Description
Baked Feta Pasta is a creamy, tangy, and flavorful dish that combines rich feta cheese with sweet oven-roasted cherry tomatoes. This easy one-bake recipe transforms minimal ingredients into a comforting and versatile meal perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 block (about 8 oz) good-quality full-fat feta cheese
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, rinsed and halved
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 8 oz dry pasta (penne, rigatoni, fusilli, or any preferred short pasta)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh Herbs and Spices
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (or substitute with thyme, oregano, or parsley)
- Red pepper flakes, optional and to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Rinse and halve the cherry tomatoes. Peel the garlic cloves. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for cooking the pasta.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Place the halved tomatoes and garlic cloves in a medium baking dish. Drizzle generously with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then place the block of feta cheese right in the center.
- Bake until Burst and Soft: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the tomatoes have burst and softened, and the feta is golden and creamy.
- Cook Pasta: While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook the pasta in the boiling salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Combine and Toss: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Mix everything together, breaking up the feta and stirring the roasted tomatoes to form a rich sauce. Toss in the cooked pasta until fully coated with the sauce.
- Add Fresh Herbs and Serve: Stir in freshly chopped basil or your preferred herbs. Sprinkle red pepper flakes if desired. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Choose quality feta for the creamiest texture and best flavor.
- Use ripe, juicy cherry tomatoes for the sweetest sauce base.
- Do not skip the olive oil as it is critical for roasting and sauce richness.
- Watch the oven baking time to ensure tomatoes burst but don’t dry out.
- If mixing and baking pasta again, cook pasta slightly less than al dente for ideal texture.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days but do not freeze.
- Reheat gently with a little olive oil or water to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: baked feta pasta, creamy pasta, feta cheese recipe, roasted tomato pasta, easy weeknight dinner, Mediterranean pasta
