Name: Baked Feta Pasta Recipe (with vegan option)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces block full-fat feta cheese ( (or a vegan feta cheese such as Violife)); 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes; 2 cloves garlic, minced; ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil; 8 ounces pasta ((or a gluten-free pasta such as Banza)); 5 or 6 leaves fresh basil ((thinly sliced)); salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: A block of feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, and olive oil are combined in this easy baked feta pasta recipe. Delicious, and oh so easy!

How long it takes: 35 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: large baking dish, oven, pasta pot
Servings: 4

Pasta with tomatoes, basil, and feta cheese in a black baking dish.

Wondering about the pasta recipe with feta cheese and cherry tomatoes that went crazy viral on TikTok and other places? Here’s your chance to try it and find out why everyone’s so excited! You’ll love the easy combination of flavorful creamy feta, sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, good olive oil, and fresh basil, served on your favorite pasta.

Super Easy Creamy Pasta

So easy to make! The really fun part of this recipe is that the feta and tomatoes are simply baked in a pan until they’re nice and soft. Mash it all together, sprinkle with basil and mix in your favorite cooked pasta. So easy and so delicious!

Lots of tangy flavor. This TikTok recipe went viral not only because it’s fun to make, it tastes great, too. Roasted cherry tomatoes soften and caramelize; the block of feta melts into a rich, tangy sauce. Combined with olive oil, garlic, and fresh basil, these simple ingredients are a feast for the taste buds.

Bowl of feta pasta with roasted tomatoes.

Ingredient Notes

Tomatoes: Choose cherry or grape tomatoes, which caramelize so well when roasted whole. Regular tomatoes may be too juicy and the skins can be tough. No tomato is completely off limits, though.
Feta Cheese: You may be more accustomed to feta crumbles but, if possible, choose block feta. Full fat is best. Vegan feta cheese (such as Violife) is a good choice, too.
Olive Oil: A high quality extra virgin olive oil is ideal as it’s a major component of the sauce.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds so much flavor to this easy pasta dish.
Fresh Basil: What’s pasta without basil? Don’t have fresh? Substitute a teaspoon of dried basil, or try fresh oregano, thyme, or Italian seasoning.
Pasta: Choose your favorite pasta for this dish. I like to use a short pasta that has lots of ridges and crevices to catch all the cheesy sauce. Try a whole wheat pasta or a gluten-free pasta, like Banza.

How to make Baked Feta Pasta

Get ready. Start your oven preheating and find a nice big baking dish or non-reactive pan; 9 x 13-inches works well. Get the pasta cooking, rinse the tomatoes, unwrap the feta, and you’re ready to go.

Arrange in pan. Position the block of feta right in the center of the baking dish. Arrange the tomatoes around it, in a single layer as much as possible. Sprinkle on minced garlic, then drizzle olive oil over it all.

Olive oil being poured on a block of feta.

Bake. Put the pan in the oven and bake until the feta is soft and the tomatoes are browned and roasted. (The photo below depicts vegan feta. If you use a block of traditional feta, it might stay more formed, but it will still get soft and melty and should easily mix with the pasta.)

Combine. Mash the feta and tomatoes together, creating a sauce.

Melted feta and roasted tomatoes in a baking dish.

Add the pasta. Stir in the cooked pasta. Use some pasta water to thin the sauce if it seems too thick.

Pasta being stirred into roasted tomatoes and feta in a baking dish.

Serve. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste, and fresh basil. Enjoy!

Pasta and tomatoes in a feta sauce, sprinkled with fresh basil.

Recipe Variations

Use crumbled feta instead. Can’t find a block of feta? Don’t despair, you can make this recipe with crumbled feta. Make a little pyramid of cheese in the center of the baking dish. Bake as directed. If feta isn’t your thing, we also really love Boursin pasta, which is a similar recipe using flavored Boursin cheese.
Add protein. Make this recipe with cooked shredded chicken; just stir it into the pasta. Cooked shrimp and salmon are great, too.
Spice it up. Add crushed red pepper flakes, to taste.
Roasted garlic option: Instead of mincing the garlic, roast whole cloves with the tomatoes and cheese. Mash into the sauce. A half teaspoon of garlic powder can be added for milder garlic flavor.
Add balsamic. Drizzle in good-quality balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze for a new twist on this recipe!
Looking for something different? Try my carrot pasta sauce. It’s creamy, slightly sweet, and really wonderful. We also love this fresh tomato cream sauce.

More Recipes With Feta Cheese

I love this whipped feta dip (it’s the perfect appetizer idea!) or herbed feta dip. Feta stuffed chicken breasts with sun-dried tomatoes and kale are fabulous eating. One of my favorite wraps is this roasted vegetable wrap with feta and pesto.

Storage & Reheating

Leftover pasta can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. You’ll find that the pasta gets quite a bit drier because it continues to absorb liquid. Add a little water or milk to loosen the sauce. Reheat in a pan on the stove until heated through, or in the microwave on high, 30 second intervals, stirring often.

Leftover Love

If you have a lot of feta pasta left over, stir in a little milk or water, add a handful of spinach, finely chopped kale, or lightly steamed chopped broccoli. Put everything into a greased casserole dish, top with sliced cherry tomatoes or shredded cheese, and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve as a main course or as a side.

Black baking dish filled with pasta, tomatoes, and basil.

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