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Kale and Feta One Pot Pasta is a healthy, quick, and easy pasta dinner! Kale never tasted SO GOOD! Combine all ingredients into the pot and walk away.
One Pot Pasta With Kale And Feta Cheese
Say hello to effortless cooking and a satisfying, healthy meal that will become a family favorite, and get ready to simplify your weeknight dinners with our Kale and Feta One Pot Pasta! This recipe offers a quick and delicious solution for those busy evenings when you crave a wholesome meal without the fuss. Fresh kale, cherry tomatoes, and fettuccine come together in a single pot, tossed in a garlicky parmesan cream sauce that elevates every bite, with crumbled Feta cheese for that perfect finishing touch. It’s not just a dish; it’s a dinner game-changer.
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Pasta
- Easy Prep: This recipe is incredibly easy and quick to make, perfect for those busy days when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Healthy Twist: It offers a healthy twist on traditional pasta dishes. With the inclusion of kale, you get the nutritional benefits of fresh greens while still enjoying a comforting pasta meal.
- One-Pot Wonder: The beauty of a one-pot meal is evident here; you combine all the ingredients in one pot, reducing prep and cleanup time. It’s a hassle-free cooking experience.
How To Make One Pot Pasta
This Kale and Feta One-Pot Pasta works because it’s easy, healthy, flavorful, and customizable. It’s a great addition to your recipe repertoire for both everyday meals and special occasions.
Ingredients For The Pasta
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the kale leaves.
- Kale Leaves: Provide a hearty and nutritious base, adding texture and a dose of green goodness.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Bring a burst of juicy sweetness and vibrant color to the pasta.
- Fettuccine Pasta
- Garlic
- Feta Cheese: Provides a creamy and tangy contrast to the dish, delivering that distinctive cheese flavor.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Drizzled at the end to enhance the dish’s richness and flavor.
- Salt & Pepper
Directions
- Heat Olive Oil: Begin by heating olive oil in a stockpot.
- Sauté Kale: Add kale leaves and salt, sautéing briefly to wilt the leaves.
- Add Ingredients: Combine water, halved tomatoes, pasta, garlic, salt, and pepper in the pot.
- Bring to a Boil: Increase heat to bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until pasta is tender and water has reduced.
- Rest and Drizzle: Remove from heat and let it rest briefly. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
- Add Feta: Stir in crumbled Feta cheese and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve: Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips For Making The Best One Pot Pasta
- Stir Occasionally: While simmering the pasta, give it an occasional stir to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Cooking Time: Keep an eye on the pasta’s cooking time, as it can vary depending on the brand and thickness. It’s best to check for doneness to avoid overcooking.
- Customize: For extra flavor and variety, add other ingredients like sautéed mushrooms, olives, or spinach.
- Feta Cheese: Since Feta cheese is naturally salty, start with a small amount when adding it to the dish. You can always add more later to suit your taste.
- Fresh Herbs: Consider adding fresh herbs at the end of cooking for a burst of flavor and a finishing touch.
- Serve Promptly: These dishes are best served immediately while they’re hot and the flavors are at their peak.
What To Serve With Pasta
- Salad: A fresh salad, like my tomato and cucumber salad, provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of pasta dishes.
- Grilled or Roasted Vegetables: Serve a side of grilled or roasted vegetables like asparagus, zucchini, or bell peppers for a healthy and colorful pairing.
- Meat or Seafood: Complement your pasta with grilled honey mustard chicken, Italian sausage, air fryer meatballs, or seafood like shrimp or mussels for a protein-packed meal.
- Soup: For a complete meal, serve this pasta dish with curried butternut squash soup or my bouillabaisse soup.
More One Pot Pasta Recipes
- One-Pot Caprese Pasta
- Creamy Tomato One Pot Pasta
- Creamy Lemon One Pot Pasta
- One Pot Ziti With Andouille Sausage
More Kale Recipes
- Green Kale Smoothie
- Smoked Sausage Kale And Potato Soup
- Crunchy Kale Quinoa Salad
- Black Eyed Peas Soup
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Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 to 8 cups packed fresh kale leaves,, roughly chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4½ cups water
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes,, halved
- 12 ounces Fettuccine Pasta
- 3 cloves garlic,, minced
- salt and fresh ground black pepper,, to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a cooking pot. Add kale leaves and salt; cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add water, halved tomatoes, pasta, garlic, salt and pepper. Set over high heat and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and continue to cook for 13 to 15 minutes, or until pasta is thoroughly cooked and water reduced. Stir occasionally.
- Remove from heat and let stand for 2 minutes. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and stir in crumbled feta cheese.
- Taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Stir: While the pasta simmers, stir it now and then to prevent it from sticking and to ensure uniform cooking.
- Monitor: Keep a close watch on the pasta’s cooking time, which may differ depending on the brand and thickness.
- Personalize Your Dish: Make this meal your own by incorporating additional ingredients like sautéed mushrooms, olives, or spinach.
- Serve Promptly: Pasta dishes are most enjoyable when served immediately.
- Storage: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can reheat them gently in a microwave or on the stovetop.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
SO good! Cooked this on Sunday and have been eating it all week! Wonderful side dish when you need some carbs. I used rice pasta instead of regular pasta, very yummy and delicious!
I’m getting ready to make the kale-feta pasta dish. Is it 8 or 16 ounces of pasta???
Hi! Thank you for the question! I recently changed the plugin that I use for recipes and it looks like some things didn’t quite translate correctly. :-/ That’s supposed to be 12 ounces dry/uncooked fettuccine. Again, thanks for catching that and letting me know!!
This is delicious!
I added a little chicken base to the water for more flavor. I also substituted a little dry white wine for some of the water. When it was done, I stirred in some sliced grilled chicken and topped with fresh basil and parmesan cheese. Super good!
OH YUMMMMM! Thanks so much for sharing your tips!!
Yum! Next time I would wait to stir in the tomatoes so they hold their form a bit more. Also, I recommend adding a little crumbled bacon… protein, right?
I LOVE the bacon idea!! Thanks so much, Emma! Happy to know that you enjoyed it!!
I’m pretty sure there’s a typo in this recipe. It’s 16oz of pasta.
have you using other types of pasta?
Hi Marcia! Yes, I’ve used spaghetti, bow tie pasta, and I’ve used penne pasta.
https://diethood.com/creamy-lemon-one-pot-pasta/
https://diethood.com/one-pot-caprese-pasta-dinner/
https://diethood.com/creamy-tomato-one-pot-pasta/
do you have the nutritional breakdown for this? thanks in advance
Hi Kelly! I just added the complete nutritional value at the bottom of the recipe: https://diethood.com/kale-feta-one-pot-pasta/
THANK YOU!
I don’t have any feta on hand, what other cheese would work?
Hi Erin! Do you have blue cheese or gorgonzola? Soft, crumbly cheeses work best with this dish. I hope that helps!
I made this dish last night and it was AMAZING! Now I’m just wondering how it all breaks down per serving…do you have any nutritional info to go along with this? Thanks so much for the tasty recipe that will now be a staple in my house!
So you do not drain the water after you boil the pasta? Does the left over liquid make a sauce then?
Hi Nicole!! The water will mostly evaporate as it cooks. If by any chance there is a bit of water left, which there shouldn’t be, but if there is, just drain it out. The kale, tomatoes and feta will add to the flavors of the pasta so you won’t need any other sauce to enjoy it.