Okay, so I’m about to change your pasta game forever—no, really. If you haven't jumped on the baked feta pasta trend yet, what are you waiting for? This easy, cheesy, garlicky masterpiece is about to take your dinner table from basic to wow! All you need is some feta, a handful of fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, and pasta—yes, that’s it. Simple, right? Trust me, this is the trendy TikTok pasta that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Easy baked feta pasta with basil and garlic is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner, a quick lunch, or a casual get-together with friends when you want something delicious with minimal effort.
To complement the rich and creamy flavors of baked feta pasta, try serving it with a light, crisp salad or green vegetable. A side of garlic bread would be perfect for soaking up any leftover sauce.
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Why You Will Love This Feta Pasta with Basil and Garlic
- It’s the Ultimate Internet-Famous Recipe. Yes, this dish went viral for a reason—it’s that good. Creamy, tangy feta cheese melts into a dreamy sauce, while garlic and basil bring all the bold, fresh flavors. It’s iconic for a reason.
- Ridiculously Simple, Totally Fancy. All you do is toss a block of feta and cherry tomatoes in a baking dish, let the oven work its magic, and mix it with pasta. It looks gourmet, but it’s so easy your cat could probably make it (okay, maybe not—cats would never do household chores).
- One Dish, Minimal Cleanup: The oven does most of the work here, and you’re only left with one baking dish and a pot to clean. It’s the low-effort, high-reward dinner of your dreams.
Ingredients
It'll be hard to believe once you taste it, but this easy feta pasta is made with just a few simple ingredients: a block of feta cheese, ripe cherry or grape tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, fresh basil, salt and pepper, and your favorite pasta.
- Pasta shapes - The best pasta shapes for baked feta pasta are ones that can hold onto the creamy sauce and roasted tomatoes, like penne, rigatoni, fusilli, or cavatappi. These shapes have grooves and curves that help trap the delicious sauce.
- Cherry or grape tomatoes
- Olive oil
- Feta cheese - The best cheese for this pasta is a block of high-quality, full-fat feta, which will melt beautifully and create a rich, creamy sauce.
- Fresh basil
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Now that you're ready to dive into the deliciousness that is baked feta pasta, let’s get cooking! Don’t worry, this is as simple as it gets—no complicated steps, just a few easy ingredients, and less than 10 minutes of hands-on time.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large baking dish (about 9x13 inches), add the feta cheese in the center. Arrange the cherry tomatoes around it. Drizzle olive oil over everything and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Peel and dice 3 garlic cloves. Set aside.
- Chiffonade the basil. I like to roll the basil leaves tightly into a small bundle and hold them with my left hand while slicing thinly with a knife in my right hand. Set aside.
- While the feta and tomatoes bake, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta according to the package instructions, then drain, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water.
5. After 30 minutes remove the baking dish from the oven. Sprinkle the diced garlic and ribbons of basil throughout the baking dish evenly. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes, or until the tomatoes are bursting and feta is browning and starting to melt.
6. Once the dish is out of the oven, use a spoon to mash the feta and tomatoes together into a creamy sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the dish and toss everything together. If the sauce seems too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency. Top with more basil if desired.
What if My Tomatoes Aren't Sweet Enough?
There’s a glorious window of time in the summer when tomatoes are at their peak—plump, juicy, and bursting with natural sweetness. Unfortunately, it ends all too quickly, leaving us with so-so tomatoes that still taste tart even after roasting. In a dish like baked feta pasta, when the main ingredient (feta) already has such a tangy, almost sour flavor, what can be done?
Add a drizzle of honey or sugar: A small drizzle of honey or a pinch of sugar can help enhance the sweetness of the tomatoes and create a nice contrast with the savory feta.
Season with balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction: A splash of balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze will add a bit of sweetness and tang, helping to round out the flavors of the dish.
Sprinkle with a little salt: Sometimes a pinch more salt can bring out the natural sweetness in the tomatoes, so taste and adjust as needed.
Equipment
To make baked feta pasta, you'll need some basic kitchen equipment:
- Baking Dish: A medium to large baking dish (9x13 inches) works well to hold the feta, tomatoes, and other ingredients while they bake.
- Large Pot: For cooking the pasta.
- Colander: To drain the pasta once it's cooked, reserving a bit of pasta water if needed.
- Knife and Cutting Board: To slice the garlic and basil.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Spoon or Tongs: To toss the pasta with the baked feta and tomatoes and mix everything together.
- Aluminum Foil or Parchment Paper (Optional): For covering the baking dish, if desired, to prevent over-browning during the roasting process.
How to Store Feta Pasta
Allow the pasta to cool to room temperature before storing it to avoid condensation inside the container. Transfer the cooled pasta into an airtight container to keep it fresh and cover tightly with a lid. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating Baked Feta Pasta
To reheat, you can either:
- Microwave: Place the pasta in a microwave-safe dish, cover it with a damp paper towel to prevent drying, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between.
- Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. You can cover it with foil to keep it moist.
If the pasta looks a bit dry after refrigeration, add a splash of olive oil or a little water when reheating to bring back its creamy texture.
FAQ
If you don’t have fresh basil, you can substitute with dried basil or use another fresh herb like thyme or oregano. Dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh, so 1 teaspoon of dried basil is equal to 1 tablespoon of fresh basil.
Yes! You can assemble the feta, tomatoes, olive oil, and seasonings in the baking dish, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to a day before baking.
If you like heat, you can add red pepper flakes to the sauce or use a spicy feta cheese. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce for an extra kick.
Short pasta shapes like penne, rigatoni, or fusilli work best as they can hold onto the creamy feta sauce, but you can use any type of pasta you like!
Absolutely! Grilled chicken or shrimp would be a great addition to the flavor profile of feta pasta.
Any other neutral-tasting oil such as canola, vegetable, or avocado oil will work fine for baked feta pasta instead of olive oil.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with easy baked feta pasta with basil and garlic:
Easy Baked Feta Pasta with Basil and Garlic (TikTok Pasta)
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish to hold the feta, tomatoes, and other ingredients while baking
- large pot for cooking the pasta
- colander to drain the cooked pasta
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- measuring cups and spoons
- spoon or tongs to toss cooked pasta with tomatoes and feta
- aluminum foil for covering the baking dish, if desired, to prevent over-browning during the roasting process
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta (fusilli, rigatoni, or penne work best) (about 4 cups dry pasta)
- 1 block feta cheese (8 ounces)
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup fresh basil sliced into ribbons
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large baking dish (about 9x13 inches), add the feta cheese in the center. Arrange the cherry tomatoes around it. Drizzle everything with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- While the feta and tomatoes bake, bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, then drain, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water.
- While feta and tomatoes are cooking, mince the garlic and chiffonade the basil. Set aside.
- After 30 minutes, remove baking dish from the oven. Even sprinkle minced garlic and basil ribbons throughout the dish. Return to oven for another 5 minutes, until tomatoes are bursting and feta is browning and beginning to melt. Remove from oven.
- Once the feta and tomatoes are out of the oven, use a spoon to mash the feta and tomatoes together into a creamy sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the dish and toss everything together. If the sauce looks too thick, add reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Plate the pasta and enjoy this cheesy, garlicky, basil-infused goodness. It’s comfort food at its finest!
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