Viral Baked Feta Pasta: The Ultimate Easy & Cheesy Weeknight Dinner Recipe
Prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable experience with this incredibly flavorful pasta dish. It’s no wonder why this Baked Feta Pasta recipe took TikTok by storm and became a global sensation! Crafted with just 7 straightforward, whole-food ingredients, our enhanced version brings an extra layer of cheesy goodness, making it an absolute family favorite that you’ll want to put on repeat.
My journey with Baked Feta Pasta began when I first stumbled upon Feel Good Foodie’s original creation. The concept immediately piqued my interest, but it was the deluge of enthusiastic reviews across social media that truly sealed its fate in my mind. After observing its undeniable popularity for a few months, I finally decided to give it a try. From that moment on, this delicious and easy recipe has become a permanent fixture in my kitchen!
Having prepared Baked Feta Pasta countless times over the past year, I’ve had ample opportunity to truly master the technique. I’ve experimented with various substitutions and fine-tuned it with my own personal touches, leading to what I believe is the most irresistible rendition of this viral dish. This is my perfected version, designed to maximize that irresistible, extra-cheesy flavor, complemented by perfectly toasty feta and beautifully blistered, sweet cherry tomatoes. I’m confident that you and your loved ones will adore it just as much as we do.
It’s my sincere hope that this recipe finds a regular spot on your weekly meal plan, just as it has in our home. It’s not just flavorful and incredibly simple to prepare, but it also champions the use of fresh, whole-food ingredients, offering a meal that feels both wholesome and indulgent. What’s not to love about a dish that ticks all these boxes?
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Baked Feta Pasta
This isn’t just another pasta dish; it’s a culinary experience that combines simplicity with profound flavor. Here’s why this Baked Feta Pasta will quickly become one of your go-to recipes:
- A Satisfying Meatless Marvel: Looking for a hearty meal that doesn’t rely on meat? This pasta delivers! It’s brimming with fresh, vibrant flavors and possesses a richness that makes it just as fulfilling and comforting as any traditional meat-and-potatoes dinner, ensuring everyone leaves the table content.
- Bursting with Freshness: The magic of this dish lies in its star ingredients: juicy cherry tomatoes that burst with sweetness when roasted, aromatic fresh basil, and the wonderfully salty, tangy kick of feta cheese. These components come together to create a symphony of fresh, Mediterranean-inspired tastes that truly elevate the meal.
- Surprisingly Picky-Eater Approved: Don’t let the tomatoes deter you! Once roasted and lovingly mashed into the creamy feta cheese sauce, the cherry tomatoes transform into a subtle, sweet base that many kids and adults alike don’t even recognize as whole tomatoes. This makes it an ingenious way to incorporate more vegetables into discerning palates.
- Your Go-To Last-Minute Meal Solution: Life gets busy, and sometimes dinner needs to be quick and easy. This recipe is your answer! All the ingredients are readily available at any grocery store, requiring no advance thawing or complex prep. You can decide on a whim to make it, grab the few items needed, and have a delicious, impressive meal on the table in under an hour.
Essential Ingredients for Your Viral Baked Feta Pasta
Gathering these simple ingredients is the first step to creating this extraordinary dish. Each plays a crucial role in building the layers of flavor that make this pasta so captivating:
- Feta Cheese: As the name suggests, feta is the undeniable star! While 8oz (227g) blocks are standard, I personally love using a larger 10oz (285g) portion when I buy it in bulk. More feta means more rich, salty, and tangy creaminess – and trust me, extra feta is always a good idea for this recipe!
- Cherry Tomatoes: You’ll need about 2 pints of fresh cherry tomatoes, which equates to approximately 4 ⅓ cups. These little gems are essential for their sweet, acidic burst that mellows and concentrates beautifully when roasted, creating the perfect base for our sauce.
- Olive Oil: A high-quality extra virgin olive oil is non-negotiable here. It’s not just a cooking medium; it’s a flavor enhancer that perfectly complements the robust feta and sweet tomato flavors, adding a silky richness to the entire dish.
- Pasta: This recipe calls for 8oz of dry pasta. The beauty is you can use almost any shape you prefer! However, I highly recommend a medium to large-sized pasta with ridges, such as rigatoni or cavatappi. These textures are fantastic at capturing and holding onto every drop of that luscious feta-tomato sauce.
- Basil: Fresh basil is an absolute must for that vibrant, aromatic, slightly peppery lift that completes the dish. While dried basil can be used in a pinch and still yields a tasty result, fresh basil provides that extra special, fragrant note that truly elevates the experience and makes your senses swoon.
- Garlic: A few cloves of freshly minced garlic are added to the hot tomatoes and feta straight out of the oven. This method uses just enough residual heat to gently soften the raw garlic’s sharp edge, infusing its delicious, pungent flavor throughout the sauce without overpowering it.
- Salt and Pepper: These humble seasonings are all you need. A light sprinkle of salt and freshly cracked black pepper enhances the natural flavors of our quality ingredients, allowing them to do the heavy lifting and shine through beautifully. Remember that feta is naturally quite salty, so season judiciously!
Crafting Your Own Viral Baked Feta Pasta: A Step-by-Step Guide
Once you try this incredibly straightforward recipe, you’ll be amazed at how such simple steps can produce such complex and satisfying flavors. It’s truly a testament to why this dish achieved such viral fame on TikTok!
To begin, grab a 9×13 inch baking dish – ideally one that is broiler-safe for best results. Evenly scatter your fresh cherry tomatoes across the bottom of the dish, ensuring they form a single layer for optimal roasting.
Next, drizzle the generous amount of olive oil over the cherry tomatoes. Gently toss them using your hands or a spoon to ensure each tomato is lightly and evenly coated in the rich oil. This step is crucial for achieving those beautifully blistered skins and concentrated sweet flavors.
Lightly season the olive oil-coated tomatoes with salt and pepper. Remember that feta cheese is inherently salty, so be mindful not to over-salt at this stage. Give them another gentle toss to ensure the seasoning is distributed throughout.
Create a small, empty space in the very center of your bed of seasoned tomatoes. Into this well, carefully place your 8-10oz (227-285g) block of feta cheese. Position it so it’s nestled snugly amongst the tomatoes.
Baking the Feta and Tomatoes to Perfection
With your baking dish prepped, place it into an oven that has been thoroughly preheated to 425ºF (218ºC). Allow it to bake for approximately 30-35 minutes. During this time, you’ll observe the cherry tomatoes beginning to soften, shrivel, and beautifully blister, while the feta cheese will transform, softening and developing a glorious golden-brown crust. This browning on the feta is key to its depth of flavor.
While your feta and tomatoes are roasting, this is the perfect time to prepare your pasta according to the package directions. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil, add your chosen pasta, and cook until it reaches an al dente texture – tender yet still firm to the bite.
For an extra layer of flavor and texture, once the initial baking time is complete, switch your oven to the “broil” setting and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. This crucial step helps to further blister the tomatoes and achieve an even toastier, more caramelized crust on the feta. However, keep a very close eye on the dish during broiling to prevent any burning, as ovens vary greatly in their broiler intensity.
The moment the tomatoes are bubbling vigorously and most have developed those desirable, slightly charred blisters, it’s time to carefully remove the baking dish from the oven using oven mitts. The aroma filling your kitchen will be utterly divine!
Bringing All the Flavors Together into a Harmonious Sauce
Now comes the exciting part – transforming those roasted ingredients into a luscious, creamy pasta sauce:
- Immediately upon removing the hot dish from the oven, add your 2 minced cloves of fresh garlic and a generous handful of freshly chopped basil directly into the baking dish. The residual heat will gently cook the garlic and awaken the basil’s aromatic oils.
- Using the back of a sturdy wooden spoon or a potato masher, begin to gently crush and mix the softened feta cheese with the blistered tomatoes. Continue this process until the feta and tomatoes break down, creating a wonderfully rustic, chunky, and incredibly flavorful sauce.
- Once your rustic sauce has formed, add in the cooked and well-drained pasta directly into the baking dish.
- Stir everything together thoroughly, ensuring every strand of pasta is beautifully coated in the creamy, tangy, and sweet sauce.
- For an added flourish and burst of freshness, garnish with extra fresh basil before serving, if desired.
- Serve immediately and savor every delicious bite!
Storing and Reheating Your Baked Feta Pasta
One of the many great things about this Baked Feta Pasta is how well it stores and reheats, making it perfect for meal prep or enjoying delicious leftovers. Transfer any remaining pasta into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To reheat, the microwave is your quickest option: simply warm in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. If you prefer the oven, add a few tablespoons of water or chicken/vegetable broth to the baking dish (or an oven-safe container) with the pasta. Cover tightly with aluminum foil to retain moisture. Place the cold dish in a cold oven, then set the temperature to 350ºF (177ºC) and bake until the pasta is heated all the way through, stirring occasionally during the reheating process to ensure even warmth and prevent sticking. Alternatively, for a stovetop reheat, place the pasta in a skillet with a splash of water or broth, and warm over medium-low heat, stirring until it’s perfectly hot and revived.
Expert Tips for the Best Baked Feta Pasta Experience
Achieving restaurant-quality Baked Feta Pasta at home is easy with these insider tips:
- Don’t Skip the BROIL: Broiling the tomatoes for a few minutes at the end of baking is a game-changer. It intensifies their sweetness, adds a delightful char, and gives the feta a beautiful, golden-brown, toasty crust that is simply irresistible. If your baking dish isn’t broiler-safe, don’t worry! You can achieve a similar effect by increasing the oven heat to 450ºF (232ºC) for an additional 5-10 minutes, keeping a close watch to prevent burning.
- Embrace FRESH Ingredients: While some shortcuts exist, using fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh garlic, and especially fresh basil will undeniably give you the most superior results. The vibrant flavors of fresh produce truly shine through and make all the difference in the finished dish, creating a more aromatic and nuanced profile.
- Strategic Garlic Addition: The secret to getting that perfect garlic flavor – potent yet not harsh – is to add it *after* the cherry tomatoes and feta have baked. The residual heat from the freshly removed dish is just enough to take the raw edge off the minced garlic, allowing its sweet and pungent notes to meld beautifully with the warm sauce without becoming bitter or overly sharp.
Delicious Variations to Customize Your Baked Feta Pasta
One of the joys of this recipe is its adaptability. Feel free to get creative and tailor it to your preferences with these delightful variations:
- Boost with Spinach: For an added nutritional punch and a touch of green, stir in 2 heaping handfuls of fresh baby spinach at the same time you add the fresh basil. The residual heat from the warm feta and tomatoes will gently wilt the spinach, incorporating it seamlessly into the pasta.
- Switch to Gnocchi: If you’re a fan of pillowy soft pasta, try substituting 1 ½ pounds (750g) of packaged gnocchi in place of traditional pasta. Simply cook the gnocchi according to its package directions, then combine with the baked feta and tomato sauce.
- Go Gluten-Free with Chickpea Pasta: For those seeking a gluten-free option or an extra boost of protein and fiber, chickpea pasta is a fantastic alternative. I’ve tested this, and it’s absolutely delicious! Use a 1:1 ratio when substituting your favorite chickpea pasta for traditional pasta.
- Crumbled Feta Alternative: Don’t have a block of feta on hand? Crumbled feta works too! Simply use your hands to pack the crumbles tightly into a cohesive mound in the center of the baking dish before roasting. It will still soften and create a wonderful sauce.
- Add Chicken for Protein: Integrating raw chicken directly into the baking dish can be tricky due to cooking times and crowding. For best results, I recommend seasoning and cooking 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts separately (grilled, pan-fried, or baked). Once cooked, slice the chicken and stir it into the pasta, tomato, and feta mixture just before serving.
- Include Sautéed Shrimp: Since frozen shrimp can release a lot of water during cooking, it’s best to prepare them separately. Sauté your shrimp with a little butter or olive oil until perfectly pink and cooked through. Set them aside, and then fold them into the finished pasta dish after the feta and tomatoes have been mashed and the pasta incorporated.
- Canned Tomatoes in a Pinch: While fresh cherry tomatoes offer the best flavor, you can use 2 (15oz) cans of good quality *canned cherry tomatoes*, drained, if fresh aren’t available. Be warned, however, that standard diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes will not yield the same depth of flavor, and you might be disappointed with the results. Fresh is always superior, but canned cherry tomatoes are a decent substitute in a pinch.
Selecting the Best Pasta for Baked Feta
One of the truly wonderful aspects of this incredibly easy recipe is its versatility when it comes to pasta choices. You can genuinely use almost any type of dried pasta you happen to have in your pantry, as the recipe measures pasta by weight (8oz / 227g), simplifying any conversions.
However, for an optimal experience that truly captures and delivers every drop of that luscious feta-tomato sauce, I highly recommend opting for medium-cut pasta shapes that feature ridges or a similar texture. These thoughtful designs are not merely decorative; they serve a practical purpose by creating tiny pockets and surfaces that are exceptionally good at collecting and clinging onto rich sauces, ensuring a burst of flavor in every bite. Many high-quality imported Italian pastas, often found in specialty food stores, feature these desirable ridges, and in my opinion, they are absolutely worth seeking out for this dish!
Top Pasta Shapes to Enhance Your Baked Feta Pasta:
These shapes are particularly effective at scooping up the creamy, rustic sauce:
- Rigatoni: Its large, ridged tubes are perfect for capturing chunky sauces.
- Cavatappi: The corkscrew shape and ridges are excellent for holding the sauce.
- Rotini: Similar to fusilli, its spirals provide ample surface area.
- Fusilli: The twisted shape is fantastic for cradling the rich sauce.
- Farfalle (Bow Tie): Its broad center and ruffled edges provide great texture and sauce adherence.
- Penne: Short, cylindrical, and often ridged, making it a classic choice for many sauces.
- Mafalda: Beautiful ribbon-like pasta with ruffled edges that create lovely pockets.
A special note regarding elbow macaroni: While I’ve heard of some adventurous cooks using elbow macaroni for baked feta pasta, I personally have reservations about the pasta-to-sauce ratio. Furthermore, the smooth, slippery nature of elbow macaroni generally pairs better with very thick, clingy sauces (like classic mac and cheese) rather than the rustic, chunkier consistency of baked feta. If you’ve never tried baked feta pasta before, I strongly suggest sticking to one of the recommended pasta types listed above to fully appreciate the dish’s intended texture and flavor profile before venturing into more experimental macaroni territory.
Discover More Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes
If you loved the simplicity and flavor of this viral baked feta pasta, you’re in for a treat! Here are more fantastic recipes designed for busy weeknights, offering maximum flavor with minimal effort:
- One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken
- Instant Pot Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers
- Air Fryer Salmon Patties
- Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Chicken
Baked Feta Pasta
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Ingredients
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes 4 ⅓ cups
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 8-10 oz block feta cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
For the Pasta
- 8 oz dried pasta medium cut
- Boiling salted water
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 425ºF (218ºC).
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Add the cherry tomatoes to a large broil-safe 9×13” baking dish, then pour in the olive oil.
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Add salt and pepper to your taste (remember that feta is quite salty), and toss the cherry tomatoes with olive oil to coat them completely.
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Make a well in the center of the baking dish big enough for the block of feta cheese and place it in the middle.
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Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the cherry tomatoes blister and the feta begins to brown.
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When there are 10-15 minutes left in the baking time, fill a large pot with hot water and add a generous amount of salt.
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Bring the water to a boil, then add in your pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
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When the pasta is al dente, drain it in a colander over the sink and place a plate on top to keep it warm.
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Once your initial baking time is up, set the oven to “broil.” Only do this if you have a broil-safe pan. If not, you can just bake for an additional 5-10 minutes at an increased heat of 450ºF (232ºC) if desired to achieve more browning.
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Broil for 2-3 minutes, keeping a close eye on the pan. It is ready as soon as it becomes bubbly and most tomatoes have blisters, and the feta has a nice golden crust.
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Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven, then add in 2 minced garlic cloves and the fresh basil.
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Use the bottom of a wooden spoon or a potato masher to break up the tomatoes and feta, combining it into a creamy and rustic “sauce” along with the garlic and basil.
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Finally, add in the cooked and drained pasta and stir until it is beautifully coated in the feta and cherry tomato mixture.
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Serve immediately with additional fresh basil (if desired), and enjoy your delicious meal!
Notes
Storing: Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. For the best results, reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, or in a saucepan on the stovetop with 1-2 tablespoons of water/broth added. You can also reheat it covered in the oven at 350ºF (177ºC) until heated through.
Substitutions:
- Pasta: Use 8oz (225g) of your favorite medium-sized pasta for best results (fusilli, rotini, cavatappi, penne, etc). Gluten-free or chickpea pasta can also be used in a 1:1 ratio.
- Tomatoes: While fresh is best, 2 (15oz) cans of good quality, drained *canned cherry tomatoes* can be used in place of fresh. Avoid standard diced tomatoes as they lack the desired flavor.
- Basil: If fresh basil is unavailable, substitute with 2 teaspoons of dried basil, though fresh is highly recommended for optimal flavor.
Nutrition
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