Baked Feta Pasta

BAKED FETA PASTA

Baked Feta Pasta

January 13, 2022 - By forkandbeans

Baked Feta Pasta

This baked feta pasta is based on a viral TikTok recipe, which is famous for very good reason! A block of feta is baked with cherry tomatoes and plenty of olive oil until caramelized and softened, then gently mashed into a creamy, rich, perfectly salty sauce. Add fresh basil and the perfect amount of pasta, and you have a super easy, gourmet dinner on the table.
Key Ingredients
Feta Cheese – So the key to getting a super creamy, super rich baked feta sauce is using the right feta cheese. A Greek feta is made from sheep’s milk & goat’s milk, and it has a much creamier texture than a feta cheese made from cow’s milk. If you don’t like or can’t find feta (this recipe is causing an abnormally high demand for feta in some places!!) you can try fresh mozzarella, ricotta, goat cheese, or even cream cheese.

Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes, specifically, give this dish a little boost of sweetness, which is AMAZING with the saltiness of the feta. They’re also small enough to cook perfectly without any extra effort. If you’re using larger tomatoes, quarter them before baking.

Pasta – Short pasta is best for this recipe, in my opinion, but really, any pasta will work. Pick your favorite and get cooking! I love to use visually interesting pastas like cavatappi or rotini, but long pastas like spaghetti and fettuccine are solid options, too. I went with a tried-and-true penne this time around because it’s so convenient.

Chef’s Tips
Don’t be afraid to make this baked feta pasta your own! I kept the spices very simple here, but you can add crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, rosemary, or even a little Cajun seasoning. For more of a Mediterranean take, add in some kalamata olives. Red peppers would be a great addition, too, or even a substitute for the tomatoes. Mix in a little spinach, toss in some shrimp. The possibilities are endless!
If your baking dish is too big, the tomatoes might dry out in the oven. Use a dish that’s small enough to keep everything close together and well-oiled.
Feeling snacky? Skip the pasta and serve your baked feta and tomato mixture as a dip or spread with crostini or breadsticks.
A little honey takes this baked feta pasta to a whole other level. You can drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of honey on top of the feta before baking (watch for flames while it’s in the oven!) or add it when you mash everything together.

Baked Feta Pasta

This baked feta pasta is based on a viral TikTok recipe, which is famous for very good reason! A block of feta is baked with cherry tomatoes and plenty of olive oil until caramelized and softened, then gently mashed into a creamy, rich, perfectly salty sauce. Add fresh basil and the perfect amount of pasta, and you have a super easy, gourmet dinner on the table.

Ingredients
▢2 pints cherry tomatoes
▢½ cup olive oil
▢½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
▢black pepper to taste
▢1 8-ounce block feta
▢8 ounces short pasta like penne, rigatoni, fusilli, cavatappi
▢2 cloves garlic pressed or minced
▢2-4 tablespoons fresh basil leaves for garnish, chopped or chiffonaded (see Notes), divided
▢olive oil extra, for finishing
Equipment
Medium bowl
2½- to 3-quart baking dish
Large pot
Large spoon
Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
In a medium bowl, toss whole cherry tomatoes with olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and lots of black pepper until well coated. Pour mixture into baking dish. Place block of feta in center of tomatoes, and season with more black pepper.
Cherry tomatoes and feta in a pool of olive oil in a rectangular baking dish
Bake until tomatoes have burst and feta has softened, approximately 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450° Fahrenheit. Continue to cook until tomatoes and feta are golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Baked feta and tomatoes in a casserole dish

Meanwhile, boil a large pot of generously salted water over high heat. Add pasta and cook until al dente, approximately 13 minutes. Set aside ½ cup of cooking water, then drain all remaining water.
Penne pasta in a pot
As soon as tomatoes and feta come out of oven, stir in garlic. Use back of spoon to smash tomatoes and feta into a smooth and creamy sauce. If some of the oil doesn’t combine completely, that’s fine.
Baked feta and tomatoes, mashed together, with basil and olive oil in a casserole dish, with a wooden spoon laid across diagonally

Toss in pasta and half of basil until evenly coated. Mix in pasta water 2 tablespoons at a time, to help the mixture become a true sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
Baked feta pasta in a casserole dish
Top with remaining basil. Serve with additional top-quality olive oil.

Notes
Make it Low Carb/Keto: Most of the carbs in this recipe come from the pasta. Use palmini pasta, shirataki noodles, or veggie noodles in place of the traditional short pasta. A zero-carb pasta substitute will knock this down to around 10g net carbs per serving.
Make it Dairy-Free/Vegan: Use a dairy-free feta, ricotta, or mozzarella.
Make it Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free pasta.
To Chiffonade the Basil: Stack fresh basil leaves on top of each other, then roll tightly lengthwise. Use a small, sharp knife to slice the roll into thin ribbons. Slice perpendicular to roll.

Cook times will vary based on your specific oven. Adjust as needed.
Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect information for 1 serving. Macros may vary slightly depending on the specific brands of ingredients used.
To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire finished recipe. Divide the total weight of the recipe (not including the weight of the bowl, pot, or plate the food is in) by 4. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 644kcal, Carbohydrates: 55g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 40g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 663mg, Potassium: 687mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 1449IU, Vitamin C: 55mg, Calcium: 322mg, Iron: 3mg, Net Carbs: 51g

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