Baked Feta Pasta (Tik Tok Pasta)
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This simple Baked Feta Pasta recipe features a block of feta cheese with cherry tomatoes, roasted to perfection and tossed with pasta. The result is an incredibly delicious salty and cheesy pasta, with a tangy tomato flavor. It’s been the biggest rave on TikTok for months and now I’m bringing it straight into your kitchen!
Baked Feta Pasta
Although I’m not really on TikTok, I have heard about this pasta a lot and wanted to give it a try myself. I have to say that although I usually make pasta with meat sauce and love to serve it with feta cheese, this recipe is much easier. Given how easy this recipe is, I was really impressed with the end result, the flavors are so incredibly delicious.
The sauce is salty and tangy and so delicious that it really creates a party in your mouth. Every bite is irresistible, it’s creamy, cheesy, garlicky, and my version has a bit of a kick to it from the red pepper flakes. This recipe is also very versatile, you can add any protein to it, you can make it even creamier by adding a splash of heavy cream, or you can even add more veggies, such as spinach, broccoli or asparagus.
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta – Pretty much any pasta shape will work here. I chose mafalda pasta which is this really cute pasta that resembled tiny lasagna sheets, but feel free to use your favorite such as penne, ziti, rigatoni, pasta shells, orrechiette, bow tie pasta, elbow macaroni, etc.
- Feta cheese – An 8 oz block of feta cheese is what you’ll need. I you don’t have or can’t find a block of feta, you can use crumbled feta, but just make sure to press all the crumbles together in the center of the baking dish.
- Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes is what you’re looking for, and if you’ve never had roasted cherry tomatoes, it’ll become your new favorite thing.
- Olive Oil – Extra virgin olive oil will add richness to this dish. It may seem like a lot but it’s olive oil, it’s good for you.
- Seasoning – Red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. I love adding red pepper flakes to this dish for a little bit of extra kick to the sauce, but if you don’t like or can’t handle any spice, feel free to skip this. Also, be careful with the salt, feta cheese is usually quite salty.
- Garlic – Lots of fresh smashed garlic for that garlicky flavor. Don’t worry about mincing it, the garlic will roast and will blend it nicely in the sauce.
- Basil – Use as much fresh basil as you like and I strongly recommend going with fresh basil and not the dry kind. Its flavor will really balance out the sauce.
How To Make Baked Feta Pasta
- Prep the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Prep the sauce: Place the feta block in a 9×13-inch casserole dish then surround it with the cherry tomatoes and smashed garlic. Drizzle the olive oil all over the tomatoes and cheese then season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Transfer the casserole dish to the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the tomatoes have burst and the feta cheese has softened. Increase the heat to 450°F and continue cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the feta cheese is golden brown.
- Cook the pasta: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 13 minutes. Reserve ½ cup to 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta well.
- Mix it all together: Use a fork to mash the feta, tomatoes and garlic together. Add the pasta and basil to the casserole dish and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in sauce. Add some pasta water if the pasta is too dry, a couple tablespoons at a time. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve: Serve this pasta while it’s hot, garnished with more fresh basil and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented the TikTok pasta?
In 2020, Jenni, a food blogger tried out this baked feta pasta that is originally a Finnish recipe. It since got millions of views and has been one of the most famous recipes on the platform.
Can I use any other cheese?
Feta works best, but you can try other cheeses such as a goat cheese, which is very creamy and would work great in this dish. Other cheese you may try would be ricotta, or even a mix of feta and ricotta together.
Does crumbled feta work the same?
I you don’t have or can’t find a block of feta, you can use crumbled feta, but just make sure to press all the crumbles together in the center of the baking dish.
Expert Tips
- My biggest tip with this recipe is to use the freshest ingredients possible. There are only a handful of ingredients in this recipe, so go for the fresh stuff, don’t use canned tomatoes, or dried basil. Fresh is best!
- You can use a scoop of pasta water to help with the creaminess of your sauce, this is useful if your pasta gets too dry.
- In order for the cherry tomatoes to get that blistered skin, you want to increase the oven temperature for the last few minutes of baking. This will bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes.
- Feel free to add a protein to this dish, such as sausages, chicken, shrimp, salmon, etc.
- Pack this dish with other veggies such as spinach, asparagus, broccoli, peppers or even mushrooms.
Leftovers
Fridge
Transfer any leftover baked feta pasta to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, use the microwave, or you can use the stovetop as well. Add the leftovers to a skillet over medium heat with a splash of chicken broth or water. Cook, tossing often, until heated through.
Freezer
Let the pasta dish cool completely then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Delicious Recipes To Try
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Baked Feta Pasta (Tik Tok Pasta)
Video
Ingredients
- 8 ounce feta cheese block
- 1½ pound cherry tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic (smashed)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 10 ounce pasta (such as penne or rigatoni)
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Prep the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Prep the sauce: Place the feta block in a 9×13-inch casserole dish then surround it with the cherry tomatoes and smashed garlic. Drizzle the olive oil all over the tomatoes and cheese then season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Transfer the casserole dish to the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the tomatoes have burst and the feta cheese has softened. Increase the heat to 450°F and continue cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the feta cheese is golden brown.
- Cook the pasta: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 13 minutes. Reserve ½ cup to 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta well.
- Mix it all together: Use a fork to mash the feta, tomatoes and garlic together. Add the pasta and basil to the casserole dish and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in sauce. Add some pasta water if the pasta is too dry, a couple tablespoons at a time. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve: Serve this pasta while it's hot, garnished with more fresh basil and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if preferred.
Equipment
Notes
- My biggest tip with this recipe is to use the freshest ingredients possible. There are only a handful of ingredients in this recipe, so go for the fresh stuff, don’t use canned tomatoes, or dried basil. Fresh is best!
- You can use a scoop of pasta water to help with the creaminess of your sauce, this is useful if your pasta gets too dry.
- In order for the cherry tomatoes to get that blistered skin, you want to increase the oven temperature for the last few minutes of baking. This will bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes.
- Feel free to add a protein to this dish, such as sausages, chicken, shrimp, salmon, etc.
- Pack this dish with other veggies such as spinach, asparagus, broccoli, peppers or even mushrooms.
- Transfer any leftover baked feta pasta to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, use the microwave, or you can use the stovetop as well. Add the leftovers to a skillet over medium heat with a splash of chicken broth or water. Cook, tossing often, until heated through.
- To freeze, let the pasta dish cool completely then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
