Save A festive, creamy pasta dish featuring oven-roasted feta, bursting cherry tomatoes, garlic, and a snowy sprinkle of grated Parmesan, perfect for a holiday table.
This cozy chicken stew quickly became a family favorite during the holidays.
Ingredients
- Feta cheese block: 200 g (7 oz)
- Parmesan cheese: 60 g (2 oz), finely grated
- Cherry tomatoes: 500 g (1 lb), mixed colors preferred
- Garlic: 3 cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
- Red onion: 1 small, thinly sliced (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves: for garnish
- Short pasta: 350 g (12 oz) (fusilli, penne, or rigatoni)
- Extra virgin olive oil: 3 tbsp
- Dried oregano: 1 tsp
- Red pepper flakes: ½ tsp (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper: to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven:
- Set to 200°C (400°F)
- Prepare dish:
- Place the feta cheese block in the center of a baking dish. Arrange cherry tomatoes garlic and onion (if using) around the feta.
- Season:
- Drizzle everything with olive oil sprinkle with oregano red pepper flakes (if using) salt and pepper.
- Bake:
- For 25 30 minutes until the tomatoes burst and the feta turns golden at the edges.
- Cook pasta:
- In a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions Reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water then drain the pasta.
- Mash feta mixture:
- Remove the baking dish from the oven Using a large spoon gently mash and mix the feta with the tomatoes and garlic until creamy.
- Combine pasta and sauce:
- Add the hot pasta to the baking dish tossing everything together Gradually add reserved pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
- Serve:
- Topped with a generous snowfall of grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
Save This recipe is always a hit when I bring it to family dinners during the holidays.
Required Tools
Oven safe baking dish Large pot Strainer Mixing spoon
Allergen Information
Contains milk (feta Parmesan) wheat (pasta) Check cheese labels for vegetarian suitability if required For gluten free use certified gluten free pasta.
Nutritional Information
Calories 510 Total Fat 20 g Carbohydrates 62 g Protein 19 g per serving
Save This baked feta pasta is a delicious way to impress guests with minimal effort.
Recipe Help
- → What type of pasta works best with baked feta and tomatoes?
Short pasta shapes like fusilli, penne, or rigatoni work best as they catch the creamy sauce and roasted tomato juices well.
- → Can I make this dish vegan?
Yes, substitute dairy feta with a plant-based alternative and omit or replace Parmesan with a vegan option to keep it creamy and flavorful.
- → How do I get the cherry tomatoes to burst perfectly?
Baking the tomatoes with the feta at 200°C (400°F) for 25–30 minutes allows them to soften and burst, releasing their juices into the sauce.
- → What herbs complement the flavors in this pasta?
Fresh basil adds a fragrant finish, while dried oregano enhances the Mediterranean style baked into the dish.
- → How is the sauce's texture kept creamy without extra cream?
The creamy texture comes from the softened baked feta mashed with roasted tomatoes and pasta cooking water, creating a naturally silky sauce.