
Meet one of TikTok's most popular dishes of all time: cheesy baked feta pasta. There's a lot to love about this viral pasta: it's simple, it's delicious, it only requires a few dishes, and it's ready in under an hour! With bursts of fresh tomatoes, salty feta, and refreshing basil, this incredibly easy spin on mac and cheese is everything you want in baked pasta recipes. Add it to your rotation of easy dinners—you'll be glad you did!
What is feta pasta?
Feta pasta is a creamy, tangy dish made by baking a whole block of feta cheese with cherry tomatoes until the cheese is soft and the tomatoes are blistered and juicy. This version calls for adding cream cheese for extra richness. While the feta and tomatoes bake, you cook the pasta and prep roasted red peppers, garlic, and fresh basil. Once everything's ready, just toss it all together right in the baking dish!
Can you use crumbled feta for feta pasta?
If you can't find feta in a block, crumbled feta will work; the dish may just might not be as creamy.
Can you add meat to feta pasta?
Yes, but you'll want to cook the meat and feta pasta separately and combine the two just before serving. Diced rotisserie chicken, cooked shrimp, or browned Italian sausage would be scrumptious.
What kind of pasta goes into feta pasta?
Any of your favorite pasta shapes would be fabulous in this versatile sauce. Lots of people opt for smaller pasta shapes with lots of rough ridges to capture all the delicious sauce. From shells to cavatappi to fusilli to penne, there is no going wrong!
What pairs well with feta pasta?
Crusty baguette, fluffy ciabatta, or airy focaccia would be great to sop up any extra sauce and a simple green salad or sautéed asparagus would pair nicely with the rich pasta sauce.
How do you store and reheat feta pasta?
Let the pasta cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat the pasta in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of milk or water as needed if it seems dry.
Ingredients
- 2 pt.
cherry tomatoes
- 1/4
red onion, sliced
- 1/4 cup
olive oil
- 1 tsp.
kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
- 1/2 tsp.
ground black pepper, plus more for serving
- 1
(8-oz.) block feta cheese
- 1
(8-oz.) block cream cheese
Pinch red pepper flakes, plus more for serving
- 1 lb.
medium shell pasta
- 2
cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1
(12-oz.) jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
- 1/2 cup
loosely packed basil leaves, chopped and divided
Directions
- Step 1Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Step 2In a 13-by-9-inch baking dish, combine the tomatoes, red onion, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Mix well. Place the block of feta in the middle of the tomatoes and turn over once so the top is coated with olive oil. Cut the cream cheese into chunks and scatter over the tomatoes. Sprinkle red pepper flakes over the feta. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the tomatoes start to burst.
- Step 3Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Step 4Remove the feta mixture from the oven and stir in the chopped garlic, roasted red peppers, and ½ of the basil leaves, breaking up the cheese and tomatoes to make a creamy sauce. Add the cooked pasta and stir well to combine. Add the pasta water to thin the sauce, as needed.
- Step 5Top the pasta with the remaining basil and an extra sprinkle black pepper and red pepper flakes.
Tip: Get your greens in by stirring in 2 cups of spinach with the roasted red peppers.

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