Description
This Baked Feta Chickpeas recipe is a delicious and easy Mediterranean-inspired dish combining roasted cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and creamy feta cheese. Pop the tomatoes until juicy, add warm chickpeas and garlic, then bake with feta until soft and bubbly. Finished with fresh basil and toasted bread for a perfect cozy meal or appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Legumes
- 16 oz. cherry tomatoes, stemmed, washed
- 1 (14.5-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Oils & Seasonings
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper
Dairy
- 1 (4″ x 3″) block feta (about 8 oz.)
Garnish & Serving
- Fresh basil leaves, for topping
- Toasted bread, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare Ingredients: Arrange a rack in the center of your oven and preheat it to 400°F (200°C). In a 13″ x 9″ baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, finely chopped garlic, olive oil, kosher salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste and gently toss everything together so the ingredients are coated evenly.
- Roast Tomatoes and Chickpeas: Place the baking dish in the oven and roast for about 15 minutes, or until the cherry tomatoes burst and start releasing their juicy liquid, creating a flavorful base. This initial roasting softens the chickpeas and infuses the garlic into the mix.
- Prepare the Feta Cheese: While the tomatoes roast, slice the feta cheese block lengthwise into four planks, each approximately 3/4 inch thick. This shape helps the feta soften evenly and blend with the bursting tomatoes.
- Add Feta and Continue Roasting: Nestle the feta planks gently into the tomato and chickpea mixture, then drizzle a little more olive oil over the top. Return the baking dish to the oven and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes until the feta softens and the tomatoes are fully saucy and bursting.
- Broil for Blistering: Remove the dish from the oven and switch your oven to broil. Place the baking dish under the broiler and watch closely as the feta and tomatoes blister and brown slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes. This step adds a lovely caramelized flavor and texture to the dish.
- Garnish and Serve: Take the dish out of the oven, top with fresh basil leaves for a bright, herbal finish, and serve immediately with toasted bread on the side to scoop up the delicious, cheesy tomato chickpea mixture.
Notes
- You can substitute cherry tomatoes with grape tomatoes if preferred.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your heat tolerance.
- Use gluten-free bread to make this dish gluten-free.
- For a dairy-free version, swap feta for a vegan cheese alternative.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently in the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: baked feta, chickpeas, tomato feta bake, Mediterranean appetizer, easy vegetarian recipe, roasted cherry tomatoes, feta cheese
