You've likely seen the images all over social media - cheesy, saucy pasta dotted with bright cherry tomatoes and fragrant basil. This baked feta pasta dish has gone massively viral for good reason. It's insanely easy to make with just a handful of ingredients, yet delivers incredibly bold and delicious flavors. Let me walk you through how to make this buzzy pasta at home.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz feta cheese block
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 1⁄2 cup olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1⁄4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 8 oz pasta (bucatini, rigatoni or penne)
- 1⁄4 cup reserved pasta cooking water
- 1⁄4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the baked feta. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the feta block in a 9x13 baking dish or oven-safe skillet. Pour the cherry tomatoes around the feta. Drizzle everything with the olive oil, then sprinkle over the smashed garlic cloves, oregano and red pepper flakes (if using).
Step 2: Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes are burst and the feta is softened.
Step 3: While the feta bakes, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
Step 4: Make the sauce. Once the feta is baked, use a fork to vigorously mash together the softened feta, roasted tomatoes and oil in the baking dish. Keep mashing until it forms a creamy sauce.
Step 5: Add the cooked, drained pasta to the baking dish with the feta sauce. Pour in the reserved 1/4 cup pasta cooking water and toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated in the sauce.
Step 6: Finish with fresh basil and lemon juice. Remove the baking dish from the oven and stir in the torn basil leaves and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
That's it! You've just recreated the baked feta pasta that has taken over the internet. Scoop it straight from the baking dish onto plates or into bowls for serving.
I love how this simple, extremely easy dish delivers such punchy flavors. The combination of tangy feta, sweet cherry tomatoes, fragrant garlic and oregano is out-of-this-world good. Plus, it's vegetarian and easily made gluten-free with your favorite pasta.
If you wind up with leftovers, the baked feta pasta reheats beautifully, although you may need to add a splash of pasta water or olive oil to revive the sauce. Now you can enjoy the viral dish in your own kitchen!