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This Easy Baked Feta Recipe is the perfect appetizer for a crowd. A block of feta cheese is baked with cherry tomatoes, olive oil and fresh herbs. You will love the creamy, tangy feta paired with the sweet tomatoes. Serve with crostini, baguette or pita chips!
If you have been hanging around here for a while you know I love feta cheese and I love an easy appetizer.
Today I am sharing one of my favorite mediterranean recipes for this Easy Baked Feta Recipe. I love making this creamy spread when I am having a get together. It comes together so easily but is beautiful and delicious. It pairs great alongside a greek salad or grilled greek chicken.
A warm block of cow’s milk feta cheese is roasted with cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs. The flavors work so nicely together and make a nice dip with crostini or pita chips.
It is also a great way to use up an abundance of tomatoes along with this Goat Cheese and Roasted Tomatoes Dip, these Oven Roasted Tomatoes or these Marinated Tomatoes.
I use feta it in so many recipes like this Lemon Whipped Feta Dip, Chickpea Pasta with Feta, Tomato Cucumber Feta Quinoa Salad to these Roasted Carrots with Pistachios and Feta.
Recipe Ingredients
See full list of ingredients below in recipe card with exact measurements.
- Feta Cheese: I suggest using a block of cow’s milk feta cheese in brine. I love a good creamy feta for recipes like this one.
- Cherry Tomatoes: I like to use cherry tomatoes. You can cut them in halve if you like.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil helps bring out the flavor in the tomatoes and feta as they roast. You can also finish the dip off with a drizzle of olive oil after it bakes.
- Spices: I used dried oregano, basil and thyme. You can add crushed red pepper for extra spice.
- Fresh Herbs: I like to finish this dish off with fresh oregano and parsley.
- Lemon Zest: Lemon zest is optional but adds a nice sweet citrus flavor.
Recipe Modifications
- If you like a touch of sweetness try a drizzle of honey on the finished baked feta dip.
- Lemon zest would be a great way to garnish this dip after it cooks and add some sweet citrus flavor.
- I like to serve this with crostini but it would work great with baguette, pita crackers, regular crackers or pita chips.
- Try adding other ingredients like garlic cloves, green olive, kalamata olives, banana peppers or sun-dried tomatoes.
How Do You Make This Easy Baked Feta Appetizer
Step 1. Mix Tomatoes and Olive Oil: In a medium mixing bowl put the cherry tomatoes and mix with the 2 Tablespoons olive oil.
Step 2. Add Tomatoes and Feta to the Baking Dish: Add the tomatoes in an oven safe dish. Nestle the block of feta cheese into the tomatoes.
Step 3. Brush Feta with Oil: Brush the feta with 1 Tablespoon of olive oil making sure to cover it completely with the olive oil.
Step 4. Add Spices: Sprinkle the dried oregano, basil, thyme, crushed red pepper and lemon zest over the feta and tomatoes.
Step 5. Bake the Feta: Put the baking dish in the oven and baked for 20-25 minutes or until the tomatoes are just starting to burst and the feta is warm.
Step 6. Remove the Feta: Remove and add the fresh parsley, fresh thyme, red pepper flakes and oregano. Serve warm with crostini, crusty bread or pita chips.
Storage Tips
Store the leftover dip in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat you can heat in a skillet or in the oven.
Recipe FAQ
I suggest using a block of feta in brine when making this recipe. Drain the brine and rub the feta with a small amount of olive oil. You could also use crumbled feta cheese but I suggest whipping the feta in a mixer for about 2 minutes and spreading it in a baking dish next to the tomatoes like in this Goat Cheese and Roasted Tomato Dip recipe.
I find that using cherry tomatoes works best in this recipe but you can use any tomato mixture you like. If you use larger tomatoes I suggest chopping them so they are easier to eat with the dip.
You might notice that after you roast the tomatoes with the feta cheese there might be some excess water in the dish from the tomatoes. You can drain some of that out of the dish before serving if you want to.
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Easy Baked Feta Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 8 ounce feta cheese, do not crumble the cheese
- Salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, {optional}
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, {optional}
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a medium mixing bowl put the cherry tomatoes and mix with the 2 Tablespoons olive oil. Add the tomatoes in an oven safe dish. Nestle the block of feta cheese into the tomatoes.
- Brush the feta with 1 Tablespoon of olive oil making sure to cover it competely with the olive oil. Sprinkle the dried oregano, basil, thyme, crushed red pepper and lemon zest over the feta and tomatoes.
- Put the baking dish in the oven and baked for 20-25 minutes or until the tomatoes are just starting to burst and the feta is warm. Remove and add the fresh parsley and oregano. Serve warm with crostini, baguette or pita chips.
Notes
- You can put the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. When reheating put back in an oven safe dish and slowly heat in the oven until warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Today’s post is sponsored by the American Dairy Association Mideast. As always, opinions are 100% my own.
What ingredients do use to brine the feta cheese?
I usually buy feta in brine but if you can’t find that then any block of feta cheese will work. I haven’t tried to brine my own.
Lots of tomatoes.
You can cut the tomatoes in half- just use whatever works for you. It will taste great either way.