Description
This viral Baked Feta Pasta recipe became a TikTok sensation for a reason—it’s incredibly simple, flavorful, and creamy. Roasted cherry tomatoes and a block of feta cheese form the base of a delicious sauce that coats perfectly cooked pasta for an easy and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- 2 pt cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1 shallot, quartered
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (8-oz.) block feta cheese
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 10 oz pasta (such as rotini or penne)
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a baking dish, combine cherry tomatoes, shallot, garlic, and most of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss to combine.
- Place the block of feta in the center of the dish and drizzle with the remaining olive oil. Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes and add thyme sprigs.
- Bake for 35 minutes, until tomatoes burst and feta is golden on top.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Remove thyme sprigs from the baking dish. Stir the feta and tomatoes together to create a creamy sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish and toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water a bit at a time to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Top with lemon zest (if using) and fresh basil before serving.
Notes
- Use high-quality feta cheese for the best flavor.
- Feel free to add spinach or other greens for extra nutrition.
- This dish works well with gluten-free pasta too.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
