3-Ingredient Baked Feta Pasta

If you haven’t heard of Baked Feta Pasta… where have you been?

This TikTok recipe became a sensation in no-time and it’s easy to see why. Not only is it super simple to whip up, but also the flavors are out of this world. In just 30 minutes in the oven, that block of feta cheese and its mote of tomato bruschetta transforms into an irresistibly creamy sauce. Unlike other recipes that call for fresh tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and so on, this Baked Feta Recipe calls upon our signature Italian Tomato Bruschetta. It’s the perfect balance of bright and herbaceous for this quick-and-easy pasta dish.

Baked Feta Pasta is going to get you unstuck from your weeknight menu rut. Go beyond boring this pasta night and create something that will have the whole family running to the dinner table.

JUMP TO RECIPE

What Is Baked Feta Pasta?

Baked feta pasta is an easy pasta dish with just a few ingredients. The easy recipe features a block of feta cheese that is placed in a baking dish alongside fresh tomatoes or an herby Italian bruschetta to create a creamy, cheesy, tangy pasta sauce. Tiktok kicked off the trending Baked Feta Pasta recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Baked Feta Pasta Recipe

There are so many reasons to love such a simple, but delicious meal. Baked Feta Pasta is a recipe that requires no prep time: no cleaning, cutting, chopping, etc. It’s done in a little over 30 minutes. We love it with our big-flavored Italian Tomato Bruschetta, but you can also use fresh tomatoes. Even with fresh tomatoes, this Baked Feta Pasta requires very little prep work. The combination of flavors here is memorable: tangy, bright tomatoes and complementary Italian herbs come together with a salty, slightly punchy feta cheese. Besides being delicious and easy to make, it’s a filling meal without meat, making it a great idea for Meatless Monday, as an easy vegetarian pasta recipe.

The Ingredients You Will Need To Make Baked Feta Pasta

Pasta: For this dish, you can use any short cut of pasta. We love it with farfalle, but you can switch it up with penne rigate, rigatoni, elbows, fusilli or small shells.

Tomatoes: Our Italian Tomato Bruschetta is the perfect blend of bold, bright tomato flavor with some complementary herbs. You can use fresh tomatoes, but you aren’t going to get that herby addition.

Feta: Choose a block of feta cheese over crumbled feta. The block is better for melting.

Fresh Herbs: We list it as an option, but torn fresh basil truly takes this pasta dish to another level.

How To Make Baked Feta Pasta

1. Get ready to bake.

Preheat the oven to 400˚F. In a large baking dish, arrange the block of cheese in the center and surround with tomato bruschetta.

2. Bake the cheese.

Bake the cheese and tomato bruschetta for 30 minutes uncovered.

3. Cook the pasta.

While the cheese is in the oven, cook the pasta for that perfect al dente texture. Be sure to reserve 1 cup of the hot pasta water before draining the noodles.

4. Increase the heat.

Turn up the heat and bake for another 5 minutes until cheese becomes golden brown.

5. Create the dish.

Remove the feta from the oven. Immediately stir in the hot cooked pasta. Use the reserved pasta water to create the desired consistency. Serve topped with fresh basil leaves.

Top Tips

The right feta is everything. Crumbled feta is processed in a way that stops it from melting as nicely. Go with the block! Also, avoid any low-fat varieties for the same reason.

Use the pasta water. The true secret to this popular pasta dish is the hot, starchy pasta cooking water. Be sure to reserve 1 cup before draining the noodles. In the end, it’s this water that will amp up the creaminess of your finally Baked Feta Pasta.

Cook the pasta just right. Creamy sauces like this need a firm noodle, so continue to check for doneness while cooking. Al dente pasta is tender but with a firm bite. Don’t overcook your pasta or the final dish will be mushy.

All about the timing! Try to time it so the pasta and feta are done at the same time. Pasta sitting around will stick to itself and rinsing pasta with water removes the starches needed to get the sauce to adhere properly.

To store the leftovers, refrigerate the pasta dish in an airtight container for up to 3 days. This pasta dish can be frozen in a freezer-friendly container for up to 2 months.

Substitutions And Additions

Make it gluten-free. Serve this Baked Feta Pasta recipe with a gluten-free pasta for those avoiding gluten in their diets.

Add some green. Add some earthy flavor and nutrition to this recipe with spinach, kale or garden zucchini.

Bring on the protein. Make this a heartier meal with chicken, sliced Italian sausage or ground turkey.

Greek garnishes. Add to its Mediterranean flair with artichoke hearts, briny olives or roasted red peppers. It’s time for a visit to your local olive bar!

The Best Pasta Cuts For Baked Feta Pasta

We love serving Baked Feta Pasta with bouncy bowtie-shaped farfalle, but there are so many great pasta shapes to choose from. Any short cut of pasta will do, especially those that can act as scoops to capture the creamy feta cheese sauce. Tubular shapes like penne rigate and rigatoni capture sauces in their hollows. Shellbows and elbows have hollow centers and curves to scoop up sauces. Orecchiette are concave disks that are wonderful with cream sauces. Whatever pasta you choose, just be sure to cook it to that signature al dente texture, so that the noodles can stand up to the rich, creamy sauce.

What To Serve With Baked Feta Pasta

Serve this creamy, cheesy pasta dish with a leafy green salad—Italian- or Greek-inspired. Don’t forget the bread! Garlic knots, breadsticks or focaccia is practically necessary for scooping up this luscious cheese sauce. For more veggies, serve Baked Feta Pasta with grilled or sautéed asparagus, zucchini squash or mushrooms.

Baked Feta Pasta: FAQ

Can I Make This With Crumbled Feta Cheese?

We do not advise you to make this dish with crumbled feta cheese, as the cheese will not melt properly. Crumbled feta is processed in a way that isn’t great for melting. Use a block of feta cheese for this Baked Feta Pasta recipe.

Can I Make This With Any Other Type Of Cheese?

Yes, you can make Baked Feta Pasta with another type of cheese, like Brie or goat cheese. Both of these make for amazing baked cheeses, but the cooking time could be very different. You’d have to experiment!

Can I Make This Dish Ahead Of Time?

For the best texture and flavor, Baked Feta Pasta is best served immediately after it is prepared. This is why we do not recommend making it ahead of time. Plus, it is very easy to make—even on the busiest weeknights.

3-Ingredient Baked Feta Pasta

Ingredients

1 (1-pound) package DeLallo Farfalle, or any short-cut pasta of choice
2 (9.88-ounce) jars DeLallo Tomato Bruschetta
1 (14-ounce) block DeLallo Feta Cheese
Fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped, optional*
Note: if using ½ pound of pasta, use only 1 jar of the tomato bruschetta and 7 ounces of feta

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
In a baking dish, pour the tomato bruschetta around the inside walls of the dish to make room for the feta. Add the block of feta to the dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the hot pasta cooking water.
Increase the oven heat to 450˚F. Bake feta for another 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown. Remove from the oven.
Immediately add the cooked pasta to the baking dish. Stir to combine. If the sauce is too dry, add some of the starchy pasta water—a little at a time.
Serve topped with fresh basil.