What To Serve With Baked Feta Pasta: 8 BEST Sides!
Searching for some ideas for what to serve with baked feta pasta?
You’re in the best place!
This simple (yet totally delicious) recipe involves oven roasting a full block of feta cheese with juicy cherry tomatoes to create a satisfyingly salty and cheesy sauce, before stirring through your favourite pasta shapes.
It’s become a modern day sensation since going viral on social media – and earning the name TikTok pasta! – but what are the best side dishes and accompaniments to pair it with?
Let’s take a look…
What to serve with baked feta pasta
For a well balanced meal that your dinner guests will love, serve baked feta pasta with a chopped Italian salad and some homemade garlic focaccia bread. Add a glass of your favourite dry white wine, and you’ve got a delicious feast that’s suitable for those evenings when you want to impress and really go the extra mile.
Other tasty choices for what to eat with baked feta pasta include roasted broccoli with garlic and chilli, crispy courgette fries, grilled caesar salad, and olives and breadsticks.
Want more inspiration?
Keep reading…
(Do make sure that you also check out my guide to the best starters for pasta!)
1. Chopped Italian salad
You really can’t go wrong with a fresh and colourful salad to serve alongside any kind of creamy, cheesy pasta dish, and this chopped Italian salad is an easy to follow recipe that I return to time and time again.
Remember that it’s totally customisable too, so you can make it to suit your own personal tastes.
If you’re a meat lover, you might want to chuck in some salami or chorizo.
If you have some sundried tomatoes in your pantry, you can add them in.
If you have veggies that need using up, why not roast them and add them to your salad?
Peppers and onions work particularly well here!
2. Garlic focaccia bread
Garlic bread is another classic pairing for pasta dishes, and you can make it extra special by cooking up your own garlic focaccia.
It’s easier than you might think, and it’ll fill your home with a delicious aroma that’ll have everyone excitedly waiting for their dinner!
Make sure you add some extra virgin olive oil and good quality balsamic vinegar to the table too, as it’s perfect for dipping.
For ideas on using up the leftovers, take a look at what to serve with focaccia bread.
3. Roasted broccoli with garlic and chilli
This roasted broccoli with garlic and chilli is a light and delicious side dish, and it’s ideal if you’d like to add a portion of green goodness to your meal.
You’ll need to keep a close eye to ensure that you don’t end up with too many burnt bits.
The stalks should be just tender and very slightly coloured, or you’ll run the risk of your dish becoming too bitter.
Just make sure that you’re in the kitchen so you can remove the dish from the oven when necessary.
4. Crispy courgette fries
For a classy, sophisticated, yet slightly unusual choice for what to serve with baked feta pasta, try these crispy courgette fries.
They’re much lighter than their potato counterparts, and a great way to get another serving of veggies into your diet.
They do require deep frying, which can sometimes be a little overwhelming for a home cook, but they’re definitely worth the extra effort for occasions like dinner parties.
Of course, you could bake in the oven if you preferred, though you likely wouldn’t achieve the same satisfying crunch!
5. Grilled caesar salad
You could say that a chicken caesar salad is a main course in its own right, but I find that it’s perfect for serving alongside baked feta pasta!
It offers freshness and crunch from the lettuce and the croutons, plus a decent serving of protein for the meat eaters.
Go for a grilled caesar salad when you’re cooking for a crowd, and you want to give a couple of options for everyone to dig in to.
You might be tempted to skip the anchovies that are included in more traditional recipes, but I’d urge you to give them a go.
They bring a wonderful briny, salty blast of goodness and savoury umami flavour, and they really take your dish to the next level.
6. Olives and breadsticks
Sometimes, you want to skip complicated side dishes in favour of some light nibbles for the table.
This is often a good shout when it comes to creamy pasta dishes that are filling and substantial in their own right.
If this is the route you fancy taking, serve up an appetiser of olives and breadsticks.
You can get as fancy or as simple as you like!
Pick up what you need at your local deli or supermarket, or if you like, cook your own breadsticks at home and serve them fresh and warm from the oven.
7. Zingy courgette and spinach salad
For a healthy choice for what to serve with baked feta pasta, try this courgette and spinach salad.
It can be served warm, so it’s perfect for those colder months when you want sides and accompaniments that are cosy and satisfying, whilst still being full of green goodness.
My favourite thing about this side dish is the addition of a red chilli. It brings a wonderful kick of heat, which works so well alongside a creamy, cheesy, tomatoey pasta main course!
(By the way, if you love pasta dishes, you might also want to take a look at what to serve with carbonara).
8. Lemon and garlic kale salad
This lemon and garlic kale salad is an elegant side dish that’s perfect for baked feta pasta! It’s quick and easy to make, full of zesty flavour, and it’s the kind of accompaniment that’s perfect for a sophisticated gathering or dinner party.
It’s also a great way to get some extra green veggies into your diet.
Final thoughts on side dishes for baked feta pasta
Baked feta pasta is a delicious, easy to make meal that’s just as good for a busy weeknight as it is for a special occasion when you have friends and family over for dinner.
Choosing the right side dishes is so important though, and really makes the meal! Here’s a summary of the best choices:
- Chopped Italian salad
- Garlic focaccia bread
- Roasted broccoli with garlic and chilli
- Crispy courgette fries
- Grilled caesar salad
- Olives and breadsticks
- Zingy courgette and spinach salad
- Lemon and garlic kale salad
Which of these sides will you be serving up?
By the way, if you’re a pasta lover, get some more mealtime inspiration by browsing the best sides to serve with ravioli, and side dishes for vodka pasta!
