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Home » Pasta » Baked Feta Pasta Recipe

Baked Feta Pasta Recipe

Published: Mar 3, 2021 · Modified: Nov 22, 2021 by Shweta Arora · This post may contain affiliate links

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This TikTok famous baked feta pasta in a cherry tomato feta sauce makes a fuss-free and flavorful weeknight meal. Made with just a handful of fresh ingredients this pasta is super easy to make in the oven and turns out absolutely delicious!! No wonder it went viral on social media. 

Here is my spin on the trending baked tomato feta pasta with more veggies and spices. 

Baked Feta Pasta on a plate garnished with basil leaves

The Baked Feta pasta recipe went viral on Tiktok and other social media platforms and I couldn't understand what all the hype is about!!

I first saw this recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, who made it based on a viral recipe called #uunifetapasta made famous in Finland by Liemessa and originally shared by Tiiu. 

It became so popular that the grocery stores ran out of block feta cheese!! Crumbled was still available but this recipe uses block.

On my recent trip to Costco, I found Feta block so decided to give it a try and test it myself.

Honestly was a little skeptical as my family is not a big Feta fan and I rarely buy it!! But I decided to still try it!!

Truth be told, I'm glad I did. I made a few modifications to suit our taste palate and everyone loved it!! It is going to be a regular now in my easy dinner recipes!!

Check out these other favorite easy dinner recipes we have been loving - Creamy Vegetable Sandwich, Vegetarian Lasagna Soup and Matar Paneer Pulao

What is Baked Feta Pasta

It's a simple pasta recipe made with few ingredients like cherry tomatoes, garlic, Feta cheese tossed in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.

These are then baked in the oven until the tomatoes are soft and mashed to make the sauce and tossed with pasta.

The final touch is sprinkle of basil leaves that bring the dish together.

This is the original recipe which is delicious!! But if you are not a big fan of Feta cheese which can be salty and tart you may have a different opinion.

In order to make it more suitable for my family's taste palate, I've added some spices and veggies like onions and sweet peppers that caramelize beautifully in the oven and lend a slightly sweet taste to this dish thus balancing the flavors.

I promise you will love this recipe even if you don't like feta if you make it this way!! So let's see how to make the Tiktok viral Baked Feta Pasta recipe!!

Recipe Ingredients

Baked Feta Pasta Ingredients in bowls on wooden surface

Tomatoes: Fresh cherry or grape tomatoes work best for this recipe. They roast and burst and make the base ingredient for our sauce. Canned will not yield the same results. 

Feta Cheese: Use a block of feta cheese (7-8ounces) for best results. I've used Tnuva Feta Sheep's Milk Cheese that was available at my Costco store. I found it less tart and creamier.

Pasta: I’ve used penne pasta but you can use any pasta of you choice. Almost any pasta variety (including gluten-free pasta) can work with this recipe . 

Veggies - I have used sliced yellow onion, whole garlic cloves, and sliced sweet peppers as I find they wonderfully balance the tart salty feta flavor with their sweetness when they bake and caramelize. 

Seasoning & Herbs: You’ll need good quality extra virgin olive oil,  salt (go easy on the salt since Feta is salty), freshly cracked pepper, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (for some heat), and fresh basil leaves. 

Step by Step Method

Steps for baking the feta cheese and tomatoes and cooking pasta

1 - Preheat oven to 400°F. In an oven-safe baking dish (using 9X13 inch), add the cherry tomatoes, onions,  peppers, garlic, ¼ cup olive oil, salt, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Toss until well combined.

2 - Make space in the middle by pushing the veggies to the side. Place the feta block in the middle of the baking dish. Pour the remaining olive oil over it and season with freshly cracked black pepper.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes are soft.

3 - While the tomatoes and feta are baking, cook the pasta in a pot full of salted water according to package instructions until al dente.  I've used penne pasta but you can use any pasta of choice.

Drain the pasta and reserve  ½ cup of the pasta water liquid to adjust the consistency if needed.

4 - After 40 mins, remove the dish from the oven.

Baked Feta pasta Steps for making the sauce and mixing the pasta

5 and 6 - Mash everything with a fork to a sauce consistency. This makes a great dip too.

7 - Add the cooked pasta and mix to combine.

9 - Garnish with more fresh basil and serve warm.

Baking dish full of baked feta pasta garnished with shredded basil

Variations 

Here are a few ways to customize this baked feta pasta if you would like:

Add a protein: Cook up some sausage, chicken, shrimp, and add to the pasta once it has been cooked.

Add more veggies: In addition to onion, sweet peppers, you can also add asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives. Substitute sweet peppers with red or yellow bell pepper. Spinach would be a great addition to boost the nutritional value. Add it along with basil.

Make it gluten-free: Use your preferred gluten-free pasta to make it gluten-free.

Add more heat: To make it spicier add more crushed red pepper flakes or sliced fresh chiles or sliced jalapeños and roast along with tomatoes for another depth of flavor. 

Swap the pasta: In place of pasta, you could also serve this tomato-feta sauce with rice (or risotto), quinoa, farro, or use as a dip with a side of crusty bread or crackers. 

Recipe Tips

Use fresh ingredients. There aren’t many ingredients in this recipe so use fresh tomatoes and veggies for the best results. Canned will not yield the same results. 

Reserve the pasta water. You can use this starchy pasta water to adjust the pasta consistency. I didn’t use it, but you can certainly add it if you feel the baked feta pasta needs more sauce. Or if you are planning on storing it for later use as it will thicken when refrigerated.

Go easy on the salt - Feta is naturally very salty so add less salt as you can always add more later if needed.

Cut down the tartness - I have seen many complain about tart feta taste and it overpowering this recipe. To balance the tart and salty feta, add onions and peppers while roasting. They will caramelize and lend a slightly sweet taste to the pasta.

FAQ's

Can this be made with Crumbled Feta?

Yes, if you have access to just crumbled feta cheese at your local grocery store, just press it together into a pile in the center of your baking dish and it should still work fine.

How long can it be stored?

This baked feta pasta can be stored refrigerator for 3-4 days. Allow cooling completely before storing. To reheat, add some water and then microwave until completely heated through.

Can you make this with any other type of cheese?

Yes, goat cheese, cream cheese or full fat ricotta can be used but the cooking time may vary based on the block size.

More Pasta recipes

  • CREAMY TOMATO SAUCE PASTA WITH BROCCOLI
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  • Beet and Carrot Mac and Cheese
    Beet and Carrot Mac and Cheese
  • vegetarian taco pasta in a bowl garnished with cilantro and green onions
    Instant Pot Taco Pasta (Vegetarian)
  • Creamy Garlic Pasta
    Creamy Garlic Pasta With Veggies
Side view of Baked Feta Pasta on a plate garnished with basil leaves

Hope you enjoy this Easy Baked Feta Pasta recipe!! If you give this recipe a try, please rate by clicking stars ⭐️ on the recipe card. Thank you ❤️ ! You can also follow me on Facebook | Instagram to see what’s cooking in my kitchen!!

Tried this recipe?Please rate the recipe by clicking the stars below
Baked Feta Pasta on a plate garnished with basil leaves

Baked Feta Pasta

Shweta Arora
This Baked feta pasta is a simple recipe made by roasting cherry tomatoes and feta cheese in the oven to make the sauce. Toss in the pasta for a fuss-free and flavorful weeknight meal.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Course Main
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4
Calories 643 kcal
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Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces block feta cheese
  • 8 ounces penne pasta or pasta of your choice
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic sliced in half
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 2-3 sweet peppers sliced, ½ cup approximately
  • ½ yellow onion sliced, ½ cup approximately
  • ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • black pepper freshly cracked, adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon red chili flakes adjust to taste
  • ½ cup basil leaves roughly chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. In an oven-safe baking dish (using 9X13 inch), add the cherry tomatoes, onions,  peppers, garlic, ¼ cup olive oil, salt, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Toss until well combined.
  • Make space in the middle by pushing the veggies to the side. Place the feta block in the middle of the baking dish. Pour the remaining olive oil over it and season with freshly cracked black pepper.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes are soft, and the feta cheese melts.
  • While the tomatoes and feta are baking, cook the pasta in a pot full of salted water according to package instructions until al dente.  I've used penne pasta but you can use any pasta of choice.
  • Drain the pasta and reserve  ½ cup of the pasta water liquid to adjust the consistency if needed.
  • After 40 mins, remove the dish from the oven. Mash everything with a fork to a sauce consistency. This makes a great dip too.
  • Add the cooked pasta and mix to combine.
  • Garnish with more fresh basil and serve warm.

Video

Notes

Use fresh ingredients. There aren’t many ingredients in this recipe so use fresh tomatoes and veggies for the best results. Canned will not yield the same results. 
Substitutes - Use red or yellow bell pepper in place of sweet peppers. Crumbled feta piled in a block if you are unable to find Feta block cheese. Cherry or grape tomatoes work best but you can add diced tomatoes as the last option. 
Reserve the pasta water. You can use this starchy pasta water to adjust the pasta consistency. I didn’t use it, but you can certainly add it if you feel the baked feta pasta needs more sauce. Or if you are planning on storing it for later use as it will thicken when refrigerated.
Go easy on the salt - Feta is naturally very salty so add less salt as you can always add more later if needed.
Cut down the tartness - I have seen many complain about tart feta taste and it overpowering this recipe. To balance the tart and salty feta, add onions and peppers while roasting. They will caramelize and lend a slightly sweet taste to the pasta.
Variations - Feel free to add cooked chicken, shrimp, or sausage, or more veggies. Sliced jalapenos will taste great too if you prefer it spicy or add spinach leaves to the cooked pasta to boost the nutritional value. 
Storage - Store leftovers in air tight container. They last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. 

Nutrition

Calories: 643kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 943mg | Potassium: 502mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2708IU | Vitamin C: 95mg | Calcium: 327mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @shwetainthekitchen or tag #shwetainthekitchen!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Prachi

    September 17, 2022 at 3:04 pm

    5 stars
    I have made this pasta many times following this recipe. It is simple and delicious. Thanks Shweta. I love following your other recipes too.

    Reply
    • Shweta Arora

      September 20, 2022 at 9:03 am

      So happy to hear that! Thank you, Prachi!

      Reply
  2. veronica

    April 04, 2021 at 4:19 pm

    5 stars
    Another winner we love you at our house thanks so much for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • Shweta Arora

      April 05, 2021 at 4:54 pm

      thank you so much!! So happy to know you all loved it!!

      Reply

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