This baked Feta Pasta is creamy, tangy, and ridiculously satisfying, with a tacky garlicky tomato sauce you construct proper within the baking dish. Diced Roma tomatoes roast down with onion and garlic till they’re jammy, and the block of feta turns right into a creamy, salty sauce the second I stir all of it collectively. Add in rotini pasta, spinach, and a bit of pasta water to loosen the whole lot up, and also you’ve obtained my budget-friendly model of the viral TikTok pasta!
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Baked Feta Tomato Pasta Recipe
The unique viral baked feta pasta is made with a block of feta that’s roasted in a dish with cherry tomatoes and olive oil, then blended with pasta as soon as it’s delicate and saucy. It first took off in Finland as ‘uunifetapasta,’ after which exploded worldwide after being shared throughout social media. I knew I needed to give it a go after I first noticed it, however with just a few good swaps to maintain prices down (in fact!)
As a substitute of utilizing cherry or grape tomatoes just like the viral recipe requires, I attain for budget-friendly Roma tomatoes. They roast down fantastically, bringing loads of sweetness and acidity, whereas preserving this dish accessible and sensible. 4 cups of cherry or grape tomatoes can price round $8.32 the place I reside, however 5 Roma tomatoes are available nearer to $1.20. Identical daring taste, similar comforting vibe, and an enormous win in your grocery funds!
- Use any pasta form you’re keen on. Rotini is my go-to as a result of the spirals have a pleasant chewy chunk and seize onto the creamy sauce, however penne, rigatoni, bowtie, shells, cavatappi, and even spaghetti all work nice.
- Don’t skip the pasta water. The reserved pasta water is the key to turning baked feta right into a easy sauce.
- Make it spicy (in order for you!). I wish to bump up the crimson pepper flakes for extra warmth, or you would add some contemporary chili for those who’ve obtained one. The unique baked feta pasta from Liemessä contains ½ a sliced crimson chili proper on prime of the feta for an additional kick.
- Add a bit of honey for distinction. I really like including a small drizzle of honey after I combine all of it collectively as a result of it softens the sharp tang of the salty feta!
- Use a block of feta. Feta doesn’t fairly soften like, say, mozzarella, nevertheless it does soften and switch creamy when it roasts in olive oil, which is strictly what we wish right here. Block feta works greatest for this. You can use crumbled feta in a pinch by piling it within the heart of the dish, however the texture could also be a bit grainier since some manufacturers embrace anti-caking brokers. Nonetheless drizzle it nicely with olive oil and use the pasta water to assist loosen it right into a sauce.
- Add in your favourite protein. If you wish to make this additional filling, stir in some leftover roasted rooster breast (diced) or baked tofu proper on the finish so it heats by means of with out drying out. Cooked chickpeas or white beans, shredded rotisserie rooster, or a handful of cooked lentils are all nice add-ins, too.
Baked Feta Pasta
Value $11.05 recipe / $2.76 serving
This baked Feta Pasta recipe is made with budget-friendly roasted Roma tomatoes, onion, garlic, pasta, and a creamy block of feta! Straightforward and SO scrumptious!
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Collect substances. Preheat oven to 400℉.
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Wash and cube tomatoes into 1” items
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Mince garlic, parsley, and cube the halved onion.
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Combine tomatoes, garlic, onion, parsley, salt, black pepper, and crimson pepper flakes in a 9×13” casserole dish, making an area within the center for the block of feta.
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Add feta.
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Pour olive oil over the feta and the tomato herb combination. Switch baking dish to oven for 40 minutes, uncovered.
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In the meantime, cook dinner ½ field of rotini, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.
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Take away feta and tomatoes from the oven after 40 minutes.
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Add contemporary spinach.
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Stir the contemporary spinach, honey, and reserved ½ cup of pasta water to the new baking dish, stirring the feta and tomatoes collectively and wilting the spinach with their residual warmth.
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Pour the rotini into the baking dish of sauce and blend it collectively.
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Prime with torn contemporary basil.
See how we calculate recipe prices right here.
**The feta I used is from Walmart. In case you purchase your feta elsewhere, it’d come in several quantities. No matter measurement block you get can be superb, so long as it’s round 7 ounces. In case your block is bigger, your sauce can be creamier. Whether it is smaller, it is going to be rather less creamy.
***Frozen spinach may even work on this recipe; I’d use ¼ cup if utilizing frozen.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 614kcal (31%)Carbohydrates: 52g (17%)Protein: 16g (32%)Fats: 39g (60%)Sodium: 874mg (38%)Fiber: 3g (13%)
Percentages are of every day worth.
easy methods to make Feta Pasta step-by-step images
Collect your substances and preheat the oven to 400°F.
Prep the contemporary substances: Wash and cube 5 Roma tomatoes into 1-inch items.
Mince the three cloves garlic and 1 Tbsp contemporary parsley, and cube ½ yellow onion.
Add to casserole dish: Place the ready tomatoes, onion, garlic, and parsley in a 9×13-inch casserole dish, then season with ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp floor black pepper, and ⅛ tsp crimson pepper flakes. Stir to mix, then make a bit of area within the heart for the feta.
Place the 7 oz. block of feta within the heart of the dish.
Drizzle ½ cup olive oil over the feta and tomato combination, then bake uncovered for 40 minutes.
Cook dinner pasta: Whereas the feta bakes, cook dinner 8 oz. rotini pasta (½ field) in accordance with the package deal instructions. Earlier than draining, reserve ½ cup pasta water.
End the sauce: Rigorously take away the baking dish from the oven after 40 minutes.
Add 1 cup packed contemporary spinach to the casserole dish.
Pour in ½ Tbsp honey and the ½ cup reserved pasta water and stir the whole lot collectively, breaking apart the feta and mixing it with the tomatoes whereas the spinach wilts from the warmth.
Mix with the pasta: Add the cooked rotini to the baking dish and stir till the pasta is absolutely coated.
End and serve: Prime your feta cheese pasta with 0.25 oz. torn contemporary basil, and luxuriate in!
Serving Options
I normally hold it easy and let this tomato feta pasta be the principle occasion, however some steamed or roasted veggies wouldn’t harm (broccoli, inexperienced beans, cauliflower, and asparagus are a few of my favorites). In order for you a meaty important alongside it, rooster schnitzel or sweet-savory air fryer pork chops are each nice with the tangy tomato-feta sauce. I additionally assume a calming white bean salad can be scrumptious as an inexpensive however contemporary aspect dish!
Storage & Reheating
Feta pasta will final within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days in an hermetic container. Reheat within the microwave in brief bursts, stirring in between, and add a splash of water or a drizzle of olive oil if it wants loosening up. It’s additionally nice served chilly, blended right into a easy salad for a simple lunch!
