Creamy Baked Feta Pasta Recipe Easy 5-Ingredient Dinner with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil
A quick and easy baked feta pasta dish featuring roasted cherry tomatoes, creamy melted feta, and fresh basil. Perfect for busy weeknights, this comforting meal is ready in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
- 1 block feta cheese (about 7 ounces / 200 grams), preferably full-fat
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes (about 10 ounces / 300 grams), fresh and ripe
- 8 ounces pasta (225 grams) – penne, fusilli, or rigatoni recommended
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the block of feta cheese in the center of a medium-sized ovenproof baking dish (about 9×9 inches).
- Surround the feta with cherry tomatoes, scatter minced garlic over the tomatoes, and drizzle everything with olive oil.
- Season lightly with salt and pepper, keeping in mind feta is naturally salty.
- Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes until tomatoes soften and burst, and feta turns golden and bubbly around the edges.
- While baking, cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
- Remove feta and tomatoes from oven and mash together with a fork to create a creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water gradually to loosen sauce if needed.
- Toss hot pasta into the sauce, mixing thoroughly to coat evenly.
- Tear fresh basil leaves over the top and gently stir before serving.
Notes
Use a block of feta cheese rather than crumbled for a creamier melt. Reserve pasta water to loosen the sauce without watering it down. Avoid overbaking to prevent feta from drying out. Fresh basil is essential for bright flavor. Optional additions include crushed red pepper flakes for heat or baby spinach for extra greens. For vegan version, substitute feta with a vegan cheese alternative and use egg-free pasta.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup pasta with sau
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: baked feta pasta, creamy pasta, cherry tomatoes, basil, easy dinner, 5-ingredient recipe, weeknight meal, vegetarian pasta