Baked Feta and Cherry Tomato Pasta

Name: Baked Feta and Cherry Tomato Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces pasta (gnocchi, any pasta (GF or not), or zoodles); 8 ounces cherry tomatoes (or tomatoes of your choice); 1 feta block (not crumbled feta) (about 7 ounces/200 grams); 1 garlic; 1/2 handful oregano; 2-3 Tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional) (or sliced chili pepper )

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Enjoy this baked feta and cherry tomato pasta with just five ingredients & in under 30 minutes – combining the flavors of salty, flavorful feta cheese with roasted cherry tomatoes for a creamy feta cheese pasta combination to die for!

If TikTok is good for anything (other than making me waste hours of my day), then it’s the new ‘hacks’ and viral trends that are delicious – like this baked feta with tomatoes combined into a creamy tomato feta pasta dish.

Now, the concept of pasta bake style dishes isn’t new to me, neither is baked feta or roasted cherry tomatoes – in fact, I only recently posted a recipe for a roasted cherry tomato pasta sauce (because pasta with cherry tomatoes is delicious anyway) and slow-roasted tomato confit. This cherry tomato pasta is similar but with a salty, savory, baked feta twist.

Oh, and, of course, this isn’t the first TikTok trend I’ve tried and enjoyed here. In the past year, we’ve had Dalgona latte (whipped coffee), pancake cereal, and the most recent tortilla wrap hack, which I was ahead of the curve with, for once (I’ve shared Global inspired, dessert-inspired & breakfast-inspired options… so far).

What is baked feta pasta?

With TikTok hacks and trends, you have options ranging from the downright ridiculous to the “why have I never thought of that before?”! This definitely errs to the latter – especially when you have a mouthful of creamy baked feta with tomatoes and pasta.

A dish with baked Baked Feta and tomatoes

But what IS the trend all about? It’s simple, really – the idea suggests you place a block of feta in a baking dish with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and seasoning and bake it in the oven until the tomatoes are roasted flavor-bombs of deliciousness after becoming lightly caramelized. The baked feta is creamy and slightly smoky if browned.

Mash that up into a creamy feta tomato pasta sauce, combine it with your favorite pasta of choice, and enjoy!

So basically, you get to make a delicious feta pasta sauce with practically NO EFFORT at all – no stovetop sauteeing and stirring. Simply shove everything in a baking dish and let the oven do the rest!

The Ingredients

Feta cheese: you’ll need a single block of feta for this recipe, not the crumbled or cubed type. French feta will also work (it’s creamier too). You could also swap it for a ricotta/goat cheese blend.
Cherry tomatoes: or other tomatoes of your choice. If using larger tomatoes, then cut them into wedges. Mix and match the tomatoes for different depths of flavor.
Olive oil: or another neutral cooking oil like avocado oil. Just remember that olive oil and tomatoes together = more health benefits!
Seasonings: I used a combination of garlic, oregano, salt & pepper.
Pasta: use your favorite pasta. You could also use homemade pasta like Vegan Pasta or Oat Pasta (GF).

Optional Ingredients & Variations

Honey: Okay, stay with me here – honey and feta taste gorgeous together. The sweetness balances the saltiness of the cheese in amazing ways. You don’t need much either – just a good drizzle (around 2 Tbsp).
White wine: add a good glug of white wine to the bottom of the pan before baking the feta and tomatoes.
Other vegetables: mushrooms, spinach, olives, zucchini, etc., will all work well within this dish – thinly slice the vegetables and nestle in with the tomatoes.
Add spice: you could add a little fresh chili or chili flakes to the dish when cooking; you could also sub a little of the olive oil for chili oil.
For a lower-carb option: use zucchini noodles (zoodles) or butternut squash noodles in place of the pasta.

How To Make Baked Feta & Cherry Tomato Pasta

Step 1: Prepare the baked feta & tomatoes.

First, preheat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC.

Then, add the tomatoes, olive oil, salt & pepper to an oven-safe dish and toss well.

In the center of the pan add your herbs, the block of feta cheese, and a little more oil.

It’s best to place the herbs beneath the feta so they don’t burn in the oven.

Step 2: Let the feta bake

Let the tomato and feta bake in the oven at 400ºF/200ºC for about 25 minutes.

OR, optionally, turn on the broiler for the last five minutes of the baking process. This will brown the baked feta more and add a little more smoky char flavor to the dish. Watch it carefully though so it doesn’t burn.

Step 3: Cook the pasta

Meanwhile, as the tomatoes and feta bake, prepare your pasta of choice according to its package instructions (or recipe instructions).

Once cooked, drain the pasta – the salted water can be poured into an ice-cube tray and frozen to use in soups and stocks. You can also save around 1/2 cup to add to the baked feta and tomatoes. It will help the tomato sauce adhere to the pasta (because of the water’s starchiness).

Step 4: Assemble the baked feta & cherry tomato pasta

When the baked feta and cherry tomatoes come out of the oven, add some freshly grated garlic and basil leaves then mix well, mashing everything together – this will create a creamy, tomato feta cheese pasta sauce.

Alternatively, you could roast the garlic in with the tomatoes but make sure they’re covered in oil so they don’t burn.

Add the pasta directly to the oven dish, stir well, and enjoy!

FAQs

How to store the Feta & tomato pasta?

Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
You can reheat the pasta on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.

Can I make this into a single-serve dish?

Yes, you can! I know using a whole block of feta is a little daunting, but it’s not necessary. For a healthier single-serve portion, then use 100g Feta cheese only – you can enjoy delicious feta cheese pasta using just a fraction of the cheese.

What type of baking dish should I use?

Choose one that is ‘just’ big enough for all the ingredients – this will ensure they’re all snuggled together and you get maximum flavor and juiciness. If you use one that’s too big, the tomatoes can cook unevenly and it just isn’t quite as good.

What cheese can I use instead of feta?

No matter what you use to replace this baked feta, it won’t match up exactly. I’ve tried it with goat’s cheese, but it’s a little too strong. I’ve also tried it with baked ricotta, which is very mild. I’d suggest using a mixture of ricotta and goat’s cheese for something similar in flavor to feta.
You could also use a block of cream cheese – obviously, it won’t taste exactly the same but the concept is the same.

Where did this baked feta pasta trend originate?

As far as I can tell, this trend was first shared by a Finish food blogger Jenni Häyrinen called ‘Uuni feta pasta’ or baked feta pasta. In fact, I called this ‘Finnish pasta trend’ on my Instagram and got a barrage of messages telling me off since Feta is Greek (eep!).
Note – there is a slight dispute about the origins of the dish as a fellow food blogger Tiiu Piret shared a similar recipe in 2018 – it just didn’t go viral (as is the way it goes on the internet).

A baking dish with baked Feta and tomato pasta

Recipe Notes & Top Tips

Use high-quality feta – this dish is made up of such few ingredients, with feta being the main flavor – so make it good. Avoid cheap feta, which can be a little chalky and odd in texture, and shell out a little more on something slightly higher in quality.
Get creative with your flavors – check out the ingredients sections above for several ways you can adapt this feta cheese pasta to your liking. While the baked feta and cherry tomato pasta combination may be the original, it’s certainly not the only ingredients that will work with this cooking method.
Turn this into a baked feta pasta bake – once both elements are ready (the sauce and the pasta) combine them in the baking dish, sprinkle over breadcrumbs and a little hard cheese (like parmesan), then broil for a few minutes to crisp up.
For a slightly lighter dish – you can reduce the amount of feta in the recipe and replace it with a little light cream, vegetable stock, or extra pasta water.

If you enjoyed this tomato and feta pasta recipe, then here are some similar dishes you may enjoy.

Close up of Baked Feta and Mushroom Pasta

If you try this baked feta & cherry tomato pasta recipe, then let me know your thoughts and questions in the comments. I’d also really appreciate a recipe rating and would love to see your recreations – just tag @AlphaFoodie.