Cozy Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Pasta Recipe

Creamy goat cheese pasta transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience that tantalizes taste buds.

Rich, velvety textures mingle with bright, zesty flavors in this simple yet sophisticated dish.

Mediterranean-inspired notes dance across the plate, promising a sensory journey through vibrant ingredients.

Fragrant herbs and delicate cheese weave a spell of comfort and elegance.

Quick preparation means you can enjoy restaurant-quality meals without complex techniques or endless chopping.

Simple pantry staples become something magical when combined with thoughtful technique and passion.

Why Goat Cheese Pasta Is So Comforting

• Burst with Flavor Explosion: Roasted cherry tomatoes and goat cheese create an incredible taste combination that transforms a simple pasta dish into a gourmet experience, releasing intense, tangy, and sweet notes in every single bite.
• Creamy Texture Magic: The melted goat cheese blends seamlessly with pesto, creating a luxurious, silky sauce that coats each pasta strand perfectly, delivering a smooth and rich mouthfeel without heavy cream.
• Quick Weeknight Wonder: This recipe takes just 45 minutes from start to finish, making it an ideal solution for busy home cooks who want restaurant-quality meals without spending hours in the kitchen, with minimal prep and straightforward baking technique.
• One-Dish Simplicity: Using a single baking dish minimizes cleanup, allows ingredients to roast together naturally, and creates a beautiful presentation that goes directly from oven to table.

Ingredients That Make Goat Cheese Pasta Special

• Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet, juicy base for the sauce with vibrant roasted flavor.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that adds depth and pungent taste to the dish.
• Shallot: Mild onion flavor that provides subtle sweetness and complexity.
• Fresh Basil Leaves: Bright, herbaceous garnish that adds color and fresh flavor.

• Oregano: Earthy Mediterranean herb that enhances tomato and cheese flavors.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Provides gentle heat and subtle spiciness to the pasta.
• Black Pepper: Adds warm, sharp seasoning to balance the creamy elements.
• Kosher Salt: Essential for seasoning and enhancing overall dish taste.

• Goat Cheese: Creamy, tangy centerpiece that creates rich sauce when melted.
• Pesto: Herb-based sauce that adds complexity and additional herbal notes.
• Olive Oil: High-quality fat for roasting and creating smooth sauce texture.
• Pasta: Classic base that absorbs and complements the roasted tomato sauce.

How to Make Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta at Home

Step 1: Prepare the Kitchen

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Fill a large pot with water and add a generous amount of salt. Set up your cooking workspace with all ingredients ready.

Step 2: Create Tomato Base

• Cherry tomatoes
• Sliced garlic
• Chopped shallot
• Dried oregano
• Red pepper flakes

• Salt
• Black pepper

Toss ingredients until evenly coated. Place whole goat cheese in the center and drizzle with of olive oil.

Step 3: Roast Tomato Mixture

Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven. Roast for 22-25 minutes until tomatoes develop a beautiful blistered surface and goat cheese starts to melt.

Step 4: Cook Pasta Perfectly

While tomatoes are roasting, cook pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, carefully scoop out of pasta water and set aside.

Step 5: Create Creamy Sauce

Remove baking dish from oven. Add pesto to the roasted tomato and goat cheese mixture. Gently stir and break up the goat cheese to create a luscious, creamy sauce. Slowly incorporate reserved pasta water to achieve desired sauce consistency.

Step 6: Final Toss and Serve

Add cooked pasta to the sauce, ensuring every strand is generously coated. Garnish with fresh torn basil leaves. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy the vibrant, creamy flavors.

Tip: For extra richness, sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese on top before serving.

Smart Tips for Goat Cheese Pasta Night

• Capture Creamy Texture: Gently fold goat cheese into hot pasta to create a silky, luxurious sauce that coats every noodle perfectly.
• Balance Herb Intensity: Chop basil leaves just before adding to preserve their bright, fresh flavor and prevent wilting.
• Control Pasta Moisture: Reserve a splash of starchy cooking water to adjust sauce consistency, ensuring a smooth and glossy finish.
• Prevent Cheese Burning: Remove baking dish from oven when tomatoes are slightly charred and goat cheese looks softly melted, avoiding dry or tough textures.
• Layer Flavors Strategically: Start with roasted tomatoes as a base, then sprinkle crumbled goat cheese, allowing natural heat to create a dreamy, integrated taste experience.

How to Store Goat Cheese Pasta Without Clumping

• Vacuum Seal Method: Preserve the pasta's freshness by using a vacuum sealer. Remove excess air to prevent moisture and freezer burn, maintaining the goat cheese pasta's original texture and flavor for up to 3 months.
• Glass Container Storage: Transfer the cooled pasta into airtight glass containers with secure lids. These containers prevent odor absorption, keep the dish fresh, and make reheating simple by going directly from refrigerator to microwave.
• Portioning Technique: Divide the pasta into individual serving sizes before storing. Pack each portion in separate containers for convenient grab-and-go meals, reducing waste and ensuring quick, easy reheating without compromising taste or quality.

Twist Your Goat Cheese Pasta with These Variations

• Spicy Pepper Paradise: Replace red pepper flakes with diced jalapeños or serrano peppers for an intense heat kick. Add chopped fresh cilantro at the end for a zesty Mexican-inspired flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Garden Fusion: Swap pesto with sun-dried tomato paste and incorporate kalamata olives. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese alongside goat cheese to enhance the Mediterranean essence.
• Herbal Green Dream: Use fresh herb mixture like thyme, rosemary, and parsley instead of oregano. Replace goat cheese with ricotta and mix in chopped spinach leaves for a vibrant green color and nutritional boost.
• Roasted Vegetable Symphony: Add zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant cubes to the tomato mixture before baking. Incorporate a splash of balsamic vinegar for deeper, richer caramelized vegetable flavors.

Goat Cheese Pasta That Feels Like a Warm Hug

Pioneer Woman’s Goat Cheese Pasta emerges as culinary magic that transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece.

Mediterranean sunshine radiates through blistered cherry tomatoes and creamy goat cheese, creating an irresistible sensory experience.

Pesto adds emerald complexity while fresh basil introduces a delicate herbal whisper.

Culinary adventurers will discover this recipe offers more than mere sustenance – it delivers pure gastronomic poetry.

Italian-inspired comfort meets contemporary kitchen creativity in each delectable forkful.

Passionate palates, share this sensational recipe, comment with your twist, and spread deliciousness across social media platforms.

Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Pasta Recipe

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4.5 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Goat cheese pasta delivers creamy Mediterranean comfort with simple, elegant ingredients. Italian-inspired herbs and tangy goat cheese create a luxurious dinner you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) campanelle pasta (or other shaped pasta)
• 8 ounces (226 grams) goat cheese, in a log
• 2 pints (680 grams) cherry tomatoes

Herb and Spice Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) fresh oregano leaves (or 1 tablespoon dried oregano)
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) crushed red pepper flakes
• 6 to 8 basil leaves, torn, for garnish
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) basil pesto (preferably homemade)
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced

Seasoning and Oil:

• Kosher salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) olive oil, divided

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Instructions

1. Fire up the oven to 425°F (220°C) and simultaneously prepare a generously salted large pot of water for the pasta.
2. Assemble the roasting vessel by scattering cherry tomatoes, finely sliced garlic, delicate shallot pieces, fragrant oregano, and fiery red pepper flakes. Lavish 2 tablespoons of olive oil across the ingredients, sprinkling 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Thoroughly toss to ensure even coating. Nestle the goat cheese centrally and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil.
3. Slide the dish into the heated oven, roasting for 22 to 25 minutes until tomatoes transform into blistered jewels and goat cheese softens luxuriously.
4. During tomato roasting, cook pasta in boiling water following package instructions until perfectly al dente. Carefully reserve 1/2 cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
5. Extract the roasted dish, introducing pesto to the molten tomato and cheese landscape. Gently fold ingredients, delicately breaking goat cheese to create a silky sauce. Incrementally incorporate reserved pasta water to achieve desired creamy texture. Fold cooked pasta thoroughly, ensuring complete sauce coverage. Finish by scattering torn fresh basil leaves as a vibrant garnish.

Notes

• Grab top-quality goat cheese that melts smoothly and offers rich, tangy flavor for an authentic dish.
• Reserve about half a cup of starchy pasta water before draining, which acts like magic sauce glue when mixing ingredients.
• Roast cherry tomatoes until they’re slightly blistered and caramelized, enhancing their natural sweetness and concentrating their deep flavor.
• Chop fresh basil leaves right before adding them to maintain maximum aromatic intensity and bright green color.
• Toss pasta gently to prevent breaking delicate noodles and ensure even coating with creamy goat cheese sauce.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg