Creamy Baked Feta Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
A quick and easy baked feta pasta dish where cherry tomatoes and a block of feta cheese roast together to create a creamy, luscious sauce that coats every strand of pasta perfectly. Ideal for comforting weeknight dinners with minimal fuss.
- 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 (about 300 grams), halved
- 7 ounces block feta cheese (about 200 grams)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 10 ounces pasta of choice (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli recommended)
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- Optional: fresh lemon juice or balsamic glaze for finishing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes in a baking dish. Scatter the minced garlic evenly over the tomatoes. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Toss gently to coat.
- Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes. Drizzle the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over the feta.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until tomatoes are bursting and feta is soft and golden on top.
- While baking, cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup (120 ml) pasta water before draining.
- Remove baking dish from oven. Mash feta and tomatoes together gently to create a creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Toss cooked pasta into the sauce in the baking dish, mixing thoroughly to coat. Add more pasta water if needed to loosen sauce.
- Finish with fresh basil and optionally a squeeze of lemon juice or drizzle of balsamic glaze.
- Serve immediately while warm and creamy.
Notes
Use block feta cheese for best creamy texture; avoid crumbled feta. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Cover feta loosely with foil halfway through baking if it starts drying out. Serve immediately for creamiest texture. Leftovers can be reheated gently with a splash of water or broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 53
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 19
Keywords: baked feta pasta, creamy pasta, cherry tomatoes, easy dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food, Mediterranean pasta