Irresistible Baked Feta Pasta

That viral TikTok baked feta pasta everyone was raving about? I had to jump on the bandwagon and try it myself. After watching it flood my feed constantly, I picked up everything I needed and finally understood the craze. When those tomatoes burst and mix with that melty feta, you get this amazing sauce that hugs every pasta piece just right.

I whipped this up one lazy weekend when I wanted something tasty without much effort. The smell while it cooked was absolutely amazing, and it's now my favorite way to wow friends without spending forever cooking.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups grape tomatoes: These little juicy gems explode with sweetness when baked. Go for firm ones that feel heavy for their size
• 1 8oz brick of Feta cheese: The main attraction that transforms into your creamy sauce base. Grab authentic Greek feta for the best tangy kick and texture
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning: This spice combo gives everything a flavor boost. Look for one with plenty of oregano, thyme and basil mixed in
• ½ teaspoon salt: Brings out all the tasty notes without overwhelming the dish
• 5 tablespoons olive oil: Adds richness and helps everything cook to perfection. Don't skimp here – use the good stuff
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil: Gives that fresh pop of color and flavor. Pick bunches with bright, perky leaves
• 12 oz bow tie pasta: The perfect shape to scoop up all that creamy goodness. Cook it just until it has a slight bite

Step-by-Step Instructions

Warm Up Your Oven:

Get your oven going at 350°F. This gentle heat lets the tomatoes slowly pop open and the cheese melt perfectly without burning anything. While it's heating up, get everything else lined up and ready to go.

Set Up Your Dish:

Dump your clean, dry tomatoes into a medium baking dish, spreading them out evenly. Don't crowd them too much – they need room to roast properly.

Add The Cheese:

Put your whole block of feta right in the middle of all those tomatoes. Keeping it in one piece helps it melt slowly and evenly for that dreamy texture everyone loves.

First Oil Pour:

Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil all over the tomatoes and cheese. Make sure everything gets a good coating to help those tomatoes get all blistery and keep the cheese from drying out.

Add Your Seasonings:

Shake the Italian seasoning and salt all over everything. As they heat up, the herbs will release their smell and flavor into the oil and through the whole dish.

More Oil Please:

Pour those last 2 tablespoons of olive oil right over the feta block. This extra bit helps turn that cheese into something magically creamy.

Into The Oven:

Bake everything for 30 to 35 minutes until you see tomatoes bursting open and cheese getting soft all over. The cheese should look melty but might still hold some shape in the middle.

Mix It All Up:

Pull it out of the oven and stir everything together right away to make your sauce. The juices from the tomatoes and the melty cheese will come together beautifully.

Toss In Fresh Basil:

Throw in your chopped basil while everything's still hot. The warmth will wake up all the good smells without cooking the basil too much.

Mix With Pasta:

Dump your cooked bow ties straight into the baking dish and stir until every single piece gets covered in that creamy tomato-feta mixture. The hot pasta will soak up some sauce and taste even better.

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The first time I cooked this, my whole house smelled like a little Italian restaurant. The real magic happens when those tomatoes split open and their sweet juice mixes with that melting feta. My kid who normally picks every tomato off her plate actually asked for more – that should tell you how tasty this pasta really is.

Storage Suggestions

This feta pasta keeps really well in sealed containers in your fridge for about 4 days. The flavors actually get even better overnight, so leftovers are something to look forward to. When you heat it back up, add a tiny splash of water or a drizzle of olive oil to bring back the creaminess since the pasta soaks up sauce while sitting. Try warming it on the stove instead of the microwave if you can – it keeps the sauce from breaking apart.

Easy Variations

The basic version is super tasty on its own, but you can switch things up in tons of ways. Throw in a bunch of spinach when mixing your pasta for some extra veggies and color. Mix in some already cooked chicken or Italian sausage to make it more filling. If you like heat, sprinkle in some red pepper flakes before baking or mix in jarred roasted peppers with your tomatoes. You can swap out the feta for goat cheese if you want a different kind of tangy flavor.

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Serving Ideas

This creamy dish works great all by itself, but it's amazing with a simple green salad with just lemon juice and olive oil to balance out the richness. For a full Mediterranean meal, serve it with some grilled chicken with lemon or some garlic bread to mop up any extra sauce. It goes perfectly with a cold glass of white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc that cuts through the tangy cheese and sweet tomatoes, making it great for having friends over.

Common Questions

→ Can I swap out the cheese for something else?

Sure thing, you can try goat cheese or ricotta instead of Feta, but remember the taste will be a bit different.

→ Will cherry tomatoes work in this recipe?

You bet! Cherry tomatoes do the job just as nicely and they'll give you that same juicy flavor burst when they're baked.

→ Which type of pasta goes well with this?

The recipe calls for bow tie pasta, but you can totally use penne, fusilli, or any pasta that really grabs onto sauce.

→ How do I turn this into a vegan meal?

For a vegan version, grab some dairy-free Feta alternative and make sure your pasta doesn't contain eggs.

→ Can I throw in extra ingredients?

Definitely! Try adding some roasted garlic cloves, fresh spinach, or chunks of chicken to mix things up.