This creamy, savory and simple baked tomato and feta pasta recipe is my spin on the viral TikTok dish! It’s easy to make with feta cheese, juicy cherry tomatoes and pasta.
Quick pasta recipes are some our favorites! Others dinners to try include goulash, creamy rigatoni, and tuscan chicken pasta.
TikTok Baked Feta Pasta
If your family loves pasta recipes as much as mine, you have to try this baked feta pasta! It’s easy to see why it was a TikTok pasta sensation, the creamy, salt feta pairs perfectly with the juicy cherry tomatoes and al dente pasta to create the best cheesy, savory flavor.
Lucky for both me and you, the 2021 viral feta pasta trend has slowed down a little and we don’t have to worry about a feta block shortage because I know after one bite this pasta like my baked ziti or bruschetta chicken will be on repeat!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple yet flavorful: Tomatoes, feta and olive oil combine together for a melty, creamy sauce that goes beyond a trend! You will love this amazing pasta dish.
- Quick and easy: Whether it’s a busy weeknight or you need a side for a dinner party, this TikTok pasta recipe can be prepped and ready under an hour.
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes are best in this recipe. They are small, sweet and when baked burst into juicy goodness.
- Olive oil: A good quality extra virgin olive oil is used to coat the dish and create a rich base for the saucy tomatoes and creamy feta.
- Frozen garlic: I like to use frozen garlic as it thaws while baking it infused the dish with flavor. Roasted garlic or fresh cloves garlic can also be used.
- Seasonings and herbs: I used 21 Salute seasoning, but any combination of oregano, basil, rosemary or thyme could be used along with salt and pepper.
- Feta cheese: A block of feta cheese will melt better when baked.
- Pasta: I used farfalle pasta, also called bow-ties, but any short pasta works.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add a protein. Before serving, add in cooked chicken, Italian sausage, shrimp or any other desired protein.
- Dried seasonings and herbs. Instead of 21 salute seasoning, use dried oregano or Italian seasoning. Play around with the seasonings to find what you like in this baked feta pasta.
- Spicy: Add some red pepper flakes or even harissa.
- Fresh herbs. Other than the fresh basil, try fresh oregano, fresh thyme or fresh parsley.
- Add some greens. During the last few minutes of cooking the pasta, add in fresh spinach. You could also add broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms or zucchini.
- Gluten-free. Use your favorite gluten-free pasta or skip the pasta altogether and serve with zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
How to Make Baked Feta Pasta
- Assemble: In a 9×13 inch dish, drizzle oil then add tomatoes, garlic and seasonings. Place feta cheese in the center of the dish, flipping the cheese so both sides are coated with oil.
- Bake: Bake at 400°F for 35 minutes, or until tomatoes have blistered.
- Prepare pasta: While baking, in a large pot boil pasta in salted water for 10-12 minutes. Drain.
- Combine and serve. Remove baking dish from the oven. Smash tomatoes with a fork. Then stir the tomatoes and cheese to make a creamy sauce before adding pasta. Garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan and serve hot.
Baked Tomato and Feta Pasta Tips
- Avoid low fat feta: It does not melt or taste quite the same in this baked feta pasta recipe!
- Saucy cherry tomatoes: The idea is to crowd the pan with the cherry tomatoes so they become juicy and saucy. Use the full two packages or even more if you would like.
- Be generous with the olive oil. This is creating the base of the rich sauce plus helps the tomatoes not stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Mix in the pasta quickly: Time your pasta to get done around the same time as the baked feta in order to toss them together so the pasta clings to the warm, melty cheese and saucy tomatoes.
- Save some pasta water. I like to reserve some pasta water just in case the dish doesn’t turn out as creamy as I would like. It adds to the sauciness!
Recipe FAQs
While a block of feta cheese is best for baked feta pasta, if you are unable to find one, you can use crumbled feta cheese. Pile it in the center of the baking dish as much as possible.
Yes, but it won’t be the same as feta cheese pasta! If you would just like a creamy cheesy pasta, you could try goat cheese or boursin cheese. You could try a full fat, whole milk ricotta but again taste won’t be the same.
Really you can’t go wrong with most type of pasta in this baked feta pasta. I generally like to use something with grooves, curves or edges as it clings to the sauce a bit better. Penne, bow-ties, cavatappi, rigatoni, rotini, these type of pasta all work!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. After that, the tomatoes start to become more watery and thin the sauce. To reheat, warm in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add a splash of milk or cream if you would like.
No, the texture of the tomatoes will change and become very watery upon thawing.
Love pasta dinner recipes? Other favorites include chicken fettuccine Alfredo, chicken Parmesan pasta and creamy chicken pasta!
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Baked Tomato and Feta Pasta
Ingredients
- 32 ounces grape tomatoes , 2 packages
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cubes frozen garlic
- 1 teaspoon 21 seasoning salute , see notes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 8 ounces feta cheese , one block
- 12 ounces farfalle pasta , 3/4 package
For serving: add parmesan cheese and basil.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- In a 9×13 inch dish, combine tomatoes, oil, garlic, and seasonings.
- Place feta cheese in the center of the dish, flipping the cheese so both sides are coated with oil.
- Bake for 35 minutes, or until tomatoes have blistered.
- While baking, boil pasta in salted water for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove baking dish from the oven. Smash tomatoes with a fork. Then stir the tomatoes and cheese to make a creamy sauce.
- Add pasta just before serving and mix until combined. Add fresh basil on top. Serve while hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Dinner, Italian, Mediterranean, Nut-Free, Pasta, Reader Favorites, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
OMG! I am so happy I found this recipe because it’s even better than it looks! Seriously I can’t wait to make it again!
Can you clarify amount of tomatoes? 32 oz total or 2 (32 ounce pkgs) ? 64 ounces or 4lbs of tomatoes seems like a lot but I know it will cook down a lot as well.
Hi Amy! 32 oz of cherry tomatoes total, which is equivalent to two packages of tomatoes :)
Can you please clarify, 4 blocks of frozen garlic? Do you mean 4 cloves, frozen?
Thank you!
Hi Kate! I like to use frozen garlic as it thaws while baking it infused the dish with flavor. Roasted garlic or fresh cloves garlic can also be used, 4 tsp. The frozen garlic cubes you can find in the frozen section at your grocery store, it’s a pack of about 20 cubes, a common brand is Dorot Gardens in a red container. Enjoy!