Creamy Baked Feta Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
A quick and easy baked feta pasta dish featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and creamy melted feta cheese, perfect for a comforting and flavorful dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes (fresh and ripe)
- 8 ounces block of feta cheese
- 8 ounces pasta (penne or fusilli recommended; whole wheat or gluten-free optional)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- A handful of fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Lemon zest from 1 lemon (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Arrange the cherry tomatoes in a baking dish and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle minced garlic, salt, and pepper over the tomatoes and toss gently to coat evenly.
- Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the feta and sprinkle red pepper flakes if using.
- Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes until tomatoes are soft and bursting and feta is golden and creamy on top.
- While baking, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain well, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and mash the baked feta and tomatoes together to form a creamy sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta directly into the baking dish with the sauce. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Finish with fresh basil leaves and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
Do not overbake the feta to avoid dryness. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Use firm cherry tomatoes for best roasting results. Garlic roasted with tomatoes enhances flavor. The dish tastes better the next day. Can be customized with spinach, kale, or nuts for variation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 15
Keywords: baked feta pasta, cherry tomatoes, creamy pasta, easy dinner, quick pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta, Mediterranean recipe