Description
A simple, viral baked feta pasta recipe that transforms cherry tomatoes and a block of feta into a creamy, restaurant-quality sauce with just four main ingredients. It is foolproof, requires minimal cleanup, and is perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pint (450g) cherry or grape tomatoes
- 8 oz (225g) block of feta cheese
- 1/3 cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound (450g) pasta (penne or rigatoni recommended)
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Reserved pasta water as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil.
- Place whole cherry tomatoes in the baking dish in a single layer.
- Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the tomatoes and feta, and sprinkle with minced garlic.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until tomatoes are burst and feta is golden brown and soft.
- While baking, boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Remove dish from oven. Use an immersion blender to blend the tomatoes and feta directly in the dish until smooth, or carefully transfer to a regular blender. Add pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Add the drained pasta to the baking dish (or a large bowl) and toss with the sauce until coated.
- Stir in fresh basil and red pepper flakes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately, topped with extra basil or a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
Do not use regular tomatoes as they release too much water. Use a block of feta, not crumbles, for the best creamy texture. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. If using a regular blender, let the hot mixture cool for 5 minutes to avoid splattering. For a lighter version, reduce the oil and feta amount.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 650
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 75
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 22
Keywords: baked feta pasta, viral tiktok recipe, 4 ingredient pasta, easy weeknight dinner, one pan pasta, creamy tomato sauce, gluten free option