Baked Feta Pasta
This tangy and flavorful baked feta pasta is an easy weeknight pasta dish that takes no work at all! Just add a block of feta, some juicy cherry tomatoes, spinach, and seasonings to a baking dish and pop it in the oven. Stir in your pasta and you’ve created the most mouthwateringly creamy pasta that the whole family will love!
Why You’ll Love This TikTok Baked Feta Pasta
Whether it’s a casserole, lasagna rolls, or baked mac and cheese, I love the ease of compiling everything in a dish and then popping it in the oven to fill the house with its yummy aroma.
Today’s baked feta pasta was borne from a TikTok that went viral a while ago. I’ve been making a similar dish for my feta-obsessed family, so I figured I should share my version too! It’s such an easy pasta recipe to throw together which makes it perfect for busy weeknights.
There’s so much salty cheesy goodness wrapped around the pasta, and small bursts of cherry tomatoes throughout each bite. It’s deliciously seasoned, has some sneaky spinach, and all you have to do is bake the sauce and then add pasta!
Key Ingredients for Pasta with Feta and Cherry Tomatoes
- Fusilli – You can use another pasta, but I recommend one that is smaller and shaped so that the cheese mixture gets trapped in each bite.
- Feta Cheese – a whole block, not pre-crumbled.
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Olive Oil
- Vegetables – Garlic and spinach.
- Seasonings – Dried oregano, black pepper, and sea salt.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
How to Make This Pasta Bake
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 400F and set an 8×11-inch baking dish to the side.
Step 2: Cook Pasta
Cook the fusilli pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Hint: Save pasta water in case you need it later.
Step 3: Combine Other Ingredients
Place the cherry tomatoes in the oven-safe baking dish and add olive oil, tossing well. Add the feta block in the middle of the baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt, oregano, and pepper.
Step 4: Bake
Bake the cheese mixture for 30-35 minutes until the tomatoes burst and the feta melts.
Step 5: Stir
Stir everything together until the tomatoes and feta combine into a creamy sauce.
Hint: If the sauce is too thick, this is where you can add a little bit of pasta water – one tablespoon at a time – until you reach your desired consistency.
Step 6: Add Veggies
Add spinach and minced garlic to the sauce and mix well.
Step 7: Add Pasta
Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss well to combine.
FAQs
Yes, you can make this recipe with other cheese. I’d recommend something softer like goat cheese or ricotta, but you can of course experience with whatever you want!
The best pasta for a pasta bake or even just a chunky sauce, is something like fusilli, penne, shells, rigatoni, or, bow tie. The smaller pieces with shapes and ridges are perfect for holding onto the sauce and distributing all of the flavors in each bite.
Feta has a lower water content than a lot of cheese so it takes longer to melt. A block of cheese will also melt better than crumbled cheese because it’s less processed. If you follow the instructions for this feta pasta exactly it should melt perfectly fine, but you can always add a little bit of reserved pasta water to thin the cheesy sauce and help with melting once you remove it from the oven.
You sure can! Just follow all of the instructions as written, except instead of letting the sauce bake, you’ll heat it and stir everything together on the stovetop.
This pasta is best enjoyed immediately, but if you have leftovers you can keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for about three days.
Variations on Baked Feta Pasta
- Stir cooked sausage into your pasta bake when you add the pasta.
- No tomatoes are necessary if you don’t like them and would rather include sliced bell pepper or spinach.
- Speaking off, things like broccoli and leafy greens would be great in this dish!
- If you don’t have cherry tomatoes, you can use canned tomatoes.
- Fold in some cooked shredded chicken for added protein.
- Use an a different pasta shape like penne or bow tie.
- Follow the recipe for the concept, but use a different cheese or flavor palate. For example, you can use mozzarella and stir in basil, sausage, or bacon, to create a pizza-themed pasta.
More Pasta Recipes to Try
- Creamy and Quick Dinner Spaghetti with Beef and Mushroom Sauce
- Dairy Free Pasta Salad with Chicken and Vegetables
- Shrimp Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce
- Easy Pasta Carbonara with Pancetta
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
If you tried this Baked Feta Pasta or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Baked Feta Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz fusilli uncooked
- 1 block feta cheese 8 ounces
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup spinach fresh
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare 8×11-inch baking dish. Preheat the oven to 400F.
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Cook the fusilli pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.8 oz fusilli
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Place cherry tomatoes in an oven-safe baking dish and add olive oil, toss well. Add feta block in the middle of the baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt, oregano, and pepper.1 block feta cheese, 1 pound cherry tomatoes, ¼ cup olive oil, ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp sea salt, ¼ tsp black pepper
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Bake for 30-35 minutes until the tomatoes burst and the feta melts.
- Stir everything together until the tomatoes and feta combine into a creamy sauce.
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Add spinach and minced garlic to the sauce, and mix well.1 cup spinach, 3 cloves garlic
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Add cooked pasta, toss to combine.
