TikTok Baked Feta Pasta
The original viral baked feta pasta: cherry tomatoes and a block of feta roast until jammy and creamy, then toss with pasta for a one-pan sauce. Bright, salty, and weeknight-easy—still one of the best TikTok dinners for USA kitchens.
🛒Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) block feta cheese
- 2 pints (about 4 cups) cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 12 ounces short pasta (rigatoni, penne, or rotini)
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh basil leaves, torn
- Optional: zest of 1 lemon, grated Parmesan
🔧Kitchen Tools Needed
- 9×13-inch baking dish
- Large pot
- Colander
- Fork or potato masher
- Wooden spoon
📝Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 400°F. In a 9×13-inch baking dish, add tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Toss. Nestle the feta block in the center and drizzle with a little more oil.
- 2
Bake 30–35 minutes until tomatoes burst and feta is soft and lightly golden on top.
- 3
Meanwhile, boil pasta in well-salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain.
- 4
Remove dish from oven. Immediately mash feta and tomatoes with a fork into a creamy sauce. Add cooked pasta and splash of pasta water; toss until coated and glossy.
- 5
Fold in basil and lemon zest if using. Taste and adjust salt. Serve hot with Parmesan.
- 6
Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of water so the sauce loosens.
🥗Nutrition Information
⚡Calories per serving: 560
🏷️Recipe Tags
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use crumbled feta?
A whole block melts into a creamier sauce. Crumbled works in a pinch but can dry out—add extra oil.
What pasta shape is best?
Short ridged shapes like rigatoni or penne catch the tomato-feta sauce best.
How do I make it spicier?
Add more red pepper flakes before baking or finish with chili crisp.
Can I add chicken?
Yes—stir in cooked diced chicken heated to 165°F when you toss the pasta.
Why is my sauce grainy?
Mash while the feta is still hot from the oven and use enough olive oil and pasta water to emulsify.
