Description
This Baked Feta Pasta recipe is a delicious and simple one-pan meal featuring a creamy roasted feta and cherry tomato sauce tossed with al dente pasta. The oven-baked feta softens and blends with blistered tomatoes and garlic to create a flavorful, creamy sauce that’s easy to whip up any night of the week. Garnished with fresh basil and a kick of red pepper flakes, this dish offers a perfect balance of tangy, savory, and spicy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 8 ounces pasta (penne or fusilli work well)
For the Sauce
- 1 block (8 ounces) feta cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
For Garnish (Optional)
- Fresh basil
- Red pepper flakes (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Bake the Feta and Tomatoes: In a baking dish, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the tomatoes are blistered and the feta is soft and lightly golden.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Remove the dish from the oven and use a fork to mash the feta into the roasted tomatoes and garlic to create a creamy sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the dish and toss to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
- Serve: Serve warm, garnished with fresh basil and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
- Use good quality feta for best flavor and creamy texture.
- Cherry tomatoes can be substituted with grape tomatoes or chopped Roma tomatoes.
- Optional toppings like fresh basil and red pepper flakes add freshness and a mild kick.
- This dish can be made vegetarian but is not vegan due to the feta cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Baked feta pasta, creamy feta pasta, tomato feta pasta, easy pasta recipe, Mediterranean pasta, weeknight dinner, vegetarian pasta
