Creamy Baked Feta with Olives & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This baked feta appetizer is effortlessly elegant and bursting with bold Mediterranean flavors. All you need is a handful of ingredients—feta, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and dried herbs. Just bake everything together until the cheese is warm and creamy, then serve with toasted crostini or pita chips for a crowd-pleasing starter!

💫 Why You’ll Love It

Quick & Easy: Ready in just 25 minutes with almost zero prep.

Minimal Ingredients: You probably have most of them already!
Incredible Flavor: Creamy feta meets garlicky olive oil, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and briny olives.
Versatile: Serve as an appetizer or turn it into a pasta dinner!

🛒 Ingredients

8 oz block of feta cheese (preferably in brine)
1 cup pitted olives (green, Kalamata, or a mix)
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (preferably packed in oil)
⅓ cup olive oil (extra virgin is best)
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
½ tsp each: dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried rosemary
Kosher salt & cracked black pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley, for garnish
Sliced French bread or crostini, for serving

👩‍🍳 How to Make Baked Feta

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place feta in a small baking dish or rimmed sheet pan.
Add olives & sun-dried tomatoes around the cheese.
In a small bowl, mix olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over everything in the dish.
Bake for 20 minutes, then broil for 1–2 minutes until the cheese is golden on top.
Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm with crostini, crackers, or pita chips.

✅ Recipe Tips

Block feta in brine is ideal—it’s creamier and more flavorful. Drain well before using.
Crumble-free option: While crumbled feta technically works, the block has a better presentation and texture.
Not into olives? Swap them for grape tomatoes or roasted red peppers.
Want more flavor? Add a drizzle of honey, lemon zest, or red pepper flakes before serving.

🔁 Variations to Try

This dish is super flexible! Try adding:

A squeeze of lemon juice
A drizzle of honey
Red pepper flakes for heat
Capers for extra brine

Sliced red onion or shallot
Fresh herbs like thyme or basil

🍝 Want to Make It a Pasta Dish?

Turn this baked feta into dinner!

Cook your favorite pasta (penne, rotini, or spaghetti work great).
Reserve ½ cup pasta water.
After baking, stir the feta and toppings together, then mix in cooked pasta and a splash of pasta water to create a creamy sauce.

Season to taste and serve immediately!

🕒 Make-Ahead & Storage

Make-Ahead: Assemble the dish up to 2 hours in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Let it come to room temp before baking.

Leftovers: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until heated through.

❓ FAQ

Does feta melt in the oven?
Not exactly. Feta softens and becomes creamy, but it doesn’t melt like mozzarella. This recipe creates a spreadable, rich texture.

What’s the best feta to use?
Look for Greek feta in brine—it has the best flavor and softens beautifully when baked.

What can I pair with baked feta?
Serve it with toasted bread, pita chips, or crackers. It also pairs well with fresh veggies, hummus, or roasted nuts.

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📌 Baked Feta Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 8
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: Greek-inspired
Method: Oven

🧀 Ingredients

8 oz block feta
1 cup pitted olives
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes

⅓ cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
½ tsp oregano

½ tsp thyme
½ tsp rosemary
Kosher salt & black pepper

Fresh parsley for garnish
Crostini or bread for serving

🔪 Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Add feta to a small baking dish. Surround it with olives and sun-dried tomatoes.
Mix olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pour over feta and veggies.
Bake for 20 minutes. Broil for 1–2 minutes until golden.

Garnish with parsley and serve with crostini.