What makes this "Greek"?

We are using feta cheese and kalamata olives which are inherently Greek. This isn't a traditional Greek dish, it is more Greek or Mediterranean inspired.

Do I have to bake this Greek pasta?

No! If you don't want to bake the pasta once it is mixed with the vegetables, you don't have to. You do have to cook the vegetables before you add it to the pasta, but you can sauté those too instead of baking them.

Can I make this vegan?

Sure! Simply find a plant based cheese or omit the cheese altogether.

Greek Pasta Bake with Feta

Savor the rich flavors of the Mediterranean with our Greek Pasta Bake featuring crumbled feta cheese. This hearty dish combines al dente pasta with a delicious blend of tomatoes, olives, garlic, and eggplant, all baked to perfection.

A napkin is behind the baking dish with the Greek Pasta Bake in it and a portion is on a plate in front of the baking dish.

We all love a good pasta with meat sauce, but sometimes we just want to make a light pasta dish without any meat. This Greek Pasta Bake to the rescue! Just like my Greek Pasta Salad or my penne pomodoro, this easy pasta is made in under an hour and perfect for a meatless Monday dinner.

The creamy feta adds a delightful tanginess and a hint of salty goodness. Elevate your dinner table with this easy-to-make yet impressively flavorful Greek-inspired pasta bake.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
What is Greek Pasta Bake?
List of Ingredients in Greek Pasta Bake
Step by Step Instructions
Best Pasta To Use in This Greek Pasta Bake
Substitutions and Variations
Storage Tips
Greek Pasta Bake FAQs
More Pasta Recipes
📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's full of veggies! This pasta is a great way to get your kids to eat their veggies. It's loaded with eggplant, tomatoes, red onion, and celery.
It's a great make ahead meal! You can make this up to a day before you want to serve it, or you can make it up to 3 months in advance and then bake it when you are ready to enjoy it.
It's versatile! You can add whatever vegetables you would like and you can even add some ground beef or chicken to give the dish a little more protein.

What is Greek Pasta Bake?

This Greek pasta bake is a combination of roasted Mediterranean vegetables, feta and mozzarella cheese, and your favorite type of pasta. Though it is not traditionally Greek, it is Mediterranean and Greek inspired.

List of Ingredients in Greek Pasta Bake

The ingredients for Greek Pasta Bake are labeled.

Pasta. I used ziti in this recipe but you can use shells, rotini, penne, bucatini pasta, or whatever your family's favorite type of pasta is.
Olive Oil. This will help the veggies roast in the oven so they don't dry out. It will also help make the sauce that the pasta will be tossed with.
Vegetables. We will be using red onion, one large eggplant, garlic cloves, cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, and celery stalks.
Feta. Feta is classic in Greek recipes. It is a soft cheese that is slightly salty and oh-so good! I love using it in my Instant Pot feta pasta based on the viral Tiktok baked feta dish. You can also make it into a feta dip for dessert! It's really versatile! A kefalotyri cheese, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, or cheddar cheese can all be used in addition to feta or instead of feta. Crumbled feta or a block of feta that you crumble yourself can be used.

Step by Step Instructions

The vegetables are diced and added to a casserole dish. — **Step 1:** Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Chop the eggplant, red onion, and celery stalks. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

The tomatoes and olive oil are added to the dish. — **Step 2:** Add the grape tomatoes, olive oil, crushed garlic, and Italian seasoning to the baking dish. Season with salt and black pepper. Mix well. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the vegetables are golden brown.

The pasta is added to a large pot of water. — **Step 3:** While the vegetables cook, cook pasta according to package instructions over medium heat to medium-high heat. Make sure to salt the water well before adding the pasta.

The roasted vegetables are out of the oven. — **Step 4:** Remove the vegetables from the oven.

The feta is added to the baking dish. — **Step 5:** Add the feta and 1 cup of pasta water to the baking dish with the vegetables. Drain pasta.

The pasta is mixed into the baking dish. — **Step 6:** Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish and mix well with a wooden spoon. Top with more feta or mozzarella cheese if you would like. Bake for another 10-15 minutes and remove from the oven. Serve immediately.

Best Pasta To Use in This Greek Pasta Bake

Penne pasta is classic, but rotini, farfalle, or your family's favorite pasta can be used. You can also use a gluten free pastas or a chick pea pasta too if you are a gluten free family. You can even use a spaghetti like this baked spaghetti and meatballs if you family loves spaghetti.

Substitutions and Variations

For a deeper tomato flavor, add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and 2 cups of your favorite marinara sauce or tomato sauce into the casserole dish with the vegetables. This will also make a thicker, deeper sauce for this Greek pasta bake recipe.
Add a meat! Feel free to add some ground beef, ground chicken, ground lamb, ground turkey, or diced chicken to this recipe. It will up the protein and make it a more filling pasta dish for your family.
Add more veggies! Zucchini, yellow squash, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, or your family favorite veggies can all be added to the baking dish and roasted with the current vegetables.

Storage Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat leftovers in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave or reheat it in a baking dish in the oven.

Make Ahead Instructions

Make the recipe completely and cool unbaked casserole. Cover it with aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours before you would like to serve it. When you are ready to bake it, remove the aluminum foil and bake for 20-30 minutes.

How To Freeze Greek Pasta Bake

Make the Greek pasta bake completely and let it cool to room temperature. Cover it with aluminum foil and freeze it for up to 3 months. 24 hours before you are ready to serve it, place it in the refrigerator to defrost it. Top with feta or mozzarella cheese and bake for 20-30 minutes until it is heated through.