Baked Feta Pasta

Andrew Bui

This is the story about another viral TikTok trend that I kinda wanted to hate...but didn’t. It’s not that I didn’t think the idea sounded delicious, it’s just that the whole thing seemed too simple. Obviously roasting a block of feta with bursting tomatoes is going to be amazing, but is it good enough to break the internet? The answer: yes…simply, yes. With roasted tomatoes and sharp, tangy feta, this baked pasta dish is undeniably delicious. But, the real beauty of this dish is its simplicity and versatility. It couldn’t be easier to make—the recipe itself is practically hands-off. Plus, you can really use the classic recipe as a jumping off point (like we did here) to make your ideal pasta dinner.

Keep reading on for all of my tips on how to make this viral recipe the best it can be, and completely your own:

How to make the best baked feta pasta:
— You don’t need to change the oven temperature. The OG recipe calls for baking the feta with the tomatoes at 400° for 30 minutes then kicking up for the last 10 minutes. After 30 minutes in the oven, I found my feta well on its way to a pretty shade of golden on top. To avoid burning any extra additions like garlic and herbs, I think it’s best to keep the temperature steady.
— Amp up the tomatoes. While many recipes only call for one pint of tomatoes, after testing this recipe, we decided to add two for a fuller, more flavorful sauce.
— Adding pasta water helps. A scoop of pasta water will help stretch your sauce to coat your pasta more smoothly and generously. 

Variations:
Our top tip for making this pasta? Play around with it—add more than just tomatoes and feta. Quartered shallots will get nice and jammy, and smashed garlic will infuse the olive oil. Like spice? Throw in a ton of crushed red pepper flakes. Got thyme? Add a couple sprigs for an earthy touch. Not feeling feta? Swap it out for goat cheese or brie, like in our baked brie pasta. 

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400°. In a large ovenproof skillet or medium baking dish, combine tomatoes, shallot, garlic, and all but 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and red pepper flakes and toss to combine.

Step 2

Place feta into center of tomato mixture and drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Scatter thyme sprigs over tomatoes. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until tomatoes are bursting and feta is golden on top.

Step 3

Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.

Step 4

To skillet with tomatoes and feta, add cooked pasta, reserved pasta water, and lemon zest (if using) and stir until combined. Garnish with basil.