This baked feta pasta is an easy, creamy dish made with cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and pasta baked together for a simple, flavorful meal. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and uses just a handful of affordable ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
This is one of those recipes I like making when I need dinner to feel a little special without adding extra work. The oven does most of the cooking, and once the tomatoes and feta are soft and creamy, all you have to do is stir in the pasta.
- Easy weeknight dinner – Simple prep and mostly hands-off cooking.
- Budget-friendly ingredients – Pasta, tomatoes, and feta stretch into a filling meal.
- Family-tested – Creamy, cheesy pasta is always a win at the dinner table.
- Great meatless option – Hearty enough without adding protein.
- Easy to customize – Add chicken, bacon, spinach, or extra vegetables.
- Perfect for leftovers – Reheats well with a splash of water or milk.
If you love creamy pasta dishes like this, then you must try Creamy Chicken Pasta, Penne alla Vodka and Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta.
Ingredients
- Cherry Tomatoes – They burst as they bake and help create the sauce.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Helps the tomatoes roast and keeps the sauce rich.
- Feta Cheese – Use a block of feta for the creamiest results.
- Garlic Cloves (crushed) – Stirred in after baking for fresh flavor.
- Fresh Basil Leaves – Adds freshness right before serving.
- Pasta – Cavatappi, rigatoni, rotini, penne, or bow tie all work well.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – Adds a little heat.
- Salt and Pepper – Simple seasoning that brings everything together.
How to Make Baked Feta Pasta
Step 1 – Prepare Oven – Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 – Add Cherry Tomatoes and season – Add the cherry tomatoes to a baking dish. Toss the tomatoes with the olive oil. Then season the tomatoes with salt and pepper.
Step 3 – Add Feta Cheese – Place the feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes and turn to coat the cheese in the oil.
Step 4 – Bake Feta Cheese and Tomatoes – Bake for 30 minutes. Then increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Bake for 5-10 more minutes until the feta has browned and the tomatoes blistered.
Step 5 – Cook Pasta – Cook the dry pasta based on the package instructions to al dente while the feta and tomatoes are baking. When the feta and tomatoes are done baking, remove from the oven and stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes. Continue to stir until the feta and tomatoes are combined to form a creamy sauce.
Step 6 – Stir in Cooked Pasta – Stir in the pasta and add in the pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Stir in the fresh basil leaves.
Step 7 – Enjoy – Serve warm and enjoy.
Tips for Success
- Use a block of feta. Crumbled feta does not melt as smoothly and may have a drier texture.
- Reserve pasta water. This helps thin the sauce if it gets too thick.
- Cook pasta al dente. The pasta will soften slightly once mixed with the hot sauce.
- Use enough olive oil. It helps create the rich, creamy texture.
- Choose the right baking dish. The tomatoes should be close together but still have room to stir everything at the end.
- Time the pasta well. Try to have the pasta ready around the same time the tomatoes and feta finish baking.
Variations & Substitutions
- Change the pasta: Penne, rotini, rigatoni, bow tie, cavatappi, or spaghetti all work.
- Add protein: Stir in grilled chicken, shredded chicken, bacon, or cooked ground beef.
- Add vegetables: Spinach, broccoli, asparagus, or shredded carrots are easy additions.
- Make it spicy: Add extra crushed red pepper flakes.
- Try different cheese: Goat cheese or cream cheese can be used, but the flavor will change.
- Low-carb option: Serve the sauce with spaghetti squash instead of pasta.
- Use dried herbs: If you do not have fresh basil, use a small amount of dried basil or Italian seasoning.
What to Serve with Feta Pasta?
We like to serve this Feta Pasta it usually served as a side dish. But if adding in some chicken, you can usually just serve it with some garlic bread.
- Grilled Chicken – Grilled chicken would be delicious served with this pasta dish.
- Garlic Bread – We love to serve this creamy pasta with breadsticks or cheese sticks. We love to dip our bread with the sauce.
- Side Salad – You can easily make this for a meatless Monday since it is rich and hearty. Keep you sides light and make a simple salad.
Storage & Freezer Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4–5 days.
To reheat, microwave individual portions in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one. Add a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce if needed.
This recipe is best served fresh, but leftovers can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently.
FAQs
We recommend the Feta that is made with Sheep’s Milk. If you pick the feta that is made from cow’s milk or goat milk, it can turn out crumbly. When making this pasta dish you want the results to be a creamy and smooth recipe.
Buy quality ingredients and you will have the best version of this Pasta dish.
It may need more pasta water, olive oil, or tomatoes. Stir in reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce becomes creamy.
You can prep the tomatoes, feta, oil, and seasonings in the baking dish ahead of time. For best texture, cook the pasta fresh before serving.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
This is one of those simple recipes that’s easy to make but still feels a little special. It’s perfect for nights when you want something creamy and flavorful without a lot of effort, and it’s flexible enough to use what you already have on hand.
If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you! Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below—your feedback helps other families find recipes they can trust and enjoy.
Baked Feta Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 pints Cherry Tomatoes
- ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 8 oz Feta Cheese 1 block
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 handful Fresh Basil Leaves
- 10 oz Pasta cavatappi, rigatoni, rotini, penne or bow tie
- ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add 2 pints cherry tomatoes to a 9×13 baking dish.
- Place 8 oz feta cheese in the center of the baking dish, surrounded by the cherry tomatoes.
- Pour ½ cup extra virgin olive oil over the tomatoes and feta cheese.
- Add 4 crushed garlic cloves, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Then increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Bake for 5-10 more minutes until the feta has browned and the tomatoes blistered.
- While the tomatoes and feta cheese are baking, cook 10 oz pasta according to the package directions. Reserve some pasta water before draining.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and stir the tomatoes and feta cheese together until creamy.
- Add the cooked pasta and 1 handful fresh basil leaves. Stir until everything is well combined, adding reserved pasta water if needed.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
At first, I wasn’t too thrilled I mean I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t really love it. So I put a jar of garlic tomato pasta sauce in it and it’s yummy for me!