Baked Feta Pasta – Simple, Creamy & Oven-Baked Goodness

🎉 Introduction
This Baked Feta Pasta became a viral sensation for a reason — it’s incredibly easy, bursting with flavor, and requires minimal effort. The magic happens in the oven, where sweet cherry tomatoes and creamy feta cheese roast together to create a luscious sauce that coats every piece of pasta.

With fresh basil, garlic, and a hint of lemon zest, this dish tastes like something straight out of a Mediterranean kitchen — ready in under 40 minutes.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Oven-safe baking dish
• Large pot for pasta
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Microplane or zester

🛒 Ingredients

🧄 Fruits & Vegetables:

• ¼ cup fresh basil, packed
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Zest of ½ lemon
• 1 tsp oregano

🍝 Pasta & Grains:

• 8 oz orecchiette pasta

🌿 Spices & Seasonings:

• Salt and pepper, to taste

🫒 Oils & Vinegars:

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

🧀 Dairy Products:

• 1 (8 oz) block feta cheese

💧 Liquids:

• ¼ cup reserved pasta water

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1 – Preheat & Prepare

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a baking dish, add cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, oregano, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat.

Step 2 – Add the Feta
3. Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the dish, surrounded by tomatoes.
4. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil.

Step 3 – Bake
5. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, until tomatoes burst and feta softens.

Step 4 – Cook the Pasta
6. While baking, cook orecchiette in salted boiling water until al dente.
7. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water, then drain.

Step 5 – Make the Sauce
8. Remove baking dish from oven.
9. Mash tomatoes and feta together until creamy.
10. Stir in lemon zest and fresh basil.

Step 6 – Combine & Serve
11. Add cooked pasta and pasta water to the baking dish.
12. Toss until evenly coated.
13. Serve hot with extra basil on top.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 3–4 portions
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Warm on the stovetop with a splash of water or olive oil to loosen.
• Freezer: Not recommended for best texture.

🥄 Variations

• Spicy Kick: Add red pepper flakes before baking.
• Vegan Version: Use vegan feta cheese.
• Extra Veggies: Add roasted zucchini, spinach, or mushrooms.
• Different Pasta: Try penne, fusilli, or farfalle.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I use crumbled feta instead of a block?
   Yes, but it may melt more quickly.
2. What if I don’t have orecchiette?
   Any pasta shape works.
3. Can I use grape tomatoes?
   Yes, they roast beautifully.
4. Do I need to peel the tomatoes?
   No, the skins soften during baking.
5. Can I make it gluten-free?
   Yes, use gluten-free pasta.
6. Can I add protein?
   Try grilled chicken or chickpeas.
7. What if I don’t have lemon?
   Skip it or add a splash of vinegar for brightness.
8. Can I make it ahead?
   Best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers reheat well.
9. Can I double the recipe?
   Yes, just use a larger baking dish.
10. Why is my sauce too thick?
    Add extra pasta water until creamy.

🏁 Conclusion
This Baked Feta Pasta is proof that simple ingredients can create gourmet flavors. With just one baking dish and a pot of pasta, you can have a creamy, tangy, and utterly satisfying meal in under 40 minutes.

Adam

Baked Feta Pasta – Simple, Creamy & Oven-Baked Goodness

This Baked Feta Pasta became a viral sensation for a reason — it’s incredibly easy, bursting with flavor, and requires minimal effort. The magic happens in the oven, where sweet cherry tomatoes and creamy feta cheese roast together to create a luscious sauce that coats every piece of pasta. With fresh basil, garlic, and a hint of lemon zest, this dish tastes like something straight out of a Mediterranean kitchen — ready in under 40 minutes.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 4 portions

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

🧄 Fruits & Vegetables:

• ¼ cup fresh basil packed
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• Zest of ½ lemon
• 1 tsp oregano

🍝 Pasta & Grains:

• 8 oz orecchiette pasta

🌿 Spices & Seasonings:

• Salt and pepper to taste

🫒 Oils & Vinegars:

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

🧀 Dairy Products:

• 1 8 oz block feta cheese

💧 Liquids:

• ¼ cup reserved pasta water

Equipment

• Oven-safe baking dish
• Large pot (for pasta)
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Microplane or zester

Method

 

Step 1 – Preheat & Prepare

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a baking dish, add cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, oregano, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat.

Step 2 – Add the Feta

1. Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the dish, surrounded by tomatoes.
2. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil.

Step 3 – Bake

1. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, until tomatoes burst and feta softens.

Step 4 – Cook the Pasta

1. While baking, cook orecchiette in salted boiling water until al dente.
2. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water, then drain.

Step 5 – Make the Sauce

1. Remove baking dish from oven.
2. Mash tomatoes and feta together until creamy.
3. Stir in lemon zest and fresh basil.

Step 6 – Combine & Serve

1. Add cooked pasta and pasta water to the baking dish.
2. Toss until evenly coated.
3. Serve hot with extra basil on top.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheating: Warm on the stovetop with a splash of water or olive oil to loosen.

Freezer: Not recommended for best texture.

🥄 Variations

Spicy Kick: Add red pepper flakes before baking.

Vegan Version: Use vegan feta cheese.

Extra Veggies: Add roasted zucchini, spinach, or mushrooms.

Different Pasta: Try penne, fusilli, or farfalle.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I use crumbled feta instead of a block?
Yes, but it may melt more quickly.

What if I don’t have orecchiette?
Any pasta shape works.

Can I use grape tomatoes?
Yes, they roast beautifully.

Do I need to peel the tomatoes?
No, the skins soften during baking.

Can I make it gluten-free?
Yes, use gluten-free pasta.

Can I add protein?
Try grilled chicken or chickpeas.

What if I don’t have lemon?
Skip it or add a splash of vinegar for brightness.

Can I make it ahead?
Best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers reheat well.

Can I double the recipe?
Yes, just use a larger baking dish.

Why is my sauce too thick?
Add extra pasta water until creamy.

🏁 Conclusion
This Baked Feta Pasta is proof that simple ingredients can create gourmet flavors. With just one baking dish and a pot of pasta, you can have a creamy, tangy, and utterly satisfying meal in under 40 minutes.