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These feta cheese recipes are the best ways to use this Greek cheese! Bake it, whip it, or crumble it onto veggies or pasta for big flavor.
There’s nothing more versatile of a flavoring than a block of feta cheese! This hard cheese is so intensely savory that adding just a few crumbles to food gives it a savory pop. Got a block of feta on your hands? It’s pure gold. There are endless uses: bake it up as an appetizer with tomatoes and Kalamata olives, whip it into a smooth puree for dipping, or sprinkle it onto salads and roasted veggies. There’s nothing that’s not better with a little feta!
What is feta cheese, exactly? Feta is a Greek cheese that is made from sheep’s milk and submerged in brine. Its flavor is tangy and salty, and it can range from fairly mild to very strong. Here are all the best ways to use this magical ingredient in your cooking!
And now…the best feta cheese recipes worth trying!
At the top of all feta cheese recipes: Baked Feta! This Greek-style appetizer is stunning and full of irresistible flavor. Baking feta in the oven with cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives and herbs makes it perfect for dipping pita or crusty bread. Bring on the Mediterranean flavor!
Ready to meet your new favorite feta cheese recipe? Because it’s ours! Meet whipped feta dip, the quickest and easiest appetizer that seems fancy but only takes 5 minutes to make. Yes, 5 minutes! Top this fluffy, creamy feta cheese dip with honey and eat it with warm flatbread. It's sure to wow everyone who tastes it!
Here's a feta cheese recipe that's simple, straightforward and flavorful: baked shrimp with feta! It features the perfect combination of tomatoes, feta, garlic and parsley with succulent shrimp. Simmer a simple tomato sauce with onion and garlic, then add the shrimp and bake until pink and tender. Garnish with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.
Lentils may just be the perfect food. They’re cheap, good for you, and packed with plant based protein. Here’s a top-notch lentil recipe to add to your arsenal, and man is it tasty. This fresh and healthy lentil salad is Mediterranean-style, mixed with fresh veggies, feta cheese and pistachios. It’s a delicious way to add protein to a vegetarian meal as a side dish, or bring to work as a lunch throughout the week.
What's better with a sprinkling of feta? Just about everything...including shakshuka! Shakshuka is a dish of eggs poached in a tomato sauce that originates from North Africa and the Middle East. Usually the tomato sauce includes onions and peppers, and is flavored with cumin and paprika. Today, shakshuka is eaten in countries from Tunisia to Israel to Morocco, and it’s gotten very popular in the US in restaurants! Try it for a stunning brunch or easy dinner.
Asparagus and feta are the perfect pairing. Try them in this asparagus salad recipe! It’s got savory sauteed asparagus, cooked up in a hot pan for a few minutes then spritzed with lemon. Add that to a bed of greens and sprinkle with with peppery radishes and salty feta cheese. A Dijon mustard dressing tops it off, perfectly balanced with tangy and savory notes. Even better: you can serve as a side dish, or add cooked quinoa and make it a main dish salad.
Here's a great feta cheese recipe that's perfect for summer: watermelon feta salad! Juicy sweet watermelon is the perfect pair with savory, salty feta cheese (really!). Other players? Cool cucumber, lemon zest and fresh basil. It's one of the most refreshing recipes to hit your plate! It takes only 10 minutes to throw together and is the perfect accessory to any barbecue or cookout.
Here's a unique feta cheese recipe...did you know you can use this salty cheese to make meatballs? This vegetarian meatballs recipe is a stunner, pairing spinach with feta and herbs, then baking the meatballs in the oven. They come out crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, perfect for pairing with spaghetti as a cozy meal.
Last up in these feta cheese recipes...pasta is always better with a little feta cheese! This pasta recipe stars bowtie pasta (farfalle) paired with Mediterranean-style flavors: fresh dill, feta cheese and lemon. It's a fantastic main dish recipe that works well for lunches or even as a pasta salad for potlucks.
Is feta cheese healthy?
Yes and no. Cheese is not technically considered a health food. But when it comes to cheeses, feta cheese is a bit healthier choice. Here are some notes about feta cheese nutrition benefits:
- Feta cheese is lower in calories and fat than cheeses like cheddar and Parmesan (source).
- Feta is a good source of Vitamin B and calcium.
- Feta has good bacteria that help support cut health (source).
- The downside of feta cheese is that it’s relatively high in sodium. So be sure to consume feta in moderation.
Another cheese that’s on the healthier side? Goat cheese! See our Top Goat Cheese Recipes for more.
Baked Feta Cheese (& More Recipes!)
This baked feta cheese is a simple Greek-inspired appetizer that’s ready in under 25 minutes. Serve with warm pita or crusty bread!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 4 as a small appetizer 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Greek inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 8 to 10 cherry tomatoes*
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 10 Kalamata olives
- 4 to 5 ounce block of feta cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and add a few pinches kosher salt. Finely mince the garlic. Chop the parsley.
- In a small oven-proof dish, place the tomatoes, garlic, parsley, and Kalamata olives, then top with the feta cheese. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the dried oregano.
- Bake for about 18 minutes, until the feta cheese is warm and soft. Serve immediately with crackers, pita, or bread.
Notes
*Note that the portion size is a modest appetizer for four. For a more substantial portion, the recipe is easily doubled.
So many misconceptions about “healthy” foods…so little time.
Imagine it’s 2021 and there are people that still think animal fat is unhealthy.
Salt’s “dangers” to diet are massively overblown as well.
The real danger to health is consuming (in the name of health ironically) heavily processed boxed foods full of chemicals that your body was never intended to ingest.
Just eat real, whole foods and not crap in a box and you’ll be fine.
Animal fat IS unhealthy. Don’t think you can find any medical/scientific evidence to the contrary unless you are reading some dog eared Atkins diet paperback.