Ingredients
Cheese and Sauce
- 8 ounce feta cheese block
- 1½ pound cherry tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Pasta and Garnish
- 10 ounce pasta (penne or rigatoni recommended)
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, optional for serving
Instructions
- Prep the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F to prepare for roasting the feta and tomatoes.
- Prepare the sauce: Place the block of feta cheese in the center of a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Surround it with the cherry tomatoes and smashed garlic cloves. Drizzle the extra virgin olive oil evenly over the cheese and tomatoes. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes over the top. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the tomatoes burst and the feta softens. Then increase the oven temperature to 450°F and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes until the feta turns golden brown and slightly caramelized.
- Cook the pasta: While the feta and tomatoes are baking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, approximately 13 minutes. Reserve about ½ to 1 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta thoroughly.
- Combine everything: Remove the casserole dish from the oven and use a fork to mash the softened feta, roasted tomatoes, and garlic together to form a creamy sauce. Add the drained pasta and fresh basil leaves to the dish, tossing everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the sauce. If the mixture feels dry, gradually add reserved pasta water a couple tablespoons at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve: Serve the baked feta pasta hot, garnished with additional fresh basil and optionally sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for extra richness.
Notes
- Use penne or rigatoni for best texture, but other similar pasta shapes work well too.
- Cherry tomatoes bursting in the oven provide a natural sweetness that balances the creamy and tangy feta.
- Reserve pasta water carefully; it helps loosen the sauce without watering down the flavor.
- Red pepper flakes add a nice mild heat but can be omitted if you prefer milder pasta.
- For vegan variation, substitute feta cheese with vegan feta and use a plant-based parmesan alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
