Burst Tomato Feta Pasta
This simple and delicious baked feta pasta recipe became a viral sensation for a reason: it's incredibly easy to make, requires minimal cleanup, and results in a creamy, flavorful sauce that tastes like it took hours to create. It's the perfect weeknight meal!
Servings 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 medium shallot quartered
- 3 medium garlic cloves smashed
- 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil divided
- Kosher salt to taste
- 1 Pinch red pepper flakes crushed
- 8 ounces feta block
- 3 medium thyme sprigs fresh
- 12 ounces short tubular pasta such as macaroni or cavatappi
- basil leaves Fresh for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prep pan: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread the quartered shallot, smashed garlic cloves, and cherry tomatoes in a single layer.
- Add oil and seasoning: Drizzle 1/4 cup of the extra-virgin olive oil over the vegetables. Season with a generous pinch of kosher salt and the crushed red pepper flakes. Toss to coat everything evenly.
- Place the feta: Push the vegetables to the sides of the baking dish to create a space in the center. Place the block of feta in the middle of the dish and nestle the fresh thyme sprigs around it. Drizzle the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil over the feta.
- Bake: Bake for 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst and the feta is soft, slightly golden, and gooey.
- Cook the pasta: While the feta and vegetables are baking, cook the pasta according to the package directions in a pot of heavily salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Combine ingredients: Carefully remove the hot baking dish from the oven. Using a fork, smash the feta, tomatoes, and garlic together to create a creamy sauce. Remove and discard the thyme stems.
- Finish the pasta: Add the drained pasta to the baking dish and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Serve: Divide the pasta among bowls and garnish generously with fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately.
Notes
Yields: 4 servings Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes
