios over and around the feta cheese. Add chili flakes and then drizzle the honey over the feta and everything else in the baking dish.
• Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the feta is softened. Top with fresh thyme leaves and serve with crostini, baguette, pita chips or crackers

  To serve, you can keep everything in the baking dish you baked it in and let it cool a bit before serving OR transfer the feta as the centrepiece to a serving dish.

Notes

• Make crostini to serve with this appetizer: Preheat the oven to 400°Fahrenheit. Use a bread knife to slice a baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Brush the sliced baguette with olive oil on one side and place in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 minutes until toasted. Set aside.
• Make this recipe for more people: Add a second block of feta cheese and double the rest of the ingredients to serve 6-8 people. Make sure to use a larger baking dish too.

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 573mg | Potassium: 248mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 307IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 268mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Baked Feta Appetizer with Dates, Pistachios & Honey appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

Perfect for an appetizer, light dinner with crusty bread or serve alongside some pasta for a full meal.

It’s easy to make with fresh summer vegetables and is one of the most delicious recipes you can make this summer!

While may have heard of the viral baked feta pasta, that concept acts as the base for this baked feta recipe. But, my recipe serves as an appetizer instead!

This is an impressive appetizer made with just a handful of ingredients just like my Sundried Tomato Pesto Goat Cheese Appetizer.

Why you’ll love this baked feta appetizer

• By baking the feta together with seasonal ingredients you get a super flavourful, warm appetizer that is sure to impress!
• You can serve this appetizer in so many different ways: as a creamy spread with toasted bread, crackers or chips.
• It’s easy to add in more blocks of feta cheese to make this for more people.

Ingredients needed to make this easy recipe

Block of feta cheese: be sure to buy a Greek feta block instead of crumbled feta.

Summer vegetables: bell peppers, red onion, sweet cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes

Lemon: lemon juice is used to boost the flavour in this recipe but you could also add some lemon zest too

Olive oil: extra virgin olive oil brings the whole dish together by enveloping all of the ingredients as they bake

Fresh herbs: fresh oregano, fresh thyme and fresh basil leaves can all be used or choose one of your favourites.

Seasonings: garlic cloves, dried oregano, red chili flakes, salt and black pepper are the base seasonings to boost the flavour.

Step by step process to make this baked feta appetizer

1. Preheat oven to 400F

2. To an oven-proof baking dish add the creamy feta cheese in the center of the dish and surround with garlic cloves, bell pepper slices, red onion wedges and tomatoes.

3. In a small bowl or measuring cup whisk together juice from half of the lemon, olive oil, dried oregano, chili flakes and pinch of salt and pepper.

4. Pour the olive oil mixture over the feta, peppers, onions and tomatoes and use a spoon to gently toss with the vegetables. Flip the feta back/forth in the olive oil mixture too.

5. Slice the other half of the lemon into wedges and add to the baking dish as well.

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the feta has softened and tomatoes are starting to burst.

7. Serve with toasted bread, crackers, homemade pita chips or mix the everything in the pan together to create a sauce for pasta. When serving this appetizer I like to leave the feta as the centerpiece with the vegetables around; then, people can take as much or as little to spread on their bread or crackers and then top with the vegetables. You can keep everything in the pan you baked it in and let it cool a bit before serving OR transfer the feta as the centerpiece to a serving dish, pour over all the juices and vegetables from the baking dish then serve.

Expert tips for making this baked feta cheese

• This simple appetizer is easily customizable. You can amp up the Mediterranean flavors by adding a 1/2 cup of kalamata olives and 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes for example.
• Depending on your tastes you can use red peppers, orange or yellow pepper in the recipe.
• While this simple recipe serves 4 people, you can easily add a second block of feta into the baking dish to serve more people (about 6-8 people).

When I’m entertaining, I want to serve quick and delicious food that’s packed with flavour. That’s why I love this appetizer so very much. You can assemble this recipe ahead of time and put in the oven about 15-20 minutes before guests are set to arrive. Then, it will be ready shortly after and you’ll have time to let the pan cool slightly before serving.

FAQ

What type of dish should I bake this appetizer in?
I used an oven-safe enamel pan but you could use any type of oven-safe dish. A larger cast iron pan would make a lovely presentation for serving guests too (just make sure to let the pan cool a bit before serving).

Can I use this recipe to make a pasta?
YES! After baking just mix all of the simple ingredients together and then stir in a cooked pasta of choice. I’ve also stirred in cooked gnocchi and it made a delicious meal too!

What is the texture of baked feta?
Baked feta cheese generally keeps it’s shape but develops a creamy and soft texture. When serving this appetizer I like to leave the feta as the centrepiece with the vegetables around; then, people can take as much or as little to spread on their bread or crackers and then top with the vegetables.

If I have leftovers of this appetizer, how can I enjoy them later?
While this appetizer is most delicious on the day it’s made, it can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. You could warm it up the next day on medium-low in a pan and add some pasta; use it as a spread on a sandwich or in a wrap; add the leftovers to a salad; or, reheat gently in a microwave or pan and then enjoy with bread again!

Storage for this baked feta dip

Baked feta is most delicious on the day it’s made; however, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.  See my last tip under FAQ for more ways to enjoy the leftovers of this feta recipe!

More easy appetizer recipe ideas to love from the blog:

Easy Garlic Bread Bites

Roasted Balsamic Strawberry Appetizer with Crostini

Easy Cheesy Baked Pizza Dip

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Easy Baked Feta Appetizer with Tomatoes and Peppers

This Easy Baked Feta Appetizer is a delicious and elegant appetizer that comes together in just 30 minutes! Perfect to enjoy at any gathering

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mediterranean-inspired

Keyword baked feta, baked feta appetizer, easy appetizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 322kcal

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 1 150-200g block feta cheese (about 6-8oz) double the feta cheese to serve more people 
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 bell pepper, sliced ¼-½ inch
• 1/2 large red onion cut into ½ inch wedges
• 1 pint pint cherry tomatoes
• 1 lemon, sliced in half
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp chili flakes
• salt and pepper to taste
• Sprigs fresh oregano, thyme and/or fresh basil to garnish
• For serving: toasted bread, baguette, pita chips or crackers

Variation: Lemon & Herb Baked Feta

• 1x 150-200g block feta cheese (about 6-8oz) double the feta cheese to serve more people
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, zested and then sliced in half
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp chili flakes
• pinch salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp minced fresh herbs (mix of fresh basil, oregano and/or parsley)
• garnish with fresh basil, oregano and parsley

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• To an oven-proof baking dish add the creamy feta cheese in the center of the dish and surround with thinly sliced garlic cloves, bell pepper slices, red onion wedges and tomatoes.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup whisk together juice from half of the lemon, olive oil, dried oregano, chili flakes and pinch of salt and pepper.
• Pour the olive oil mixture over the feta, peppers, onions and tomatoes and use a spoon to gently toss with the vegetables. Flip the feta back/forth in the olive oil mixture too.
• Slice the other half of the lemon into wedges and add to the baking dish as well.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the feta has softened and tomatoes are starting to burst.
• Serve with toasted bread, baguette, crackers or homemade pita chips .

  Serving notes: When serving this appetizer I like to leave the feta as the centrepiece with the vegetables around; then, people can take as much or as little to spread on their bread or crackers and then top with the vegetables. You can keep everything in the pan you baked it in and let it cool a bit before serving OR transfer the feta as the centrepiece to a serving dish, pour over all the juices and vegetables from the baking dish then serve.

Variation: Lemon & Herb Baked Feta

• Preheat the oven to 400F.
• To a small oven-proof baking dish add the creamy feta cheese in the center of the dish. Drizzle half of the olive oil over the feta. Sprinkle all the spices over top of the feta and into the baking dish.  
• Surround the feta with thinly sliced garlic cloves and sprinkle over the fresh herbs. Zest the lemon over top of the feta cheese. Drizzle the rest of the olive oil over the feta and other ingredients in the pan.
• Bake for 22-30 minutes or until the feta has softened.
• Squeeze over juice from half or full lemon (depending on your tastes) and serve with toasted bread, baguette, crackers or homemade pita chips .

Notes

• You can also serve this appetizer as a main dish: when the feta is finished baking, stir the feta and vegetables together to create a sauce and then mix in cooked pasta or gnocchi.
• While this appetizer is most delicious on the day it's made, it can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. You could warm it up the next day on medium-low in a pan and add some pasta; use it as a spread on a sandwich or in a wrap; add the leftovers to a salad; or, reheat gently in a microwave or pan and then enjoy with bread again!

Nutrition

Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 587mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1762IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 266mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Easy Baked Feta Appetizer with Tomatoes and Peppers appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.