Description
TikTok Baked Feta Pasta is a simple yet flavorful recipe combining roasted cherry tomatoes and creamy baked feta cheese, mixed with al dente pasta and fresh basil to create a deliciously creamy and tangy sauce. This trendy dish is easy to prepare and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Tomato and Feta Mixture
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (8-ounce) block feta cheese, drained
Pasta
- 8–10 ounces pasta such as rigatoni, cavatappi, penne, or farfalle
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil, plus extra for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set the oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the feta and tomatoes.
- Prepare the baking dish: In a baking dish, combine cherry tomatoes, olive oil, smashed garlic cloves, kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Toss everything together to evenly coat the tomatoes with seasoning and oil.
- Add the feta: Place the block of drained feta cheese in the center of the tomato mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake: Put the baking dish in the oven and bake for 40 minutes, until the tomatoes burst and become juicy and the feta softens to a creamy texture.
- Cook the pasta: While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Make the sauce: Remove the baking dish from the oven and stir in fresh basil. Mash the roasted tomatoes and feta together with a spoon or fork until the mixture becomes a creamy sauce.
- Combine everything: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and pour in half of the reserved pasta water. Stir to coat the pasta in the creamy sauce, adding more pasta water if you desire a smoother consistency.
- Serve: Garnish with extra fresh basil leaves and serve the pasta warm for maximum flavor.
Notes
- This dish is best served immediately after combining to enjoy the creamy texture of the sauce.
- You can use any type of short pasta you prefer, such as rigatoni, penne, cavatappi, or farfalle.
- For extra spice, add more red pepper flakes according to taste.
- Make sure to reserve pasta water as it helps loosen the sauce and makes it creamier.
- Drain the feta adequately before baking to avoid excess moisture in the sauce.
- This recipe can be adapted to gluten-free pasta to accommodate gluten-free diets.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
