Baked Feta Pasta – TikTok Viral Pasta Recipe

 This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!

Baked Feta Pasta is a pasta dish made with creamy, tomato-feta cheese-based sauce. This luscious, flavorful pasta dish is easy to make, uses a handful of ingredients, and comes together in under 30 minutes. Perfect for weeknight dinners or even for that special date night!

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 Tik Tok. I heard this recipe originally became popular in Finland through some bloggers. Some stories about the grocery stores in Finland were 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.

Like most Italian pasta dishes, the basic ingredients are tomatoes, garlic, cheese, and some herbs. Baked feta pasta uses cherry or grape tomatoes, feta cheese and some oregano, and lots of fresh basil. The sauce is freshly made using cherry or grape tomatoes, and feta cheese. This creamy, luscious sauce is tossed with some cooked pasta, flavored with some fresh basil, and you have it my friends, an easy, delicious baked feta pasta. This is one perfect dish that is low on effort but high on flavors. Perfect for weeknight dinners or even for that special date night!

Baked Feta Pasta Video Tutorial

Ingredients for Baked Feta Pasta

Feta Cheese: The star of this dish is feta cheese. It has a tangy and salty flavor and crumbles easily. It is the main ingredient of this dish and gives it its creamy and savory taste.

Cherry Tomatoes: These are small, round tomatoes that are sweet and flavorful. They add a pop of color and freshness to the dish.

Pasta: Any type of pasta can be used for this dish, but it is recommended to use a short pasta like penne or fusilli. The pasta is boiled until al dente, then mixed with the tomato-feta sauce.

Olive Oil: It is used to cook the tomatoes and garlic, and to drizzle over the pasta. It adds a rich, fruity flavor to the dish.

Garlic: Its pungent and slightly sweet taste, adds depth of flavor to the dish.

Salt and Pepper: These are common seasoning ingredients that are used to enhance the taste of the dish. Salt brings out the flavors of the other ingredients, while black pepper adds a spicy kick.

Red Pepper Flakes: This is an optional ingredient that can be added for a bit of heat. It adds a spicy flavor to the dish.

Fresh Herbs: Optional herbs like basil or parsley can be used to garnish the dish and add a fresh, aromatic flavor.

How to make Baked 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.

To make Baked Feta Pasta, 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.

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.

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.

Transfer the pasta to serving bowls and top with some grated parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your delicious Baked Feta Pasta!

Tips for Baked Feta Pasta

Key Ingredients

The two main ingredients in this dish are tomatoes and feta cheese. The sweetness from the cherry tomatoes and saltiness from the feta, add a unique flavor to the sauce, thus making this pasta yummy!!

I prefer cherry or grape tomatoes, due to their sweet flavor. However, you can also use salad tomatoes, which are less tart as compared to other varieties of tomatoes and can be substituted in this recipe.

Block feta cheese is what I would recommend. Substitutes for feta cheese would be goat cheese and ricotta cheese.

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.

About cooking pasta

Cooking pasta can be very tricky, especially in an Instant pot (pressure cooker). Here’s how I cook pasta in 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. Please feel free to add salt as per your liking.

Reserve some of the cooking pasta water, to adjust the consistency of the pasta. Pasta thickens over some time.

Herbs and Spices

Instead of adding whole garlic cloves, add crushed garlic cloves. Garlic when cooked, caramelizes beautifully and adds a ton of flavor to this dish. I used a whole bulb of garlic in this recipe, add as per your liking.

Herbs and spices enhance the flavor of this dish. Feel free to add herbs of your choice. Fresh or dry herbs such as Thyme, oregano, or Italian seasoning add great flavor to this recipe.

I like to add some crushed red chili flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat and additional flavor.

While baking the tomatoes, and feta cheese, imparts a nice flavor to this dish. I like to take it a step further and broil them at the end, just for a couple of minutes. I think the charred tomatoes, and feta cheese add such a depth of flavor.

The consistency of the sauce is quite creamy, use the reserved cooked pasta water to adjust to the desired consistency.

Lemon juice and lemon zest are optional. However, I think it 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.

Use good-quality extra-virgin olive oil. Olive oil adds a nice flavor and creaminess to the sauce.

Variations

Add vegetables: You can add other vegetables to the roasting pan along with the cherry tomatoes, such as sliced zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers.

Use different types of cheese: While feta is the traditional cheese used in this dish, you can also try using goat cheese, ricotta, or even a blend of different cheeses.

Add protein: To make the dish more filling, you can add cooked chicken, shrimp, or sausage to the pasta. Simply cook the protein separately and stir it in at the end.

Make it spicy: If you like a bit of heat, you can add more red pepper flakes to the dish or even add some chopped jalapeno peppers to the roasting pan.

Use different pasta shapes: While short pasta shapes like penne or fusilli work best for this dish, you can experiment with other shapes like rigatoni, farfalle, or macaroni.

Add fresh herbs: Garnish the dish with chopped fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or chives to add extra flavor and freshness.

Use different types of 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different type of cheese for this recipe?

While feta cheese is the traditional cheese used in this dish, you could experiment with other types of cheese such as goat cheese, ricotta, or even mozzarella.

Can I use canned tomatoes instead of fresh cherry tomatoes?

While fresh cherry tomatoes are recommended for this recipe, you could use canned tomatoes if you can’t find fresh ones. Drain the canned tomatoes first and add them to the roasting pan with the garlic and olive oil.

What type of pasta to use?

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.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Baked Feta Pasta is best served fresh out of the oven, so it’s not recommended to make it ahead of time. However, you could prepare the tomato and feta sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake it.

Can I use gluten-free pasta?

Yes, you can use gluten-free pasta for this recipe. Just be sure to follow the cooking instructions on the package, as gluten-free pasta can be more delicate than regular pasta.

Can I add other ingredients to this dish?

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.

Is this dish healthy?

Baked Feta Pasta is relatively high in fat and calories due to the cheese and oil used in the recipe. However, it does contain healthy ingredients such as tomatoes and garlic, and can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

How to store pasta?

Pasta stays good for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Store it in a clean, glass container. Re-heat the pasta in the microwave. Add a splash of water and microwave it for a minute or so. Baked Feta Pasta is ready to be devoured!

TRIED THIS RECIPE?

Hope you enjoy this Baked Feta Pasta!! If you give this recipe a try, please rate the recipe by clicking the stars on the recipe card. Leave a comment and share your experience. Thank you!

Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest on my blog!! Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for easy and delicious video recipes. Happy Cooking!!

Some more pasta recipes

• Broccoli Cheddar Pasta
• Mushroom Pasta
• Penne Alla Vodka
• Marinara Sauce with fresh tomatoes