This amazing Baked Feta Pasta recipe has been a TikTok sensation and for good reason! It's so simple to make, filled with cherry tomatoes, fresh garlic, and fresh basil, in a creamy feta sauce, and baked to perfection!
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One thing I love about TikTok is that there are so many fun food trends that take off. There's always something new to try and Tiktok recipes can take off and gain traction so quickly! My only trouble is that while they often look good, they don't always turn out how I would hope. So I've been sharing some of our favorites that actually work well and we enjoy them enough to add them to our regular rotation.
Some other favorite viral recipes from Tiktok that we've tried and loved are Cookie Croissants, Beet Pasta, and, of course, the gooey TikTok Cinnamon Rolls hack!
This Tiktok creamy Baked Feta Pasta got really popular a couple of years ago, but it's doing the rounds again using Boursin cheese. It's so quick and easy to make, I just had to share it here too.
Simply bake a block of Feta cheese (or creamy Boursin cheese - any flavor) nestled in tomatoes and seasoning with oil in a baking dish, add fresh basil, smash it together, and stir in cooked pasta!
It's one of those easy pasta recipes you can have up your sleeve for busy weeknights, potlucks, or even dinner parties when you want a simple side so you can focus on something like a grilled or pan seared protein.
For more delicious one-dish pasta recipes, check out my Instant Pot Creamy Penne Alfredo, One Pot Bruschetta Chicken Pasta, Baked Ziti, and this Copycat Costco Mac and Cheese!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Easily add in your favorite herbs and seasonings to change the flavor.
- This recipe uses fresh ingredients for the best flavor but requires minimal prep!
- Quick and easy, this Tiktok pasta recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or even a hearty lunch!
What You'll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Tomatoes - Fresh cherry tomatoes are perfect, but you can use grape tomatoes too. Tomatoes on the vine will give you the freshest, sweetest flavor.
- Oil - Extra virgin olive oil gives a smooth, classic Italian flavor here.
- Garlic - Use fresh garlic cloves that you can chop or smash yourself for the best flavor. Garlic puree will work in a pinch.
- Salt & Pepper - Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper will season this pasta dish perfectly!
- Red Pepper Flakes - This is optional to add a bit of spice, but it is so worth it!
- Feta - You'll need a whole block of feta for this recipe, I'd recommend using a good quality feta for the best flavor and texture.
- Pasta - You can use your favorite kind of pasta - really whatever you have on hand - but rigatoni, cavatappi, penne, and farfalle are all great. In the pictures in this post, I used some Fusilli Corti Bucati that I picked up from Trader Joe's.
- Basil - Use fresh basil leaves to mix into the pasta sauce and also as a garnish for a colorful and fresh finish.
How to Make Baked Feta Pasta
- Put tomatoes and seasoning in dish. Combine tomatoes, olive oil, smashed garlic cloves, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in a baking dish or casserole dish. Toss to coat.
- Add feta cheese. Nestle the feta cheese in the middle of the baking dish, surrounded by the tomatoes.
- Bake dish and cook pasta. Bake for 40 minutes until the tomatoes have burst and the feta has softened. Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of salted, boiling water until al dente, according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water as you drain the pasta.
- Add basil. When the tomatoes are done, remove the baking dish from the oven and add the fresh basil leaves.
- Make sauce. Smash the tomatoes and feta together to form a creamy sauce.
- Add pasta. Lastly, add the pasta and ½ of the pasta water to the pasta sauce.
- Stir. Stir well. Add more pasta water, if needed.
- Garnish with additional fresh basil and serve!
Recipe FAQ's
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can enjoy it cold or reheat it the next day for lunch!
Yes! Freeze in Ziploc bags or freezer bags for up to 2 months. Defrost before reheating in the microwave or on the stovetop with added water if needed.
Tips for Success
- Make sure your casserole dish is large enough for the tomatoes to cook in a single layer.
- Coat the entire bottom of the dish with olive oil to prevent anything from sticking to it.
What do I serve with baked feta pasta?
This baked feta pasta will go well with a side of garlic bread. Try my Grilled Garlic Bread, Garlic Parmesan Homemade Breadsticks, and this Garlic & Rosemary No Knead Artisan Bread.
Serve a salad on the side, like Cold Broccoli Salad with Bacon, Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata, or my Olive Garden Salad Copycat with Dressing!
For more nutrients and to make the meal go a bit further, serve this pasta dish with Haricots Verts with Dijon Vinaigrette, Green Beans with Bacon & Pine Nuts, or Oven Roasted Broccoli with Garlic, Parmesan, and Lemon!
Substitutions and Variations
- You can use any kind of pasta for this recipe. Cavatappi, penne, farfalle (bowtie pasta), or similar would work just as well. Use gluten-free pasta if you need to, just check the label.
- Change up the fresh herbs in this tomato pasta for a different flavor. Try fresh parsley, fresh rosemary, or fresh thyme. Dried oregano or Italian seasoning would taste great, too.
- Add more nutrients to this dish by adding veggies or more green leaves! Mushrooms, bell peppers, red onions, zucchini, kalamata olives, or fresh spinach leaves would go well in this dish.
- Add some Grilled Chicken, shredded chicken, or spicy Italian sausage to this dish for more protein!
More Easy Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
- Cheesy Lasagna Soup
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Baked Ziti
- Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
- Penne Alla Vodka
- Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Italian
Creamy Sausage Gnocchi
One Pot & Sheet Pan Meals
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Soup Recipes
Cheesy Lasagna Soup
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
TikTok Baked Feta Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes (20 ounces)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (8-ounce) block feta cheese, drained
- 8-10 ounces rigatoni, cavatappi, penne, farfalle, or similar
- ¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves + more for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Combine tomatoes, olive oil, smashed garlic cloves, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in a baking dish. Toss to coat. Place feta cheese in the middle of the tomatoes.
- Bake for 40 minutes until the tomatoes have burst and the feta has softened.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of salted, boiling water until al dente, according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water as you drain the pasta.
- When the tomatoes are done, remove the baking dish from the oven and add the fresh basil leaves.
- Smash the tomatoes and feta together to form a creamy sauce. Add the pasta and ½ of the pasta water. Stir well. Add more pasta water, if needed.
- Serve garnished with additional fresh basil.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can enjoy it cold or reheat it the next day for lunch!
- Freezer: Freeze in Ziploc bags or freezer bags for up to 2 months. Defrost before reheating in the microwave or on the stovetop with added water if needed.
- In the pictures in this post, I used some Fusilli Corti Bucati that I picked up from Trader Joe's.
