Description
A simple and delicious baked feta pasta recipe that combines creamy feta and roasted tomatoes to create a flavorful Mediterranean-inspired dish, ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 7 oz (200g) block of feta cheese
- 2 cups (300g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni recommended)
- A handful (about 10g) fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Mince garlic and halve cherry tomatoes.
- Place the block of feta in the center of an oven-safe baking dish, surrounded by the tomatoes.
- Drizzle olive oil generously over the feta and tomatoes. Sprinkle minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper on top.
- Bake for 25 minutes until tomatoes burst and feta is golden and creamy.
- While baking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
- Remove feta and tomatoes from oven and mash together with a spoon or spatula to create a creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Toss cooked pasta into the baking dish with the sauce and mix until well coated. Add spinach or arugula now if using, to wilt with residual heat.
- Sprinkle chopped fresh basil over the top and gently toss. Serve immediately, optionally with extra olive oil and red pepper flakes.
Notes
[‘Use a block of feta cheese, not crumbled, for a creamy sauce.’, ‘Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.’, ‘Do not overbake to avoid drying out the feta or underbaking so tomatoes break down properly.’, ‘Fresh basil adds brightness and a fresh finish.’, ‘Optional add-ins include spinach, arugula, kalamata olives, cooked chicken, or sausage.’, ‘Reheat leftovers gently on stovetop with a splash of olive oil or water to restore creaminess.’, ‘Not recommended to freeze as sauce may separate.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 380
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 14
Keywords: baked feta pasta, viral pasta recipe, easy pasta, Mediterranean pasta, feta cheese recipe, roasted tomato pasta, weeknight dinner