Baked Feta Pasta with Basil (Printable)

Roasted feta and burst cherry tomatoes form a creamy, basil-flecked sauce tossed with pasta for an easy Mediterranean dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 400 g (14 oz) pasta of choice (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)

→ Oven Pan Ingredients

02 - 200 g (7 oz) block of feta cheese
03 - 500 g (1 lb) cherry tomatoes, whole
04 - 3 tbsp olive oil
05 - 3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
06 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
07 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - ½ tsp sea salt

→ Finishing & Garnish

09 - 1 handful (about 15 g) fresh basil leaves, roughly torn
10 - Zest of ½ lemon (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
02 - In a baking dish, place the feta block in the center. Surround it with cherry tomatoes and smashed garlic cloves.
03 - Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with black pepper, red pepper flakes (if using), and sea salt. Toss the tomatoes to coat evenly.
04 - Bake in the oven for 25–30 minutes, until the tomatoes burst and the feta is golden and soft.
05 - While the feta bakes, cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
06 - Remove the baking dish from the oven. Stir the feta and tomatoes together until a creamy sauce forms.
07 - Add the drained pasta directly to the dish and toss well to coat, adding a bit of pasta water if needed to reach desired creaminess.
08 - Stir in fresh basil and lemon zest. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
09 - Serve hot, garnished with extra basil leaves.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The feta turns into an outrageously creamy sauce, and it feels like a magic trick every time.
  • Minimal chopping means less mess, less fuss, and more flavor—plus it&aposs impressively dinner-party worthy with zero stress.
02 -
  • Trying to use pre-crumbled feta doesn&apost work—the block melts so much better and gives a creamier result.
  • That bit of pasta water is more important than it seems—it gives the sauce that luscious, restaurant-style gloss.
03 -
  • Avoid crowding your baking dish so the tomatoes and feta have space to caramelize rather than steam.
  • Switching to a metal or ceramic dish makes for better browning than glass—the edges crisp up beautifully.
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