Description
A creamy, tangy, and savory one-pan pasta dish featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and a block of feta cheese, ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225g) block of feta cheese
- 2 pints (600g) cherry tomatoes
- 3–4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4–5 cloves garlic (minced or whole)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 pound (450g) penne or rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a 9×13 baking dish or large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Place cherry tomatoes in the baking dish. Place the block of feta cheese in the center among the tomatoes.
- Drizzle olive oil generously over the tomatoes and feta. Sprinkle with dried oregano, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Toss in whole garlic cloves if using.
- Bake for 30 minutes until tomatoes are soft and burst, and feta is golden and gooey. Optionally broil for 2 minutes for extra browning.
- While baking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne according to package directions until al dente.
- Before draining, reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it sit for 2 minutes.
- Smash the feta and tomatoes together with a wooden spoon. Gradually stir in the reserved pasta water to create a creamy sauce.
- Add the drained pasta to the baking dish and toss to coat evenly.
- Stir in minced fresh garlic and chopped basil. Taste and add salt if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use a solid block of feta, not crumbled, for better melting. Do not skip the reserved pasta water as it helps emulsify the sauce. If the sauce is too watery, bake longer or use less pasta water. If feta is too salty, rinse the block under cold water before baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: baked feta pasta, viral recipe, weeknight dinner, one pan meal, easy pasta, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, gluten-free option