Viral TikTok Baked Feta Pasta - This a simple recipe by roasting cherry tomatoes along with a block of feta cheese to create a creamy, luscious pasta.
Whether you're cooking for yourself or feeding a family, this creamy pasta is sure to become a new favorite in your recipe rotation. It's easy to make, incredibly tasty, and requires just a handful of ingredients.
It's quite interesting how social media plays an important role in our lives these days. I was talking to my son the other day about the latest trends, last year Dalgona coffee went viral, then Tortilla wraps hack, and now baked feta pasta.
I first learned about this dish through the internet and social media. It was one of the viral recipes on TikTok. I heard this recipe originally became popular in Finland through some bloggers. Some stories about the grocery stores in Finland ran out of feta cheese due to this viral recipe.
I don't know how true these stories are, but my kids love pasta. Therefore, I decided to give this recipe a try. So, here I am sharing my version of this baked feta pasta. I tried to keep it simple and used the ingredients easily available at my grocery store. I have also shared some variations of this recipe in this blog post.
Love Pasta? You may also like Broccoli Cheddar Pasta, Mushroom Pasta, Penne Alla Vodka, Masala Macaroni, & homemade Marinara Sauce with fresh tomatoes.
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Baked Feta Pasta - Recipe Video
About Baked Feta Pasta
If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok, you’ve probably seen the viral Baked Feta Pasta trend taking over.
With its creamy, cheesy, and rich flavors, this dish is a dream come true for pasta lovers. The best part? It’s super easy to make, requires only a few ingredients, and delivers a comforting meal in no time.
The viral TikTok Baked Feta Pasta isn’t just delicious; it’s incredibly simple to prepare. All you need to do is toss pasta, cherry tomatoes, and a block of feta cheese into a baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, and pop it in the oven.
As it bakes, the feta melts into a creamy sauce that beautifully coats the pasta. The combination of the tangy feta, sweet tomatoes, and savory seasoning makes this recipe irresistible.
Whether you're a home cook or a busy parent looking for a quick dinner idea, this recipe will soon become a favorite in your household.
Ingredients
Pasta: Choose your favorite types of pasta, such as penne, fusilli, or rigatoni. Pasta serves as the base for the dish, providing a hearty and comforting element.
Feta cheese: Feta cheese is a brined cheese with a tangy and salty flavor. It softens and melts beautifully when baked, creating a creamy and luscious sauce for the pasta.
Cherry tomatoes: These small, sweet tomatoes add a burst of juicy flavor to the dish. Roasting them in the oven enhances their natural sweetness and creates a rich, caramelized taste.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic brings aromatic and savory notes to the recipe. When roasted, it becomes mellow and adds a subtle depth of flavor to the pasta.
Extra-virgin olive oil: This high-quality oil is used to drizzle over the pasta and create a luscious texture. It also helps to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients.
Fresh herbs: Optional fresh herbs like basil, oregano, or thyme can be added to provide a touch of freshness and aroma to the dish. They complement the flavors of the tomatoes and feta cheese.
Salt and pepper: These essential seasonings are used to enhance the overall taste and balance the flavors of the dish. Adjust the amount according to your preference.
Red Pepper Flakes: This optional ingredient can be added for a bit of heat. It adds a spicy flavor to the dish.
How to make feta pasta?
With just a handful of ingredients and in under 30 minutes, you can make this flavor-bursting, creamy, luscious, baked feta pasta.
This recipe calls for basic ingredients cherry or grape tomatoes, feta cheese, pasta, olive oil, and some herbs. However, feel free to add veggies, herbs, or protein to amp up the dish.
Step 1: To make feta pasta recipes, you will first prepare the tomato-feta mixture by tossing cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and minced garlic in a baking dish.
You will then bake the mixture in the preheated oven until the tomatoes are soft and bursting, and the feta cheese is melted and slightly browned.
Step 2: While the tomato-feta mixture is baking, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it is al dente. Reserve some of the pasta water for later.
Step 3: Once the tomato-feta mixture is done baking, you will remove it from the oven and use a fork to mash the feta cheese and tomatoes together to create a sauce.
Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish and toss it with the tomato-feta sauce, using some of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if necessary.
You can also add some fresh herbs, such as basil or parsley, at this point for extra flavor.
Step 4: Transfer the pasta to serving bowls and top with some grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
Serve hot and enjoy your delicious viral TikTok Feta Pasta!
Substitutes for Feta Pasta
Cheese: Feta is the traditional cheese used in this dish, you can also try using goat cheese, ricotta, or even a blend of different cheeses.
Cherry Tomatoes: While cherry tomatoes work well in this recipe, you can also use other types of tomatoes such as grape tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, or roma tomatoes.
If you're not a fan of tomatoes, use roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes instead.
Veggies: Add vegetables such as sliced zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers, along with the cherry tomatoes while roasting.
Protein: To make the dish more filling, add cooked chicken, shrimp, or sausage to the pasta. Simply cook the protein separately and stir it in at the end.
For Spicy: If you like it spicy, add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes or some chopped jalapeno peppers.
Pasta: While short pasta shapes like penne or fusilli work best for this dish, you can use other shapes like rigatoni, farfalle, or macaroni.
Herbs: Fresh or dry herbs such as Thyme, oregano, or Italian seasoning add great flavor. Add fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or chives for extra flavor and freshness.
Pro Tips
Here are some pro tips to make your TikTok Baked Feta Pasta even better:
Feta Cheese: Always opt for a block of feta instead of crumbled feta. The block melts more smoothly, creating a creamier sauce that coats the pasta perfectly.
Don’t Overcrowd the Tomatoes: Make sure the cherry tomatoes are spread out in a single layer in the baking dish. This helps them roast evenly and release their juices, enhancing the flavor of the sauce.
Pasta: Ear-shaped pasta or flat pasta such as Conchigliette (shells), Orecchiette, and Farfalle make a great candidate for this recipe, as those little nooks catch so much sauce.
However, feel free to use the pasta of your choice, and cook it as per the package directions.
Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining your pasta, save a cup of the cooking water. Adding a splash of it to your sauce will help thicken it and bring everything together beautifully.
The consistency of the sauce is quite creamy, use the reserved cooked pasta water to adjust to the desired consistency.
Broil: While baking the tomatoes, and feta cheese impart a nice flavor to this dish. I like to take it a step further and broil it at the end for a few minutes. I think the charred tomatoes and feta cheese add such a depth of flavor.
Add Fresh Herbs at the End: While dried herbs are great for roasting, add fresh herbs like basil or parsley after baking for an extra burst of flavor and color.
Add Veggies for Extra Flavor: To boost nutrition and flavor, toss in some veggies like spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers before roasting.
Season to Taste: Don’t be afraid to adjust the seasonings. Taste the sauce after baking and add more salt, pepper, or a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to suit your taste.
Lemon (Optional): Adding lemon juice and lemon zest helps balance the sweet flavor of the tomatoes, and the saltiness of the feta cheese. It also adds a nice refreshing flavor to this dish.
Olive Oil: Use good-quality extra-virgin olive oil. Olive oil adds a nice flavor and creaminess to the sauce.
Serve Immediately: This dish is best enjoyed fresh and hot out of the oven. The creamy sauce will be at its best right after it’s tossed with the pasta.
How to cook pasta in an Instant Pot
Cooking pasta can be very tricky, especially in an Instant Pot (pressure cooker). Here’s how I cook pasta in an Instant Pot:
- For Instant pot cooking, add enough water to cover the pasta. Reduce the cooking time to “half” what is recommended on the box of the pasta, followed by a quick pressure release.
- I do not recommend using the broth for this recipe unless the broth you are using has no added sodium (salt) in it. Since, feta cheese is heavily salted, try to avoid any additional sodium.
- Normally, I add salt while cooking pasta. However, for this recipe, I did not add any salt while cooking pasta, as the feta is quite salty, and adding salt to pasta would just make it way saltier.
- Reserve some of the cooking pasta water, to adjust the consistency of the pasta. Pasta thickens over some time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When feta cheese is baked in the oven, it softens and becomes creamy, creating a rich and flavorful sauce when combined with other ingredients like cherry tomatoes and pasta.
To make a quick feta pasta, cook your choice of pasta according to package instructions. In a separate pan, combine crumbled feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, and your preferred herbs, then toss with the cooked pasta and season with salt and pepper for a simple and flavorful meal.
A good substitute for feta cheese in pasta is goat cheese, as it shares a similar tangy and creamy flavor.
The best way to reheat feta pasta is to gently warm it in a skillet or pan over medium-low heat. Add a splash of water to prevent it from drying out, and stir occasionally until it reaches your desired temperature. Avoid using high heat, as it can cause the cheese to separate and the pasta to become mushy.
Yes, you can add other ingredients to this dish such as spinach, roasted red peppers, or grilled chicken. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time and seasoning accordingly.
TRIED THIS RECIPE?
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Baked Feta Pasta – TikTok Viral Recipe
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS FOR BAKED FETA PASTA
- 8 oz. pasta of choice ** recipe uses large shells pasta
- 8 oz. block feta cheese
- 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes; 20-24 oz. approx.
- 6-8 garlic cloves, crushed
- ½ lemon zest + juice (optional)
- ⅓ cup olive oil; **reserve 1 tbsp. oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon oregano or Italian seasoning; **reserve ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes, adjust to taste
- salt & pepper, adjust to taste
- Handful of fresh basil chopped; plus more for garnish
Instructions
How to make Baked Feta Pasta
- Pre-heat oven to 400 F.
- In a baking dish, add cherry tomatoes, and crushed garlic.Note: I used a 9 ” x 13 ” baking dish.
- Toss the tomatoes with olive oil, spices – oregano, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Make some space in the center of the baking dish, and place a block of feta cheese. Drizzle reserved 1 tbsp. of olive oil, oregano, and red chili flakes.
- Bake at 400 F for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, turn the oven to the “BROIL” setting and broil it for 3-5 minutes or until the feta cheese is slightly brown.
- In the meantime, cook pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of cooking liquid for later use.How to cook pasta in an Instant Pot? - refer to the recipe notes below.
- Remove the tomatoes from the oven. With a help of a spatula or a fork, mash all the cheese, tomatoes, and garlic. Combine everything into a nice sauce.
- Toss in cooked pasta, basil, lemon zest (optional), and combine everything. Add cooking pasta water as needed to adjust the consistency of the sauce.
- Squeeze in some fresh lemon juice (optional), mix, and cover the baking dish with some foil. Allow the pasta to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This will ensure that the pasta soaks up all the beautiful flavors from the sauce.
- Garnish with some more basil, and serve baked feta pasta warm. Bon-Appetit!!
Video
Notes
Substitutes for Feta Pasta
Cheese: Feta is the traditional cheese used in this dish, you can also try using goat cheese, ricotta, or even a blend of different cheeses. Cherry Tomatoes: While cherry tomatoes work well in this recipe, you can also use other types of tomatoes such as grape tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, or roma tomatoes. If you're not a fan of tomatoes, use roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes instead. Veggies: Add vegetables such as sliced zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers, along with the cherry tomatoes while roasting. Protein: To make the dish more filling, add cooked chicken, shrimp, or sausage to the pasta. Simply cook the protein separately and stir it in at the end. For Spicy: If you like it spicy, add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes or some chopped jalapeno peppers. Pasta: While short pasta shapes like penne or fusilli work best for this dish, you can use other shapes like rigatoni, farfalle, or macaroni. Herbs: Fresh or dry herbs such as Thyme, oregano, or Italian seasoning add great flavor. Add fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or chives for extra flavor and freshness.Pro Tips
Here are some pro tips to make your TikTok Baked Feta Pasta even better: Feta Cheese: Always opt for a block of feta instead of crumbled feta. The block melts more smoothly, creating a creamier sauce that coats the pasta perfectly. Don’t Overcrowd the Tomatoes: Make sure the cherry tomatoes are spread out in a single layer in the baking dish. This helps them roast evenly and release their juices, enhancing the flavor of the sauce. Pasta: Ear-shaped pasta or flat pasta such as Conchigliette (shells), Orecchiette, and Farfalle make a great candidate for this recipe, as those little nooks catch so much sauce. However, feel free to use the pasta of your choice, and cook it as per the package directions. Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining your pasta, save a cup of the cooking water. Adding a splash of it to your sauce will help thicken it and bring everything together beautifully. The consistency of the sauce is quite creamy, use the reserved cooked pasta water to adjust to the desired consistency. Broil: While baking the tomatoes, and feta cheese impart a nice flavor to this dish. I like to take it a step further and broil it at the end for a few minutes. I think the charred tomatoes and feta cheese add such a depth of flavor. Add Fresh Herbs at the End: While dried herbs are great for roasting, add fresh herbs like basil or parsley after baking for an extra burst of flavor and color. Add Veggies for Extra Flavor: To boost nutrition and flavor, toss in some veggies like spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers before roasting. Season to Taste: Don’t be afraid to adjust the seasonings. Taste the sauce after baking and add more salt, pepper, or a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to suit your taste. Lemon (Optional): Adding lemon juice and lemon zest helps balance the sweet flavor of the tomatoes, and the saltiness of the feta cheese. It also adds a nice refreshing flavor to this dish. Olive Oil: Use good-quality extra-virgin olive oil. Olive oil adds a nice flavor and creaminess to the sauce. Serve Immediately: This dish is best enjoyed fresh and hot out of the oven. The creamy sauce will be at its best right after it’s tossed with the pasta.How to cook pasta in an Instant Pot
Cooking pasta can be very tricky, especially in an Instant Pot (pressure cooker). Here’s how I cook pasta in an Instant Pot:- For Instant pot cooking, add enough water to cover the pasta. Reduce the cooking time to “half” what is recommended on the box of the pasta, followed by a quick pressure release.
- I do not recommend using the broth for this recipe unless the broth you are using has no added sodium (salt) in it. Since, feta cheese is heavily salted, try to avoid any additional sodium.
- Normally, I add salt while cooking pasta. However, for this recipe, I did not add any salt while cooking pasta, as the feta is quite salty, and adding salt to pasta would just make it way saltier.
- Reserve some of the cooking pasta water, to adjust the consistency of the pasta. Pasta thickens over some time.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
Chenée says
I love this pasta! So easy to make and the feta flavor is perfect.
Jyoti Behrani says
Hi Chenee, I’m so glad you liked my recipe ?
Cathleen says
I still haven't tried this pasta!! This needs to change ASAP because I know I will love it!
Jyoti Behrani says
Hi Cathleen, My family devours this feta pasta. Hope you love it as much as we do.
Tawnie Kroll says
I love this dinner so much! I added more chili flakes and everyone loved it!
Jyoti Behrani says
Hi Tawnie, I’m so glad you liked my recipe!
Cynthia says
Love the twist on a traditional Italian pasta dish with the Greek feta! So delish and a family favorite!
Jyoti Behrani says
Hi Cynthia, I’m so happy to hear this! You’re so welcome!
kushigalu says
Totally in love with the flavors in the pasta recipe. I will be making this soon for dinner.
Jyoti Behrani says
Hi Kushi, So happy to hear this! You’re so welcome!