Baked Feta Pasta with Tomatoes (Print View)

A creamy blend of roasted cherry tomatoes, feta, and fresh basil tossed with pasta for a flavorful dish.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 pints cherry tomatoes
02 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Dairy

04 - 1 block feta cheese (approximately 7 oz)

→ Herbs & Seasonings

05 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Pasta

10 - 12 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or similar shape)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a baking dish, combine cherry tomatoes, garlic, and red onion if using. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Toss to coat evenly.
03 - Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the baking dish, nestling it among the tomatoes. Drizzle additional olive oil over the cheese.
04 - Bake for 30 minutes until tomatoes burst and release their juices, and the feta becomes golden and soft.
05 - While baking, cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
06 - Remove from oven. Gently mash feta and tomatoes with a fork, mixing them into a smooth, creamy sauce.
07 - Add cooked pasta to the baking dish, tossing to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick for desired consistency.
08 - Stir in fresh basil leaves just before serving to preserve their vibrant color and aroma.
09 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce practically makes itself while you catch up on emails or pour yourself a glass of wine
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if they even last that long
02 -
  • The pasta water is not optional, it is what turns everything into a cohesive sauce instead of oily pasta
  • The feta will look almost too golden, but that crust on top is exactly what you want
03 -
  • Use a baking dish that fits everything snugly so the tomatoes roast, not steam
  • Let the feta come to room temperature while you prep everything else for more even melting

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