Creamy Viral Feta Tomato Pasta Bake Recipe Easy 5-Ingredient Dinner
A quick and comforting pasta bake featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and creamy melted feta cheese, perfect for busy weeknights or unexpected guests.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- 14 oz (400 g) cherry tomatoes (fresh or canned, drained)
- 7 oz (200 g) block of full-fat feta cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the block of feta in the center of a baking dish. Scatter the cherry tomatoes around it. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle minced garlic over, and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss the tomatoes gently to coat but keep the feta block intact.
- Roast the feta and tomatoes in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring the tomatoes halfway through.
- While roasting, cook the pasta in salted boiling water until just al dente (1-2 minutes less than package instructions). Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup (120 ml) pasta water.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven. Mash the softened feta and tomatoes together until creamy. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Add the drained pasta to the baking dish and toss to coat evenly with the sauce.
- Return the combined pasta and sauce to the oven and bake for another 10-12 minutes at 400°F (200°C) until slightly golden on top.
- Remove from oven, garnish with fresh basil if using, and let rest a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Cook pasta al dente to avoid mushiness after baking. Use good quality extra virgin olive oil for best flavor. The second bake step enhances flavor and texture but can be skipped if short on time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 18
Keywords: feta pasta bake, tomato pasta bake, easy dinner, 5-ingredient recipe, creamy pasta, baked feta, cherry tomatoes, quick pasta bake