Description
A creamy, tangy, and easy weeknight pasta dish featuring a block of feta and cherry tomatoes baked until burst, then tossed with penne pasta for a rich, restaurant-quality meal in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 block (8-10 oz / 225-280g) feta cheese
- 2 pints (about 400g) cherry tomatoes
- 3–4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4–6 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 pound (450g) penne or rigatoni pasta
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 cup pasta water (reserved)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place cherry tomatoes in a 9×13 baking dish in a single layer.
- Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes.
- Scatter smashed garlic cloves around the dish.
- Sprinkle with dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Drizzle generously with olive oil over the tomatoes and feta.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until tomatoes are burst and feta is golden and creamy.
- While baking, boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Remove baking dish from oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes.
- Mash the feta and tomatoes together with a fork until a chunky sauce forms. Add a splash of pasta water if too thick.
- Add drained pasta to the baking dish and toss to coat.
- Stir in fresh basil and red pepper flakes.
- Serve immediately with extra basil and olive oil.
Notes
Use a solid block of feta, not crumbled, for the best texture. Do not skip the pasta water; it helps the sauce cling to the noodles. Mash the feta while it is still hot to prevent it from becoming grainy. Add fresh basil at the end to preserve its flavor. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 14
Keywords: baked feta pasta, viral recipe, weeknight dinner, easy pasta, feta and tomatoes, copycat meal, creamy pasta, gluten-free option