Description
Baked Feta Pasta is a simple and delicious Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring creamy baked feta cheese combined with bursting cherry tomatoes, garlic, and pasta tossed in a flavorful olive oil sauce. This recipe is perfect for a quick yet impressive weeknight dinner and can be customized with various add-ins for extra flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 block (8 oz) feta cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 10 oz pasta (such as penne or rotini)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the feta and tomatoes.
- Prepare Baking Dish: In a baking dish, place the cherry tomatoes and minced garlic. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using, and toss everything together to coat.
- Add Feta Cheese: Nestle the block of feta cheese in the center of the baking dish among the tomatoes. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top of the feta for extra moisture and flavor.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst and the feta is soft and lightly golden.
- Cook Pasta: While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the rest.
- Mash and Combine: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Using a spoon, mash the feta and roasted tomatoes together to create a creamy sauce.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish and toss to combine with the sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Add Fresh Basil: Stir in the chopped fresh basil just before serving for a fragrant finish.
Notes
- Substitute feta with plant-based feta for a dairy-free option.
- Add spinach, olives, or roasted red peppers to enhance flavor and texture.
- Works well with gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free adaptation.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
