This Feta Pasta Recipe is creamy, tangy and full of bursting cherry tomatoes. The roasted tomatoes and rich feta cheese bake together to create a silky sauce that coats tender pasta noodles for a simple, delicious dish.
Perfect for weeknights or entertaining, this dish comes together with minimal ingredients but delivers maximum flavor. It’s especially tasty during tomato season— and even better if you’re pulling cherry tomatoes straight from your garden.
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Who doesn’t love easy dinner recipes? Here are some of our favorite family-friendly, cozy weeknight meals: Marry Me Chicken Pasta, Stove Top Chili, Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes, Tomato Basil Chicken, Pork and Beef Chili, Turkey and Vegetable Soup, Slow Cooker Velveeta Mac and Cheese, Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Instant Pot Pumpkin Soup or Roasted Butternut Squash Soup.
Why You Will Love This Baked Feta Pasta
- Minimal Ingredients: Only a handful of pantry and fresh items come together to make a flavorful dinner.
- TikTok Viral Favorite: This is a viral recipe for a good reason; this is one social media sensation that’s just as good in real life.
- Perfect for Tomato Season: Sweet cherry tomatoes roast down into a naturally rich, savory sauce.
- Easy Yet Impressive: Simple enough for busy weeknights, yet special enough to serve to guests.
- Family Friendly: Even the pickiest of eaters have been found to love this pasta recipe and ask for seconds.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this easy baked feta pasta recipe.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Fresh Cherry Tomatoes or Grape Tomatoes: Roasted until they burst, creating a sweet and tangy sauce base.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Helps the tomatoes roast and adds richness to the dish.
- Feta Cheese: The creamy, salty centrepiece that transforms into a luscious sauce.
- Fusilli Pasta: Twists hold the sauce perfectly in every bite (though other short pastas work too, use your favorite kind of pasta).
- Fresh Garlic: Stirred in at the end for fresh, savory flavor.
- Fresh Basil: Brings brightness and freshness to balance the creamy sauce.
For this easy recipe, you'll want to have on hand measuring cups, 9x13 baking dish, strainer and large pot.
Substitutions and Variations
This recipe is endlessly flexible; try these swaps to make it your own.
- Different Pasta: Try shells, rigatoni or penne pasta for a similar result.
- Pesto: If you don't have fresh basil, you can add a couple of tablespoons of pesto for a similar flavor.
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta as the recipe itself is naturally gluten free.
- Cheese Swap: Use goat cheese for tanginess or ricotta for a milder sauce.
- Boursin Cheese: We have also tried a version with two rounds of garlic and herb Boursin cheese and it's so creamy and delicious. Any flavor of Boursin will do!
- Dried Seasonings: If you don't have fresh garlic on hand, you can substitute garlic powder.
- Add Protein: Toss in grilled chicken, shrimp or crispy crumbled bacon.
- Veggies: Mix in spinach, zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli or roasted red peppers before serving.
- Spice it Up: Sprinkle on some red pepper flakes or freshly ground black pepper.
- Parmesan Cheese: A classic finishing touch that adds nutty flavor and depth.
How to Make Baked Feta Pasta
This dish couldn’t be easier with just a handful of ingredients, just bake, stir and enjoy.
Preheat the oven to 400F.
In a 9x13 baking dish, add the tomatoes and olive oil. Mix to evenly coat the tomatoes with the oil.
Slide the tomatoes to the side while putting the whole block of feta cheese in the middle of the baking dish, then brush with some of the olive oil.
Place in oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until tomatoes begin to open. While tomatoes are baking, cook pasta according to package instructions for al dente pasta.
Once finished, before you drain pasta, keep a cup pasta water for use if desired.
Remove tomatoes from the oven, add garlic and stir to combine. Add in the cooked pasta and stir until well coated.
To make a creamier sauce, add small amounts of the pasta water and garnish with fresh herbs like basil.
Hint: Use cherry or grape tomatoes that are uniform in size, so they roast evenly.
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How to Store Baked Feta Pasta
Pasta recipes are great as leftovers, here's the best way to store and reheat.
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended, as the tomatoes and feta lose their texture.
- Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or olive oil to loosen the sauce.
What to Serve with Feta Pasta Recipe
This pasta dish is a well-rounded meal on its own, but you can serve it with some simple sides.
- Side Dishes: Cheesy garlic bread, spinach salad, maple Brussels sprouts, fresh dinner rolls, cucumber and tomato salad, rosemary focaccia, roasted asparagus, sautéed green beans.
- Simple Appetizers: Stuffed mushrooms, mozzarella sticks, bruschetta, spinach and artichoke dip, caprese skewers.
- More Easy Dinners: Marry Me chicken pasta, stove top chili, meatballs and mashed potatoes, slow cooker brisket, tomato basil chicken, pork and beef chili, slow cooker Velveeta mac and cheese.
Top Tips
A few simple tricks will help you get the best results every time with our oven-baked feta pasta.
- Salt Balance: Since feta is salty, taste before adding extra salt at the end.
- Pasta Water: Reserve more pasta than you think you need— it’s the key to a silky sauce.
- Garlic Timing: Adding garlic after baking keeps it from burning and adds fresh flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baked Feta Pasta
Do you have questions about making our feta pasta recipe?
We have found that for the freshest flavor, this dish is best served immediately. You can prep the roasted tomato and feta base earlier in the day, and reheat gently before adding the pasta. Reserving pasta water to add to the finished dish also helps keep the sauce creamy.
A block of feta cheese works better than crumbled, since it melts creamier and holds up well during baking.
Yes! Grape, cherry, or even halved Roma tomatoes work well. Just adjust bake time if they're larger.
In our experience— yes! The creamy sauce is mild and balanced, though you can always leave out garlic and basil for picky eaters.
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Feta Pasta Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Dish
- Measuring Cups
- Large Pot
- Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb cherry tomatoes
- ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 9-12 ounces feta cheese drained
- 16 ounces fusilli pasta dry measurement
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- In a 9x13 baking dish, add the tomatoes and olive oil. Mix to evenly coat the tomatoes with the oil.
- Slide the tomatoes to the side while putting the whole block of feta cheese in the middle of the baking dish, then brush with some of the olive oil.
- Place in oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until tomatoes begin to open. While tomatoes are baking, cook pasta according to package instructions for al dente pasta.
- Once finished, before you drain pasta, keep a cup pasta water for use if desired.
- Remove tomatoes from the oven, add garlic and stir to combine. Add in the cooked pasta and stir until well coated.
- To make a creamier sauce, add small amounts of the pasta water and garnish with fresh herbs like basil.
Notes
- Use cherry or grape tomatoes that are uniform in size, so they roast evenly.
- Since feta is salty, taste before adding extra salt at the end; especially if you salt your pasta water.
- Reserve more pasta than you think you need— it’s the key to a silky sauce.
- Adding garlic after baking keeps it from burning and adds fresh flavor.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
Jo says
Tried this recipe. It was amazing and simple to make.
Eva Filer says
So glad you liked it, we love making it here too!
Seija says
Throwing everything into the casserole dish and baking made this the simplest pasta recipe ever. It’ll be in our regular rotation for sure!
Eva Filer says
It is definitely it ours too. Happy to hear you enjoyed it.
Courtney says
LOVE how easy this was! Perfect way to use up cherry tomatoes and get a cozy meal out of it.
Eva Filer says
Right?! We love using up our extra tomatoes too. Such a simple meal with so much flavor.
Abi says
Tried this Feta Pasta recipe and it turned out amazing! The creamy, tangy sauce with roasted tomatoes was so delicious and coated the pasta perfectly.
Eva Filer says
So thrilled to hear you enjoyed it. It is a go-to over here, it is so simple and delicious. Thanks for the review.
Stephanie says
This was a great use of our extra cherry tomatoes that are going wild in our garden right now. Loved the flavors and how easy it was to make.
Eva Filer says
We do the same thing. So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the review, Stephanie.
Eva Filer says
This recipe is such an incredible staple in our house. It is so simple to make and with only a few ingredients, it is wonderful to have in our back pocket; especially when our garden has too many tomatoes!