Easy • Vegetarian
Oven-Baked Feta and Cherry Tomato Pasta
A viral sensation for a reason: creamy, tangy, and bursting with Mediterranean flavors, all baked in one dish.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Level
- Easy
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Get ready to discover your new favorite pasta dish that practically cooks itself! This Oven-Baked Feta and Cherry Tomato Pasta is incredibly simple, relying on the oven to transform humble ingredients into a rich, flavorful sauce. It's vibrant, fresh, and unbelievably delicious.
Ingredients
Yield: 4 servings
Main
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
- 8 oz block feta cheese
- 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped, plus more for garnish
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 10-12 oz pasta (such as penne, rotini, or farfalle)
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Step 2
In a 9x13 inch baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup of olive oil, minced garlic, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Toss gently to coat.
Step 3
Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes. Drizzle the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil over the feta.
Step 4
Bake for 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes are bursting and slightly caramelized, and the feta is soft and lightly golden.
Step 5
While the feta and tomatoes are baking, cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
Step 6
Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven. Using a fork, mash the feta into the tomatoes until a creamy sauce forms. Stir in the chopped fresh basil.
Step 7
Add the drained pasta to the baking dish and toss well to coat. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
Step 8
Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh basil.
Tips
- For an extra layer of flavor, try adding a squeeze of lemon juice at the end.
- Any small, robust pasta shape works well to capture all that delicious sauce.
- If you don't have fresh basil, dried oregano or Italian seasoning can be a good substitute, added with the tomatoes before baking.
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