Baked Feta Pasta

The TikTok recipe that crashed grocery store feta supplies. It's that good.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 35 min Serves: 4

Ingredients

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  • 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 1 block (8oz) feta cheese
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 lb pasta (orecchiette, penne, or rigatoni)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, torn
  • Pasta water as needed

Instructions

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  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place tomatoes in a baking dish. Nestle feta block in the center. Add garlic around the tomatoes.
  3. Drizzle everything generously with olive oil. Season tomatoes with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. (Don't season the feta—it's salty enough.)
  4. Bake until tomatoes are bursting and feta is golden on top.
  5. Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
  6. Remove dish from oven. Mash the feta into the tomatoes with a fork, mixing into a creamy sauce.
  7. Add hot pasta directly to the dish. Toss to coat, adding pasta water as needed for consistency.
  8. Top with fresh basil and serve immediately from the baking dish.

Notes

  • The feta: Use a good quality block, not pre-crumbled. Greek feta has the creamiest texture.
  • Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are sweeter and better than grape tomatoes, but either works.
  • Make it a meal: Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or white beans for protein.
  • Pasta water: The starchy water helps create a silky sauce that clings to the pasta.
  • Variations: Add olives, artichokes, or roasted red peppers before baking.

Adapted from Feel Good Foodie