Easy Feta Tomato Pasta Recipe

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Bored of eating the same old pasta dishes? Looking for a recipe that’s easy to make but still tastes incredible? This feta tomato pasta is exactly what you’re looking for! With almost zero prep and only 25 minutes oven time, this speedy feta pasta recipe makes an excellent midweek meal. And boasts BAGS of flavour too! Keep reading for the easy to follow recipe and lots of helpful tips.

Speedy feta tomato pasta

Having tried this feta pasta recipe numerous times and loving it, I knew I had to write a recipe for you! It’s so incredibly flavourful, takes less than 30 minutes to cook and requires next to no preparation at all. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a pasta recipe that has so many positives! Except for mozzarella pesto pasta maybe. That’s pretty great too!

Who would have thought you’d gather such dynamic flavours by simply throwing the ingredients together and baking it. Yep, it really is that simple!

All you need to do is mince some garlic and throw it into a dish along with the remaining ingredients. While it’s baking, cook some pasta. THAT’S IT!

Trust me when I tell you, you’re going to fall in love with this fabulous feta tomato pasta!

It’s also the perfect midweek meal to add to your Our Family Favourites inspiration list in my FREE meal planning kit!

Is the TikTok feta pasta actually good?

A thousand times YES! The TikTok feta pasta is truly a wonderful recipe. The beauty lies in it’s simplicity and glorious flavour. Trust me, it got popular for good reason!

Does feta pasta taste like feta?

Yes and no. Feta cheese pasta does have a strong feta flavour, but the other ingredients play a valuable role too.

The first hit you get is the garlic. This is followed by the rich, creaminess of the feta. Then the basil comes through as a pleasant after taste. The tomatoes help to cut through the richness of the feta and bring the whole sauce together.

So yes. Feta pasta does taste like feta, but it also tastes heavily of the other ingredients too.

Does baked feta melt?

Surprisingly yes! Feta does melt. However, even when it’s incredibly hot, it still holds its shape. You need to mix it, while still hot, to create a creamy melted cheese sauce.

Why did the feta pasta go viral?

Because everything about it is so special. The ease, the speed, that flavour! It’s just magical!

There’s so very little hands on time, it cooks in only 25 minutes and the flavour is utterly incredible. It’s the epitome of a perfect midweek meal! And who doesn’t love that? (I know I do!)

Ingredients and substitutions

Unsure what the best ingredients are? Confused about substitutions? Here’s everything you need to know…

• Oil – The oil plays a big role in flavour here so a good quality olive oil works best. Try not to substitute for vegetable or sunflower oils as it won’t taste great. A cheaper olive oil would be better.
• Feta – Make sure you get proper feta cheese, not a cheaper ‘salad cheese’. It’s one of the key flavours after all! And makes all the difference.
• Tomatoes – Summer tomatoes are the BEST for this dish! You can use cherry or plum varieties, but being perfectly ripe is optimum. See how to store tomatoes for more helpful tips.
• Garlic – Large garlic cloves work best and save tons of unnecessary peeling! If you can only get small ones, use 4 cloves to make up for it.
• Salt – Cornish sea salt is my favourite (you can get it from most UK supermarkets) but you can use table salt if that’s all you have.
• Pepper – Freshly ground black pepper gives the best flavour. You can get pre-filled grinders fairly cheap in most supermarkets nowadays. And they last for ages!
• Pasta – You can use any pasta you like in this dish. I used rigatoni as that’s what I had in, and it’s a favourite in my family. Tagliatelle, farfalle, penne, fusilli and spaghetti would all work perfectly too.
• Basil – Fresh basil is a must here. It really helps to bring the flavours together! Dried basil just won’t be the same.

Feta tomato pasta recipe tips and troubleshooting

Here are tips you’ll find helpful when making this recipe.

• Don’t skimp on the oil! 90ml (1/3 Cup + 1 tbsp) may seem a lot but it’s key for both the flavour and the consistency of the sauce.
• Use a good quality olive oil for the best flavour.
• Make sure you get real feta cheese and not ‘salad cheese’.
• Add oil to your pasta when cooking it. This will prevent it from sticking.
• Save some of the pasta water! If your pasta sauce ends up a little thick, it’s perfect for loosening it.
• Don’t be scared of salting your pasta water. The Italians say it should taste of the sea. It makes a HUGE difference to the flavour!

Time management

Have limited time? Struggle with recipe timings? Or juggling around other things? Here’s some time managing info to make your life easier.

• Remember to allow time for your oven to preheat. It’s something we often forget.
• The sauce only takes 25 minutes to cook.
• You can cook the pasta while the sauce is baking to save time.
• The sauce can be made in advance. Make sure you still mix it while it’s hot, and add a little pasta water to loosen it slightly. Cool completely, then cover, chill and use within 48 hours.

If you like this recipe…

…you might also like:

• Fresh tomato spaghetti
• Quick soured cream pasta
• One pot creamy garlic pasta
• One pot cajun sausage pasta
• One dish Vegetable pasta bake

Feta Tomato Pasta – Step by Step Picture Recipe

(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)

Ingredients

Here is what you will need to serve 4.

• 90ml (1/3 Cup + 1 tbsp) Olive Oil
• 1 x 200g (7oz) Block of Feta Cheese
• 500g (17.5 oz) Cherry Tomatoes
• 3 Large Garlic Cloves, minced
• Salt & Pepper
• 350g (12oz) Rigatoni Pasta *
• Fresh Basil Leaves, torn

*You can use any pasta you like

Essential equipment

• Large Ovenproof Dish
• Saucepan

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 200ºC/Fan 190ºC/392ºF then pour some of the olive oil (90ml | 1/3 Cup + 1 tbsp) into your ovenproof dish.

Next, place the block of feta cheese (1 x 200g | 7oz) into the middle and pour over the remaining olive oil.

Now tip the cherry tomatoes (500g | 17.5 oz) into the dish. No need to chop them, add them whole. Scatter with the minced garlic (3 x cloves) and toss them around in the oil.

Finally, season with salt and pepper, then bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. The tomatoes should be charring slightly and most of the skins will have split.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta (350g | 12oz) in a large saucepan of salted water, according to the packet instructions. Don’t forget to reserve some of the water for later.

As soon as the sauce is ready, remove it from the oven and start mixing it all together. You will need to give it a very thorough stir to ensure the ingredients (particularly the oil) blend together nicely.

Do be careful when squashing the tomatoes. They can pop and their juice will be very hot!

For the final flare of flavour – tear up a handful of fresh basil leaves and stir through the sauce.

And you’re done! All that’s left to do is stir through a little of the pasta water (this will loosen the sauce and help hold it all together/make it nice and shiny) and add it to the cooked pasta.

Can you make feta tomato pasta in advance?

Yes you can! The sauce can be made up to 48 hours in advance.

All you need to do is make sure you mix the sauce while it’s still hot, and stir though some pasta water. Then allow it to cool completely. (The pasta water helps to loosen the sauce, bring it together and make it nice and shiny.)

After that, simply cover it and chill in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. You can reheat either in a saucepan or in the microwave.

Why is my feta pasta not creamy?

This could happen for a couple of reasons. You may not have cooked it for long enough or at a high enough temperature. Or you didn’t mix it as soon as it came out the oven.

As the feta cools, it’s smooth creaminess dissipates and it becomes a little lumpy. If this is the case, pop it back into the oven for a few more minutes and try mixing it again.

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Easy Feta Tomato Pasta - Printable Recipe

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Bored of eating the same old pasta dishes? Looking for a recipe that’s easy to make but still tastes incredible? This feta tomato pasta is exactly what you’re looking for! With almost zero prep and only 25 minutes oven time, this speedy feta pasta recipe makes an excellent midweek meal.

Print

Ingredients

• 90ml (1/3 Cup + 1 tbsp) Olive Oil
• 1 x 200g (7oz) Block of Feta Cheese
• 500g (17.5 oz) Cherry Tomatoes
• 3 Large Garlic Cloves, minced
• Salt & Pepper
• 350g (12oz) Rigatoni Pasta *
• Fresh Basil Leaves, torn

Essential Equipment

• Large Ovenproof Dish
• Saucepan

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 200ºC/Fan 190ºC/392ºF. Pour a little of the oil into your dish and top with the block of feta. Pour the remaining oil over the top.
2. Surround the feta with the cherry tomatoes then scatter over the minced garlic. Toss it all in the oil.
3. Season well with salt and black pepper then bake for 20-25 minutes until the tomatoes are charred and their skins have split.
4. While the sauce is in the oven, cook the pasta in a large saucepan of salted boiling water. According to the packet instructions.
5. When the sauce is cooked and while it's still hot, mix thoroughly until everything is nicely blended together.
6. Finally, toss through some torn fresh basil leaves and serve with the cooked pasta.

Notes

*You can use any pasta you like

See the main post for a more detailed, step by step picture recipe.

Be sure to read the sections Ingredients and Substitutions, Recipe Tips and Troubleshooting and Time Management for lots of helpful information before you begin making this recipe. You can find them in the main body of this post.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 527Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 541mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 4gSugar: 6gProtein: 15g

Nutritional information on kitchenmason.com should only be used as a general guideline, I am not a certified nutritionist. Please always check labels for allergens where applicable.

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I'd love to hear about it! Please leave a comment on the blog or tag me on Instagram.

I want to see YOUR cooking!

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Other tasty pasta recipes you’ll love

• Penne arrabbiata
• Cherry tomato pasta
• Quick and easy tomato pasta

Credit to the original author of the TikTok feta pasta recipe.