Baked Feta Pasta Cherry Tomatoes (Printable)

Enjoy a creamy, savory pasta with roasted feta and burst cherry tomatoes. A rich sauce with minimal effort, ideal for any dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 pints cherry tomatoes
02 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped

→ Dairy

04 - 1 block (approximately 7 ounces) feta cheese

→ Pasta

05 - 12 ounces short pasta (e.g., penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)

→ Oils & Seasonings

06 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
09 - Salt, to taste
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Fresh Herbs

11 - Small handful fresh basil leaves, torn
12 - Fresh basil leaves, for serving

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Place the cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, and finely chopped shallot in a baking dish. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, dried oregano or Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Toss to coat evenly.
03 - Create space in the center of the baking dish and place the block of feta cheese in the middle. Drizzle the feta with a little more extra-virgin olive oil.
04 - Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst and the feta is golden and softened.
05 - While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook the short pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
06 - Remove the baking dish from the oven. Using a spoon or spatula, mash the feta and tomatoes together, mixing until a creamy sauce forms.
07 - Add the drained pasta and torn fresh basil leaves to the baking dish. Toss thoroughly, incorporating the reserved pasta water as needed to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Serve warm, garnished with additional fresh basil leaves.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It&s ridiculously easy to throw together, leaving you more time to actually enjoy your evening.
  • The magical transformation of simple ingredients into a rich, savory sauce feels like a little kitchen secret only we know.
02 -
  • Using a block of feta, not crumbles, is the game-changer for that unbelievably creamy texture; the crumbles just don&t melt the same way.
  • Don&t forget to reserve some pasta water! It&s your secret weapon for achieving the perfect sauce consistency and helps bind everything together.
03 -
  • Roasting the feta alongside the tomatoes is crucial for developing its deeper, richer flavor and ensuring it melts into a perfectly creamy sauce.
  • A wooden spoon is your best friend for mashing; its broad surface helps you efficiently break down the feta and tomatoes into that wonderful sauce.

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