Baked Feta Pasta Cherry (Printable)
Creamy pasta with roasted feta, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil for a flavorful dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 lb cherry tomatoes
02 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, plus additional for garnish
→ Dairy
04 - 7 oz block feta cheese
→ Pasta
05 - 10 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or similar)
→ Oils & Seasonings
06 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Set the oven to 400°F to begin heating.
02 - Place cherry tomatoes in a large baking dish, add minced garlic, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, and oregano; toss to coat evenly.
03 - Create space in the center of the dish and place the block of feta cheese; drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the feta.
04 - Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over the feta if desired for added heat.
05 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until tomatoes have burst and feta is golden and softened.
06 - Simultaneously, boil salted water in a saucepan and cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions; reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water before draining.
07 - Remove baking dish from oven; mash the feta and tomatoes together using a fork until creamy and well combined.
08 - Add cooked pasta and fresh basil to the baking dish; toss thoroughly, incorporating reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky consistency.
09 - Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed; serve immediately garnished with extra basil leaves.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The feta melts into the tomato juices and becomes a naturally creamy sauce without any cream—pure kitchen magic.
- It comes together in under 45 minutes with almost no hands-on time, leaving you free to set the table or pour a drink.
- One dish does all the work; the oven handles the heavy lifting while you handle everything else.
02 -
- Don't drain your pasta too early—that starchy water is what transforms melted feta into an actual sauce, not a clumpy mess.
- If your feta is cold, it'll take longer to soften; let it come closer to room temperature before baking, or add an extra 5 minutes to the oven time.
03 -
- Use a wooden fork to mash the feta so you don't scratch your baking dish; it also gives you better control over the texture.
- Room-temperature feta mashes more easily than cold feta, so pull yours out of the fridge 10 minutes before baking.