This baked feta pasta is a TikTok trend worth trying! It's a simple, 8-ingredient, vegetarian dish that's bursting with flavor. It's light, fresh, creamy, and packed with salty feta, sweet cherry or grape tomatoes, fresh garlic, and lots of basil.
Enjoy this quick and easy recipe for feta baked pasta any night of the week!
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Okay...I admit it. I'm a little late to the baked feta pasta, aka "TikTok Pasta", trend. But believe me when I say, I wish I would have made this sooner. Not only is it delicious, but it's a simple recipe I can put together with just a handful of ingredients.
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What is "TikTok Pasta"?
"TikTok Pasta", or baked feta pasta, is a recipe that went viral in 2019 after it was posted by Jenni Häyrinen, or @Liemessa, a Finland-based food blogger. She titled it "Uunifetapasta", which translates to "oven feta pasta."
The recipe is a simple yet luxurious one that involves baking a whole block of feta cheese with juicy cherry tomatoes, then tossing the mixture with cooked pasta. The feta melts and the tomatoes burst to form a light and creamy cheese sauce.
Fun fact: as of March 1, 2021, the hashtag #bakedfetapasta had over 86.7 million views on TikTok and the hashtag #fetapasta had more than 661.7 million views.
Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions
This baked feta pasta recipe is packed with super fresh ingredients that come together to make a flavor packed dish!
- Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: you will need 2 pints of tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes tend to be a bit sweeter and juicier but grape tomatoes will work as well.
- Feta Cheese: I recommend using blocked feta cheese for a creamier texture and more prominent feta flavor. Pre-crumbled sometimes contains an anti-caking agent which can result in a slight graininess, so check the label on the container. However, if all you have is pre-crumbled, that will work as well.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: drizzled over the tomato and feta to help them cook. Also acts as a base for what becomes the pasta sauce.
- Seasonings and Herbs: you will need salt, black pepper, fresh garlic, and fresh basil. If you can't find basil, feel free to use fresh parsley, rosemary or thyme instead.
- Rotini Pasta: or any small pasta shape you like. Try bow-tie, orzo, macaroni, rigatoni, gemelli, etc.
Pasta Cook Times: If you're picking another shape of pasta, refer to the time chart on this post for Instant pot pasta cooking times.
How to Make Baked Feta Pasta
Here are the step by step instructions to make this popular 'baked feta pasta tiktok'. Scroll below for the printable recipe card and specific ingredient measurements.
- Place the tomatoes in an oven-safe casserole dish. Drizzle olive oil, sprinkle on salt and pepper, then toss together until the tomatoes are evenly coated.
- Move the tomatoes to create space in the middle and place the feta in the center. Drizzle additional olive oil on top, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss or flip the cheese until it's coated with the seasoning. Bake for 30-32 minutes, or until the tomatoes burst and the cheese melts.
- While your tomatoes and cheese are baking, cook your pasta either in the instant pot or on the stove according to package directions. After cooking, drain the pasta but reserve ½ cup of the cooking liquid.
- Remove the casserole dish from the oven, then add in minced garlic, 2-3 tablespoons of the pasta water, and half of the chopped basil. Mix until well-combined. Add more water as needed.
- Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish and toss to combine.
Serving Suggestions
I recommend serving this feta pasta bake right away for ultimate freshness and the best flavor and texture.
You can serve it on its own, with a protein, or next to a lighter side dish! Try it with Mediterranean chicken, roasted broccoli, garlic bread, or a simple side of greek salad.
How to Store
Leftover pasta will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, microwave or warm on the stove with a drizzle of olive oil or warm water to moisten.
Recipe Tips
- Use fresh ingredients. Since this recipe is made up of so few ingredients, it's important to use fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic to get the best flavor.
- Use feta block for a creamier taste and texture. Pre-crumbled or pre-shredded cheeses often contain an anti-caking agent which results in a grainier texture when melted. If purchasing feta crumbles, check the label for ingredients to avoid that.
- Use full-fat feta for the creamiest texture. Although low-fat feta will work, it won't be as flavorful or as creamy.
- Save the pasta water. This is mixed with the melted feta to form a light cheese sauce.
- Serve right away for the best flavor and ultimate freshness. Leftovers will last for up to 4 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer.
- You can mix in a protein if you want to bulk your pasta dish up a bit. Try it with cooked chicken, ground beef, ground turkey, cooked shrimp, or even chickpeas for a vegetarian/vegan option.
- Up the nutrition by adding veggies. Try it with mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, diced bell pepper, etc.
- This dish can easily be made vegan by swapping the regular feta cheese out for a vegan variety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Feta crumbles will work fine, but the cheese sauce won't be quite as smooth and creamy since pre-crumbled cheese contains an anti-caking agent. If you do have blocked feta, I recommend using that.
I use rotini pasta but you can really use any small pasta shape. Try penne, bow-tie, orzo, gemelli, etc. You could use longer pasta shapes like spaghetti or linguini, but it will be much harder to combine with the sauce.
Yep. I love the salty, light creaminess of the feta but you can use other types of cheese, if preferred. Try parmesan, goat, gouda, ricotta, bleu, brie, etc.
More Pasta Recipes to Try
Check out the complete range of Instant Pot Pasta Recipes.
📖 Recipe
Baked Feta Pasta
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Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes (2 pints)
- 8 ounce block feta cheese or crumbles
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil used in two steps
- ¼ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 10 ounces rotini pasta or pasta of choice
- ¼ cup packed chopped fresh basil used in two steps
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Add the tomatoes in an oven-safe casserole. Reserve 2 tablespoons olive oil for later and pour the rest along with salt and pepper. Toss well to season tomatoes.
- Move the tomatoes to create space in the middle and place the feta block or crumbles. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss or flip cheese until coated with seasoning. Bake for 30-32 minutes, or until the tomatoes burst and the feta cheese melts.
- About half way through the baking time, cook the pasta in the Instant Pot. Add pasta, water and salt to the instant pot and set it to cook for 5 minutes. If using another pasta shape, refer to this time chart to calculate the time. Alternatively, cook pasta on the stove following package directions. After cooking, drain the pasta, reserving ½ cup of the cooking liquid.
- Remove the casserole from the oven. Add minced garlic, 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water and half the chopped basil to the feta to make a light cheese sauce. Mix using a spoon or fork, until well combined .
- Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish. Toss to combine. Add more pasta water only if needed. Garnish with more basil and enjoy.
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients. Since this recipe is made up of so few ingredients, it's important to use fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic to get the best flavor.
- Use feta block for a creamier taste and texture. Pre-crumbled or pre-shredded cheeses often contain an anti-caking agent which results in a grainier texture when melted. If purchasing feta crumbles, check the label for ingredients to avoid that.
- Use full-fat feta for the creamiest texture. Although low-fat feta will work, it won't be as flavorful or as creamy.
- Save the pasta water. This is mixed with the melted feta to form a light cheese sauce.
- Serve right away for the best flavor and ultimate freshness. Leftovers will last for up to 4 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer.
- You can mix in a protein if you want to bulk your pasta dish up a bit. Try it with cooked chicken, ground beef, ground turkey, cooked shrimp, or even chickpeas for a vegetarian/vegan option.
- Up the nutrition by adding veggies. Try it with mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, diced bell pepper, etc.
- This dish can easily be made vegan by swapping the regular feta cheese out for a vegan variety.
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