This baked Feta Cheese Pasta Recipe is garlicky, cheesy, full of oven-roasted cherry tomatoes with basil, and could not be more simple to make. Our version of this Pasta with feta cheese uses tortellini pasta, but you can feel free to use whatever pasta you have on hand.
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Tomato and Feta Pasta
Perhaps you have heard of this viral baked Pasta with Feta Cheese Recipe that became famous. A Finnish blogger dreamed up the idea, and it became so beloved in Europe that Feta cheese was actually difficult to come by for a while! The original recipe uses a block of feta cheese, but we've found that the crumbles work just as well.
The smell of feta cheese, garlic, and cherry tomatoes baking in the oven are something dreams are made of. It’s not hard to see how this viral pasta recipe became so popular. But while there are many things to love about this Viral Feta Pasta, our favorite is just how quick and easy it is to make.
If you want to switch it up a bit, feel free to add all sorts of different meats, veggies, herbs, and spices to the dish but we suggest making it as is first and then adapting however you would like after that. Trust us, you will be making this all.the.time.
Looking for more baked pasta recipes? We've got you covered.
Ingredients for Pasta Feta Cheese Recipe
- Cherry Tomatoes - choose fresh cherry tomatoes that are nice and firm.
- Olive Oil - you could also substitute avocado oil if you would like.
- Garlic - we use whole cloves of garlic and toss in as-is, or smash them before adding.
- Basil - you want to use fresh basil, not dried.
- Salt and Pepper
- Feta Cheese - the best is full-fat feta blocks, but you can use crumbles if that’s all that you have. You just need to be sure and press them together in the center to bake.
- Tortellini Pasta - this is a fun pasta to use, however just about any type of pasta will work in this recipe.
- Parmesan Cheese - you want fresh grated Parmesan to be added just before serving.
How to Make Feta Pasta
- Prepare the tomatoes and feta. In a 9" square baking dish, add the whole cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, basil, salt, and pepper and toss. Place the block of feta into the center of the tomato mixture and drizzle the tomato mixture and the top of the feta with olive oil.
- Bake. Bake in your preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst and the feta is golden on top.
- Cook pasta. Meanwhile, cook the tortellini pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package instructions.
- Mix. Once cooked, drain the pasta water reserving about ½ cup. Add the cooked pasta to the baked tomatoes and feta and stir until completely combined. If it looks a little dry, stir in the reserved pasta water.
- Serve. Garnish with more fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy!
Variations
- Add meat. Cook your favorite protein (or reheat leftovers!) and add it into the pasta mix at the end. We’re thinking chicken, Italian sausage and shrimp would all taste amazing!
- Add spinach. Baby spinach can be mixed in after the pasta so it wilts slightly but still has a fresh bite to it.
- Add cooked veggies. Other cooked veggies such as broccoli, mushrooms, red bell peppers, and zucchini would be great.
- Make it spicy! If spicy is your thing, add plenty of red pepper flakes.
- Add more herbs and spices. This recipe just uses basil, salt, and pepper but you could add all sorts of different herbs and spices to adjust the flavor profile. Dried or fresh thyme, chives, oregano would all be great, as would a touch of cumin or paprika.
Frequently Asked Questions
Besides tortellini, we have tried using penne, macaroni, campanelle, fusillini, and bowtie pasta which have all worked great.
This would probably also be delicious if you used either goat cheese or even full-fat ricotta. Just be aware that you will need to experiment with your baking times if you try one of these cheeses.
As long as it is stored in an airtight container in the fridge, your Feta Pasta should be good for up to 3 days. You can reheat either in the microwave or on a pot on the stovetop. We suggest adding a touch of water to rehydrate when you reheat.
Feta Pasta Variations
If you're a fan of feta cheese and pasta, you're in for a treat! Below, I've listed five flavorful variations of feta pasta that are sure to tantalize your taste buds:
- Mediterranean Feta Pasta: Cook penne pasta until tender, then drain. In a separate pan, heat olive oil and sauté diced onions, bell peppers, and zucchini. Add minced garlic, canned diced tomatoes, and dried oregano. Simmer until the vegetables are tender. Stir in crumbled feta cheese and cooked pasta. Top with chopped Kalamata olives and fresh parsley.
- Creamy Feta Spinach Pasta: Cook fettuccine pasta until al dente, then drain. In a saucepan, melt butter and sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Add fresh spinach and sauté until wilted. Stir into the tomatoes before cooking. Toss in the cooked pasta. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
- Roasted Vegetable Feta Pasta: Add sliced bell peppers and red onions to your tomatoes before roasting. Roast until the onions are golden. Toss with your favorite cooked pasta and drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
Feta Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes
- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 5 cloves Garlic smashed
- 12 leaves Basil sliced
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 8 ounce Feta Cheese Block or crumbles
- 15-20 ounces Tortellini Pasta
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese grated, to add before serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- In a 9" square baking dish, add the cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, basil, salt and pepper and toss. Place the block of feta into the center of the tomato mixture and drizzle the tomato mixture and the top of the feta with olive oil.
- Bake in your preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst and the feta is golden on top.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the tortellini pasta according to package instructions.
- Once cooked, drain the pasta water reserving about ½ cup. Add the cooked pasta to the baked tomatoes and feta and stir until completely combined. If it looks a little dry, stir in the reserved pasta water.
- Garnish with more fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Here are some more of our favorite pasta recipes!
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Sun Dried Tomato Penne Pasta
- Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe
- Homemade Mac and Cheese Stovetop
- Easy Baked Ziti
- Homemade Lasagna
- Slow Cooker Tortellini Pasta Bake
- Meatball Pasta Bake
- Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad
- 4 cheese Stuffed Pasta
- Lasagna Soup Recipe
- More Pasta Recipes
- More Easy Dinner Ideas
- Roasted Tomatoes
There are so many things to love about this baked Feta Pasta. It's garlicky, cheesy, full of roasted cherry tomatoes and basil, and is oh-so-simple to make. This tomatoes and feta is so easy to make and perfect fora busy weeknight pasta dinner idea.
Diana
What a great-sounding dinner idea. My family loves pasta we will have to try this recipe soon.
Sam
This was delicious and so easy to make! Thank you for the recipe.
The Carefree Kitchen
You are welcome! I'm so glad you love it too!
Renee Goerger
I've seen this around the internet a lot lately but yours is the first recipe I've tried. It's amazing...and so easy! Thanks for the recipe. It's a keeper.
The Carefree Kitchen
Thanks for your comment! We have been making it on repeat.