Favorite Baked Feta Dip With Tomatoes, Peppers And Olives
on Nov 26, 2020, Updated Feb 23, 2023
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Did you know you can bake feta…. and make it into an effortless hot baked feta dip? Throw a whole block into the oven with Mediterranean vegetables and flavours and 30 minutes later you’ll have a virtually effortless but incredibly delicious dish. You could say it’s like a warm Greek salad, and it makes a delicious shared appetizer, lunch, or side!
Every once in a while, I make a new recipe that I know I’ll make again and again (and again). It gets the seal of approval from my ‘chief testers’ aka Mr. Scrummy and our son. It’s also easy enough and yet impressive enough to serve to guests.
This Greek chicken and potatoes falls into that category. As do these mind blowing crispy halloumi fries. Oh, and this 6-ingredient Swedish chocolate cake. They just… work.
You know what I’m going to say now. This Greek baked feta dip is a firm family favourite, too. It’s an idea I fall back on often for very good reasons.
What is baked feta?
If you’ve ever been to Greece, you may have eaten various versions of cooked feta cheese.
The dish that my recipe is based on is called ‘bouyiourdi’ in Greece. I’ve eaten it there and it’s delicious but usually it’s very heavy on the feta and not so heavy on the veggies.
This is most definitely inspired by my time living in Greece. But to make it into a more filling and versatile dish I wanted to massively increase the amount of tomatoes, peppers, onions and olives.
Why you’ll love it
- It’s versatile. This baked feta dip can be a fancy shared appetizer for a nibbles and drinks sort of occasion. Or an easy lunch.. Or even an easy side dish.
- It’s quick and easy. We’re talking VERY easy. Throw everything in a dish and bake for 30 minutes sort of easy.
- It’s incredibly delicious. In my opinion of course. But if you like Greek salads then you’ll like this too. You could say it’s a warm Greek salad!
- You can prepare it ahead. Always a bonus when preparing food for guests.
About the ingredients
This is one of those recipes that hardly needs a recipe, if you know what I mean. After you’ve made a baked feta cheese dip couple of times you’ll probably feel comfortable not worrying about exact amounts.
feta cheese: As this is the star of the show in this recipe, I like to buy good quality feta cheese for the dip. Preferably Greek. You’ll need a thick slice. Or two thick slices for a slightly bigger crowd. Don’t buy ‘Danish feta’, which is delicious too but a bit too soft and creamy for this recipe.
cherry tomatoes: Just slice in half and throw them in!
peppers: 1 medium sized pepper is about right. I like to use half a green pepper and half a red to make the dish more colourful.
onion: Just a 1/4 to 1/2 a medium sliced onion is enough.
Kalamata olives: Around 15 as a general guide. Just slice and throw them in. Or throw them in whole – it’s up to you!
olive oil and dried oregano: Toss everything apart from the feta in a generous amount of olive oil and oregano. It’ll combine with the veggies to make the most delicious juices to mop up with toast.
paprika: For sprinkling over the whole dish before baking.
How to make it
Apart from how crazy delicious it is, the best thing about this baked feta dip recipe is how easy it is to make.
You could virtually make it blind-folded.
See how easy it is? Slice the cherry tomatoes in half – if you like – then roughly chop the peppers and onion.
Toss plenty of olive oil and dried oregano through. Then nestle a whole block of quality feta cheese in the middle.
Scatter with paprika and a bit more olive oil, then bake for about 30 minutes or until bubbling and starting to brown.
How to serve
Yep, looks and sounds delicious, I hear you Mediterranean food lovers thinking. But is it an appetizer, a baked feta dip, party dish, lunch, side dish or dinner?
Would you believe me if I said it could be any one of the above?
My favourite way to serve Greek baked feta cheese dip is as a shared appetizer or as part of a buffet style meal. I prefer to give everyone their own plate and throw a big spoon in the dish so everyone can serve themselves.
It’s important to serve it immediately. Preferably with a big plate of these 2-minute olive oil toasts. Or if you have some extra time, you won’t regret making a loaf of this traditional Greek bread (it’s SO easy)!
Or air fryer pita chips! (If you have an air fryer. If not, just bake instead!)
When it’s just out of the oven the squidgy warm feta is perfect for smooshing onto the toast with some of the roasted Mediterranean vegetables. Don’t forget to mop up the amazing juices!
You can also serve this oven baked feta dish like this:
- as a lunch for 2, or for 4 if you double it and serve in a bigger dish. Add crispy smashed lemon potatoes on the side (air fry or bake).
- for dinner with a simple meat, fish or veggie protein. Try chicken kabobs in the oven!
- as a BBQ side dish.
- as a kind of feta dip at a party.
- with wine (or ouzo!) and nibbles outside on a warm summer evening.
- stirred through pasta! Have you seen the viral Tiktok trend? I hadn’t until after I first posted this recipe, but I think it’s a fabulous idea. Scroll down a little for more details.
It’s a pretty simple idea, right? But it tastes as good as if you’d slaved over a hot stove for hours!
As the examples above show, you can serve it for several occasions. But here’s my top recommendation:
Step 1: Wherever in the world you are, wait for a setting sun on a nice day.
Step 2: Grab a friend or loved one.
Step 3: Sit outside on a veranda or in a garden and enjoy this delicious baked feta with a glass of chilled wine (or ouzo!).
Make it into TikTok pasta
There’s one more thing you can do with this dish…
Shortly after posting this recipe, a viral Tiktok baked feta pasta started doing the rounds!
I’m not usually one to jump on the bandwagon, but in this case I’ll make an exception. It’s a fabulous idea!
All you have to do is cook some pasta (I like penne or similar, but any pasta works). When it’s ready, mash up the baked feta right in the dish. Then stir it through the hot pasta, serve and enjoy!
If you like this recipe, you might also like these baked feta filo pies with honey! Or try a cold and spicy Greek feta dip instead (also delicious!).
More Mediterranean inspired family favourites to try
- No apologies for spamming you with these incredible Greek potatoes. Wow guests with them or make them as a midweek treat to go with whatever you have in the fridge.
- This is our favourite Greek baked eggplant with tomatoes and feta. It goes especially well with meatballs!
- This baked Greek chicken and potatoes is another staple in our house. Always serve with a traditional Greek salad and tzatziki!
- This spinach and feta filo pie makes a perfect lunch for guests. Or for a much easier version, these spinach and feta quesadillas make a perfect appetizer to share, or ‘treat’ lunch.
Favorite Baked Feta Dip With Tomatoes, Peppers And Olives
Ingredients
- 3.5 ounces feta cheese, (Try to buy an entire thick slice – I prefer Greek)
- 9 ounces cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- ½ red pepper, sliced into smallish strips
- ½ green pepper, sliced into smallish strips (or just use 1 green or red pepper)
- ¼ medium onion, (¼ to ½) sliced thinly
- 15 Kalamata olives, stoned and chopped in half (or leave whole but buy stoned olives)
- ½ tablespoon dried oregano
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus a little extra
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 190C/375F. Put the tomato halves, pepper pieces, onion and olives into a small to medium baking dish (around 8 inch x 8 inch or similar).
- Sprinkle over the oregano and pour over the olive oil. Mix well.
- Clear a gap in the middle of the vegetables. Nestle the block of feta in it.
- Sprinkle the whole dish with the paprika and some black pepper (to taste). Drizzle the top of the cheese with a little more olive oil.
- Bake for 30 minutes until the vegetables are starting to bubble and brown and the feta is soft.
- Serve immediately with fresh toasted bread (everyone serves themselves onto individual plates).
After your experience at the supermarket I’ll bet it felt really good to sit down and enjoy this lovely dish. And yes, simple is always good 🙂
If a bad supermarket trip is pretty much all I have to complain about and then I get to eat something so beautifully simple as this, then I guess I’m not doing too badly! Thanks for passing by and commenting, Christina. 🙂
Feta and olives and tomato are my favourite combination right now! This looks beyond delicious. Such gorgeous photos!
Thank you, Sam, that’s so sweet of you to say! If you like Greek salad, you’ll love this, I promise you. Thanks for passing by, too!
Despite the madness, I think I could live in that market on olives and feta alone. These are some of my favorite flavors!
Thanks, Erin, and thank you too for passing by and reading! I know what you mean about these flavours together. They just WORK!
oh wow, this is a must try! I had some Mediterranean veg for dinner tonight and WISH I had some baked feta to go with it. I’ll remember it for the future 🙂
It’s sooo worth the ‘effort’, Aimee, even if you don’t have all of the ingredients. It’s really delicious!
Foreign supermarkets are my favorite! I feel like grocery shopping is always a “to-do” no matter where I go because it’s fascinating to see the kinds of things they have and sell. It usually ends up actually making me quite sad, because I know how prevalent it is in other countries to still have a cheese shop, a fishmonger, a bakery, a butcher, etc and with our superstore conglomerates, that is lost here. I’d take your grocery store any day, crazy grannies and all!
I know what you mean, Chrissy. I actually enjoy having a good look around foreign supermarkets, too. Also, when I go back to the UK now I actually feel almost a little overwhelmed by how much choice there is. Somehow simple but fresh feels better!
Hi Helen, Had myself a chuckle reading about your shopping experience. This baked feta looks divine and would be great to share with friends. Happy week-end to you!
Hehe … I could tell you so many more supermarket stories! This sure is a great ‘bonding with friends’ appetizer, as is much Greek food. Hope you have a great weekend, too!
Feta is one of my fettishes. (is that a word?) Anyway, I love this, and I want to try baked feta.
I hope you do try it, Norma. I think I could eat some of this every day!
Haha Helen, I love easy recipes and I always am drawn in when someone says this is easy. I know it will be up my alley 😀 This looks delicious! I love feta and it sounds like a perfect combination with fresh baked bread!
Thanks, Cindy! I think this would be up anyone who loves feta’s alley!
I can never resist some good authentic feta! This baked version sounds absolutely delicious!!
Thank you, Joanne! It really is good and I hope you try it some time. Enjoy your weekend!
Helen, this looks delicious! I love Greek food and reading your article I didn’t enjoy the supermarkets in Greece either! Whenever we’re on holiday in Greece we always buy the fresh feta cheese, and make a Greek salad with some crusty bread. So good, always recreate it in the Summer back here in the UK. 🙂
Haha! I was trying not to be too rude but I couldn’t help not poking just a little bit of fun at those ‘dedicated’ ladies! I could literally eat Greek salads every day, but this is a perfect winter alternative!