Description
A viral, easy one-pan dinner featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and a block of feta cheese smashed into pasta. This tangy, creamy, and sweet dish requires minimal active cooking time and delivers maximum flavor for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) cherry tomatoes
- 7–8 oz (200-250g) block of Greek feta cheese
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3–4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2–3 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place cherry tomatoes in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Drizzle with half the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and scatter minced garlic around the tomatoes and on top of the cheese.
- Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes until tomatoes are bursting and soft, and feta is golden and puffy.
- While tomatoes roast, boil pasta in salted water until al dente (1-2 minutes less than package directions). Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Remove baking dish from oven. Smash the feta and tomatoes together with a fork or potato masher until creamy.
- Stir in balsamic glaze and red pepper flakes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add drained pasta to the baking dish and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not skip saving the pasta water; the starch helps emulsify the sauce. Ensure tomatoes are roasted until bursting for a creamy texture. Use a solid block of feta, not crumbled, for best melting results. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: baked feta pasta, viral recipe, one-pan dinner, easy weeknight meal, pasta, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, gluten-free option