Spinach and Feta Pasta

CATEGORIES: 30 Minute Meals, Healthy Meals, Italian, Kate, Meatless, Pasta, Stovetop
author photo BY
kate jones

Okay, so I know I promised grilled fish tacos today, but I was just hit with a nasty little stomach bug, so I’ve pulled one of my all-time favorite recipes from the dark corners of OBB obscurity and I’ll share the grilled fish tacos on Monday, I promise!

I have a couple of “Oh, crap!” recipes in my arsenal. What, you may ask, is an “Oh, crap!” recipe? It’s not as bad as it sounds–it’s just one where I’ve been blogging (oh, I mean scrubbing the floors on my hands and knees!) all afternoon and realize that my hubby is on his way home from work. Or when someone calls and asks if I can bring dinner to someone who just had a baby, TONIGHT. Or when I’m beat and don’t feel like cooking (or cleaning up), but I still want something yummy for dinner. Basic definition of “Oh, Crap!” meal? Super quick, super easy, super tasty. With stuff I generally have in the house.

So do you remember last week in the healthy eating tips when we recommended using a little bit of a sharp or flavorful cheese? That’s exactly what we’re doing here. Even if you think you don’t like feta, the amount used in this recipe is just enough to give it an amazing flavor without being overpowering like feta can be. So don’t be scared. feta is yummy as long as you don’t get a giant chunk of it all at once.

This couldn’t be easier. While your pasta is cooking in boiling water, heat a little olive oil in a skillet and saute some mushrooms, onions, and garlic for a few minutes.
Throw in your fresh spinach and stir as it wilts. It just takes a minute or less.
Then add in your canned tomatoes.
Let the tomatoes heat through and then add in your pasta,
and the feta cheese

Season with salt and pepper, toss it all together, plate it up, and top with a little extra cheese if desired. Done! And in record time!

 

Spinach and Feta Pasta
Recipe by Our Best Bites

Ingredients:

8 oz. Penne pasta (that’s 1/2 a 16 oz. box. Don’t use ziti–you want the ridges on the penne to “grip” the sauce)
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
3 c. fresh spinach (you don’t even have to chop it! Could life get any better??)
1 onion, finely chopped
5-6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
A handful of fresh mushrooms, chopped
4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add pasta. Cook according to package directions. In the meantime, heat a little olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, and mushrooms and cook until tender. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Add tomatoes, heat through, and then add drained pasta and crumbled feta. Add salt and pepper to taste. Heat through and serve; you can crumble a little extra feta on top if you feel the urge. Even my pickiest eater loves this meal, so you really can’t go wrong! Got a little extra time on your hands? Try serving it with Rosemary Focaccia or Garlic Breadsticks.
Serves 8
Nutritional Information
Calories: 186
Fat: 5.3
Fiber: 3.4
WW Points Plus: 4

57 comments

  2. thanks for this recipe. I will add it to my oh crap list. Usually, my favorite oh crap meal is a minestrone type of soup. Pan fry some veggies (onions, carrots, celery, tomato), then some ground turkey if I have some, and then add a bunch of canned beans, spinach or kale, and vegetable broth/water. I love one pot meals that take less than 30 minutes to prep/make. Top with shredded parm or mozz cheese!

    Reply

  4. I never have spinach or feta in my house. I wish my “oh crap” meals looked like yours! I’m going to have to go buy some spinach and feta to try this meal.

    Reply

  5. Mmm, that pasta sounds good, and easy.

    We have a few “oh crap” meals in our house. Lots are breakfast foods, like someone else mentioned- omelets, waffles, french toast, etc. I also always keep some good, canned tomato soup around and we do soup and cheese panini a lot.

    Reply

  6. a box of whole grain penne pasta, 1 jar of bertolli alfredo sauce, mozzarella cheese and 2-3 chicken breasts (depending on how many people and desire of chicken).

    Boil noodles in salted water, grill chicken and dice (george foreman does this pretty quickly).

    Drain noodles. Mix sauce from jar and chicken with noodles into a casserole dish. Don’t worry about heating sauce, the noodles do this for you. Top with mozzarella cheese and put into the oven on broil just to melt the cheese.

    Serve.

    Depending on time of noodles and chicken, it usually takes 30-45 minutes. Completely worth it. My roommate requests this often.

    Add broccoli if you like!

    Reply

  7. I have one I make just about once a week that my family LOVES! I got it from Taste of Home ages ago, called Hamburger Fry Pan Supper. I love that I usually have these ingredients on hand and it's so quick:
    1 lb ground beef
    1 onion, chopped
    2 c green cabbage, shredded
    1 c carrots, sliced
    2 potatoes, thinly sliced
    1/2 c water
    lots of salt & pepper, LOTS!

    Brown meat, add everything else. Cover and simmer on med-low for 20 mins.
    This is so satisfying, a meal in itself, and tastes like a tin-foil dinner! My kids like to douse it with ketchup, but it's great with just a little butter.

    Reply

  8. I need more of these types of recipes…almost everyday is an “oh crap” day for me! This looks great, and I LOVE feta so I will definitely try it.

    Reply

  9. Thanks! I’m going to try it tonight. Honestly, my “oh crap” meals are usually something that you can eat for breakfast. Omelets, waffles, etc.

    Reply

  10. Whenever I have an “oh crap” meal, it usually involves pasta, heavy cream, basil (frozen in cubes, from trader joe’s) chicken breast, and whatever vegetable I have handy, broccoli, red pepper, etc. and garlic. It comes together in about 20 minutes, and looks pretty impressive.

    Reply

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