Here is my spin on the trending baked tomato feta pasta with more veggies and spices. The Baked Feta pasta recipe went viral on Tiktok and other social media platforms and I couldn’t understand what all the hype is about!!
I first saw this recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, who made it based on a viral recipe called #uunifetapasta made famous in Finland by Liemessa and originally shared by Tiiu. It became so popular that the grocery stores ran out of block feta cheese!! Crumbled was still available but this recipe uses block. On my recent trip to Costco, I found Feta block so decided to give it a try and test it myself. Honestly was a little skeptical as my family is not a big Feta fan and I rarely buy it!! But I decided to still try it!! Truth be told, I’m glad I did. I made a few modifications to suit our taste palate and everyone loved it!! It is going to be a regular now in my easy dinner recipes!! Check out these other favorite easy dinner recipes we have been loving - Creamy Vegetable Sandwich, Vegetarian Lasagna Soup and Matar Paneer Pulao
What is Baked Feta Pasta
It’s a simple pasta recipe made with few ingredients like cherry tomatoes, garlic, Feta cheese tossed in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. These are then baked in the oven until the tomatoes are soft and mashed to make the sauce and tossed with pasta. The final touch is sprinkle of basil leaves that bring the dish together. This is the original recipe which is delicious!! But if you are not a big fan of Feta cheese which can be salty and tart you may have a different opinion. In order to make it more suitable for my family’s taste palate, I’ve added some spices and veggies like onions and sweet peppers that caramelize beautifully in the oven and lend a slightly sweet taste to this dish thus balancing the flavors. I promise you will love this recipe even if you don’t like feta if you make it this way!! So let’s see how to make the Tiktok viral Baked Feta Pasta recipe!!
Recipe Ingredients
Tomatoes: Fresh cherry or grape tomatoes work best for this recipe. They roast and burst and make the base ingredient for our sauce. Canned will not yield the same results. Feta Cheese: Use a block of feta cheese (7-8ounces) for best results. I’ve used Tnuva Feta Sheep’s Milk Cheese that was available at my Costco store. I found it less tart and creamier. Pasta: I’ve used penne pasta but you can use any pasta of you choice. Almost any pasta variety (including gluten-free pasta) can work with this recipe . Veggies - I have used sliced yellow onion, whole garlic cloves, and sliced sweet peppers as I find they wonderfully balance the tart salty feta flavor with their sweetness when they bake and caramelize. Seasoning & Herbs: You’ll need good quality extra virgin olive oil, salt (go easy on the salt since Feta is salty), freshly cracked pepper, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (for some heat), and fresh basil leaves.
Step by Step Method
1 - Preheat oven to 400°F. In an oven-safe baking dish (using 9X13 inch), add the cherry tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, ¼ cup olive oil, salt, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Toss until well combined. 2 - Make space in the middle by pushing the veggies to the side. Place the feta block in the middle of the baking dish. Pour the remaining olive oil over it and season with freshly cracked black pepper. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes are soft.3 - While the tomatoes and feta are baking, cook the pasta in a pot full of salted water according to package instructions until al dente. I’ve used penne pasta but you can use any pasta of choice. Drain the pasta and reserve ½ cup of the pasta water liquid to adjust the consistency if needed. 4 - After 40 mins, remove the dish from the oven. 5 and 6 - Mash everything with a fork to a sauce consistency. This makes a great dip too.7 - Add the cooked pasta and mix to combine. 9 - Garnish with more fresh basil and serve warm.
Variations
Here are a few ways to customize this baked feta pasta if you would like: Add a protein: Cook up some sausage, chicken, shrimp, and add to the pasta once it has been cooked. Add more veggies: In addition to onion, sweet peppers, you can also add asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives. Substitute sweet peppers with red or yellow bell pepper. Spinach would be a great addition to boost the nutritional value. Add it along with basil. Make it gluten-free: Use your preferred gluten-free pasta to make it gluten-free. Add more heat: To make it spicier add more crushed red pepper flakes or sliced fresh chiles or sliced jalapeños and roast along with tomatoes for another depth of flavor. Swap the pasta: In place of pasta, you could also serve this tomato-feta sauce with rice (or risotto), quinoa, farro, or use as a dip with a side of crusty bread or crackers.
Recipe Tips
Use fresh ingredients. There aren’t many ingredients in this recipe so use fresh tomatoes and veggies for the best results. Canned will not yield the same results. Reserve the pasta water. You can use this starchy pasta water to adjust the pasta consistency. I didn’t use it, but you can certainly add it if you feel the baked feta pasta needs more sauce. Or if you are planning on storing it for later use as it will thicken when refrigerated. Go easy on the salt - Feta is naturally very salty so add less salt as you can always add more later if needed. Cut down the tartness - I have seen many complain about tart feta taste and it overpowering this recipe. To balance the tart and salty feta, add onions and peppers while roasting. They will caramelize and lend a slightly sweet taste to the pasta.
More Pasta recipes
Hope you enjoy this Easy Baked Feta Pasta recipe!! If you give this recipe a try, please rate by clicking stars ⭐️ on the recipe card. Thank you ❤️ ! You can also follow me on Facebook | Instagram to see what’s cooking in my kitchen!!
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