Description
This One-Pot Greek Gyro Pasta Bake combines tender ground lamb, aromatic spices, and penne pasta topped with a creamy Greek yogurt sauce and melted feta cheese, baked to golden perfection. It’s a flavorful and hearty meal inspired by traditional Greek gyro flavors, perfect for a satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Meat
- 300 g penne pasta
- 400 g ground lamb
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 200 ml Greek yogurt
- 100 ml milk
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
Add-ins and Topping
- 200 g cherry tomatoes, halved
- 80 g sliced black olives
- 120 g crumbled feta cheese
- Extra feta cheese or shredded mozzarella for topping
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 190°C to prepare for baking the pasta dish.
- Sauté Aromatics and Lamb: In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until softened and fragrant. Add the ground lamb along with ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper, cooking thoroughly until the lamb is well browned.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the penne pasta in salted water for 6 minutes until slightly undercooked (al dente). Drain the pasta well and set it aside for combining.
- Prepare Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, milk, lemon juice, grated and thoroughly squeezed cucumber, chopped fresh dill, and a pinch of salt. Stir until the sauce is smooth and well incorporated.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the par-cooked penne, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, and crumbled feta cheese to the browned lamb mixture. Pour the prepared yogurt sauce over everything and toss gently but thoroughly to ensure an even coating.
- Top and Bake: Spread the combined mixture evenly in the skillet or pot. Top with extra crumbled feta or shredded mozzarella cheese. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
- Garnish and Serve: Once baked, garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your Greek-inspired pasta bake.
Notes
- Make sure to slightly undercook the pasta as it will continue cooking in the oven, preventing it from becoming mushy.
- Grate and thoroughly squeeze the cucumber to remove excess moisture so the sauce doesn’t become watery.
- Use an oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven for an easy one-pot meal without transferring between dishes.
- You can substitute ground lamb with ground beef or chicken for a different protein option.
- Add extra fresh herbs like mint or oregano to enhance the gyro flavor profile.
