Description
Baked Feta Pasta is a simple yet flavorful one-pot dish featuring creamy baked feta cheese blended with roasted cherry tomatoes and fragrant garlic. Tossed with perfectly cooked pasta and a drizzle of olive oil, this comforting meal is finished with fresh basil for an aromatic touch. Perfect for a quick and delicious dinner that elevates everyday ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 oz block of feta cheese
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 12 oz pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for roasting the feta and tomatoes.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Place the block of feta cheese in the center of a large baking dish and arrange the cherry tomatoes around it evenly.
- Add Seasonings: Drizzle olive oil over the feta and tomatoes, ensuring everything is coated well. Sprinkle minced garlic, dried oregano, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper over the top.
- Roast Ingredients: Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes until the tomatoes have blistered and the feta is golden and softened, creating a creamy texture.
- Cook Pasta: While roasting, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Mash Roasted Mixture: Remove the baking dish from the oven and mash the baked feta and roasted tomatoes together using a fork or spoon to form a creamy sauce.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the baking dish and toss well to coat the noodles in the sauce. Adjust the consistency by adding reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh basil on top and serve the pasta warm for best flavor.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency—it helps to loosen the sauce without diluting flavor.
- Red pepper flakes are optional and can be adjusted based on your preferred spice level.
- Use high-quality feta for the best creamy texture and flavor.
- The dish is best served immediately but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
