Try this spin on the viral recipe for one pan feta pasta with cherry tomatoes! Made popular from a viral TikTok recipe, this baked feta pasta is overflowing with delicious flavor. It’s also incredibly easy, requires minimal effort, and clean-up is a breeze since it’s all made in one pot! {Vegetarian}
One Pan Feta Pasta – So Easy!
If you haven’t tried the TikTok feta pasta trend, you’re seriously missing out! This one pan feta pasta with cherry tomatoes is a huge flavour bomb and couldn’t be easier to make! This version incorporates some fresh asparagus and lemon zest for even more delicious flavour.
The best part is, this tomato feta pasta recipe is all made in one large oven-safe pan or Dutch oven. After you drain the pasta, you’ll use the same pot to melt your block of feta cheese and roast your cherry tomatoes and asparagus.
Add the pasta back to the pan, stir, and serve. There’s just one pot (and a strainer) to clean up!
What is Feta Pasta?
Back in 2018, blogger Jenni Hayrinen shared a spin on a recipe from another Finnish blogger Tiiu Piret. In the viral baked feta pasta recipe (also called uunifetapasta, which translates to oven-baked pasta), Jenni baked an entire block of feta with fresh cherry tomatoes, olive oil, herbs, and spices. As the feta melted and the cherries roasted, they became a tangy, creamy sauce that coats your cooked pasta for a delicious meal.
In 2020, this Tik Tok feta pasta recipe became so popular that people were having a hard time finding feta in grocery stores in the United States!
A lot has changed since then, but this method is still a fantastic way to transform riney feta into a creamy sauce that packs a flavour punch!
Why We Love This Tomato Feta Pasta Recipe
- One pan pasta bake: Since everything is made in one pot, there’s minimal cleanup (perfect for those busy weeknights).
- Incredible flavor: This Tiktok pasta dish went viral for a reason. From the intensely flavored roasted tomatoes to the creamy feta, every bite is unbelievably delicious.
- Self-saucing: Since the block of feta itself turns into a sauce, you don’t need to bother with jars of sauce or whipping up a bechamel, etc.
- Crowd pleaser: Although this viral pasta recipe couldn’t be easier to make, it’s also fancy enough to make for a special dinner or event. Literally, everyone will ask you for the recipe!
Required Ingredients
- Pasta: Use your favorite kind of pasta, like rotini, bowtie pasta or penne pasta. Long noodles like spaghetti will get wrapped up in the sauce, while smaller types will hold chunks of roasted tomato and asparagus.
- Cherry tomatoes: Use small cherry tomatoes or even grape tomatoes for little explosions of fresh flavour.
- Shallots: Although these are optional, shallots add a mellow onion flavor that really balances this asparagus feta pasta.
- Fresh garlic cloves: Halve and smash a few cloves of fresh garlic for lots of flavour.
- Extra-virgin olive oil: You’ll need this to roast the tomatoes and infuse flavour into the feta.
- Italian seasoning: Just a little dried Italian seasoning adds all the flavor you need to give this dish an Italian flavour.
- Red pepper flakes: Feel free to skip these if your family doesn’t like heat, but red pepper flakes really stand out against the creamy feta.
- Feta: Choose a block of feta cheese. Feel free to use herbed feta, sheep’s milk feta, or any type you can find for this feta pasta dish.
- Asparagus: Cut or snap fresh asparagus into 1-inch pieces.
- Lemon zest: This bright, fresh acid really highlights the flavours in this dish.
- Fresh herbs: Thinly slice fresh basil leaves or fresh oregano as a garnish.
- Salt and black pepper: Season as you go for a full-flavoured pasta dish.
How to Make Feta Pasta with Tomatoes – Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a large oven-proof skillet or Dutch oven, bring salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. In the same large ovenproof skillet (can also use a casserole dish), combine tomatoes, shallots (if using), garlic, and all but 1 tablespoon oil. Season with Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes and toss to combine.
- Place feta into the centre of tomato mixture and drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven, add chopped asparagus, mixing it in with the oil, and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until tomatoes are bursting and feta is golden on top.
- Add cooked al dente pasta, reserved pasta water, and lemon zest to the skillet with tomatoes and feta. Mix until combined. Garnish with fresh basil and serve warm.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe Tips:
- To save time: you can also cook the pasta in a separate pot while the tomatoes and feta are baking. The creamy feta pasta bake can be made in an ovenproof skillet or medium-sized baking dish.
- Avoid overcooking noodles: For best results, don’t overcook the noodles or they’ll turn mushy and will easily disintegrate when you mix the pasta in with the vegetables and feta. Cook it until it’s just al dente.
- If you forget to reserve some pasta water, you can also add a bit of milk in its place. It helps make the sauce more creamy.
- For more creamy sauce: If possible, try to find Sheep’s feta as it tends to melt better and provides a more creamy base.
Recipe FAQs
You can truly use any type of pasta for this viral feta pasta bake, but short noodles like penne and rigatoni are the most popular, as the sauce and vegetables will find their way inside each piece. I used rotini, and the sauce sticks to each part of the corkscrew shape. This sauce also tastes amazing served over fettuccini or spaghetti, although the extra vegetable pieces are too. Don’t overthink it!
Unlike cheddar or mozzarella, feta won’t melt the same way you’re expecting. It will, however, soften and become really creamy. To turn it into a sauce for this feta tomato pasta recipe, be sure to top with olive oil and roast until the feta is golden brown on top. You’ll then be able to stir it to become a sauce.
Although the original recipe uses feta cheese, try substituting the same amount of chevre (fresh goat cheese) or even Boursin or cream cheese!
The chevre will break down like feta and add a mild tanginess to the creamy sauce for your goat cheese pasta. Cream cheese or Boursin tastes amazing over pasta as it’s thick enough to really coat every piece, yet it still has that fatty creaminess. Plus, it’s cheaper and easy to find!
Storage & Reheating Guidelines
For the fridge: Like any leftover pasta dish, you can easily reheat the leftovers the next day. Store leftovers in an airtight container. The pasta typically absorbs the sauce and dries out a little, so it can be helpful to add a teaspoon of water or milk before microwaving the leftovers for 3-4 minutes.
For the freezer: Let your leftovers cool completely, then store them in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for 1-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating, following the instructions above.
What to Serve with Baked Feta Pasta
This lemon feta pasta is so scrumptious and satisfying, and it makes a great main dish.
You can easily balance out this pasta dish by serving it with grilled or roasted chicken for extra protein and an extra side of veggies like this tossed green salad or oven roasted broccoli, for extra fiber and nutrients.
Recipe Variations
- Add protein: Add roasted chicken or sliced sausage to the Dutch oven with the feta for a little extra protein.You can even toss in some cooked shrimp.
- Switch up the veggies: Add bell peppers, zucchini, baby spinach, or eggplant instead of asparagus.
- To make low carb: Use a low carb pasta like zucchini pasta or shirataki noodles.
- To make vegan: Select a plant-based feta and vegan noodles for a vegan meal.
More Similar Recipes
- Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Pasta
- Healthy Pasta Salad Recipe
- Lentil Bolognese
- Low Sodium Spaghetti Sauce
- Crockpot Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
One Pan Feta Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes {Tik Tok}
Ingredients
- 10 ounces uncooked pasta (whole wheat, regular or gluten-free)
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 3 shallots thinly sliced (optional)
- 6 garlic cloves halved and smashed
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 8 ounce block of feta
- 1 pound fresh asparagus cut into 1 inch pieces
- Zest of one lemon
- 1/4 cup sliced fresh basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large oven-proof skillet or Dutch oven, bring salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. In the same large ovenproof skillet (can also use a casserole dish), combine tomatoes, shallots (if using), garlic, and all but 1 tablespoon of oil. Season with Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes and toss to combine.
- Place feta into the centre of tomato mixture and drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven, add chopped asparagus, mixing it in with the oil, and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until tomatoes are bursting and feta is lightly golden on top.
- Add cooked pasta, reserved pasta water, and lemon zest to the skillet with tomatoes, asparagus and feta. Mix until combined. Garnish with fresh basil and serve warm.
Notes
- To save time: you can also cook the pasta in a separate pot while the tomatoes and feta are baking. The creamy feta pasta bake can be made in an ovenproof skillet or medium-sized baking dish.
- Avoid overcooking noodles: For best results, don’t overcook the noodles or they’ll turn mushy and will easily disintegrate when you mix the pasta in with the vegetables and feta. Cook it until it’s just al dente.
- If you forget to reserve some pasta water, you can also add a bit of milk in its place. It helps make the sauce more creamy.
- For more creamy sauce: If possible, try to find Sheep’s feta as it tends to melt better and provides a more creamy base.
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