Description
This baked feta pasta is a creamy, flavorful Mediterranean-inspired dish that’s quick and easy to make. Featuring a block of baked feta cheese and roasted cherry tomatoes that combine to create a luscious sauce, tossed with your choice of pasta and fresh basil, it’s perfect for a comforting weeknight meal or a shareable dinner with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese and Vegetables
- 1 block (8 ounces) feta cheese
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
Pantry Items
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Extra olive oil for drizzling
- Optional grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Pasta
- 10 ounces pasta (such as penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the feta and tomatoes.
- Prepare baking dish: Place the block of feta cheese in the center of a baking dish. Arrange the cherry tomatoes around the feta evenly.
- Add seasonings and oil: Drizzle the 3 tablespoons of olive oil over the feta and tomatoes. Sprinkle the minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper evenly on top.
- Bake the feta and tomatoes: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until the cherry tomatoes burst and the feta is soft and golden.
- Cook pasta: While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Be sure to reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Mash feta and tomatoes: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Using a spoon, mash together the softened feta and burst tomatoes to form a creamy sauce.
- Toss pasta in sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish with the feta tomato sauce. Pour in a splash of the reserved pasta water and toss well to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
- Finish and serve: Stir in the torn fresh basil leaves and drizzle with extra olive oil. Serve warm, topped with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute goat cheese for a tangier flavor profile.
- Add vegetables such as spinach or zucchini for additional texture and nutrition.
- For extra protein, mix in cooked chicken or shrimp before serving.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
