Description
This baked feta pasta recipe with Roasted Cherry Red Burst is a viral sensation that delivers rich, savory flavor without much mess, perfect for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 7 oz feta cheese block, preferably Greek feta packed in brine
- 2 pints (approx. 680g) Cherry Red Burst tomatoes (grape or halved Roma tomatoes work well)
- 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4–6 large garlic cloves, minced
- 12 oz pasta of choice (penne, rotini, or spaghetti)
- 0.5 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Get your oven ready by setting it to 400°F (200°C).
- Prep Baking Dish: In a sturdy 9×13 inch baking dish, place the entire block of feta cheese directly in the center. Scatter the 2 pints of Cherry Red Burst tomatoes evenly around the feta.
- Season Ingredients: Drizzle generously with 0.25 cup of olive oil, then add 4-6 cloves of minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste, ensuring the tomatoes and feta are well coated.
- Bake Mixture: Roast for 25-30 minutes, or until the tomatoes have softened and burst open, and the feta is golden brown and bubbling around the edges.
- Cook Pasta: While the feta and tomatoes are baking, cook 12 oz of your chosen pasta in a large pot according to package directions until al dente. Remember to reserve about 0.5 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
- Combine and Serve: Carefully remove the hot baking dish from the oven. Gently mash the roasted tomatoes and melted feta with a fork, stirring until they form a wonderfully creamy sauce. Stir in the drained pasta and a generous handful of fresh basil. If it looks a little thick, splash in 1-2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water to achieve your desired creaminess.
Notes
For a quicker cleanup, cook the pasta in a deeper, oven-safe pot to combine everything in the same vessel after roasting. Fresh, seasonal cherry tomatoes provide the best flavor and nutritional value. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (approx 250g)
- Calories: 550 calories
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: baked feta pasta, roasted cherry tomatoes, viral recipe, easy dinner, weeknight meal, healthy, family-friendly, quick prep, Mediterranean, vegetarian option