Baked Feta Pasta
Baked Feta Pasta – Without the TikTok
I love feta cheese and tomatoes and red onions, so making this baked feta pasta seemed like a no-brainer. Apparently it was a thing on TikTok? The only thing I know about TikTok is that it has influenced my students to do quite a few things I would prefer they didn’t. But if TikTok is also sharing cooking deliciousness, maybe I can deal with it. As for me, I made this baked feta pasta without social media’s input.
Baking Some Feta in the Wilderness
This week I am on my spring break and for Easter weekend, we went upstate to the place we will live when we retire in a few years. As an NYC native, I find it to be…challenging. There is no one. It snowed for 48 hours – in April! It takes me 30 minutes to get to the supermarket. So what to do? Clearly, the only choice is to really lean into the quiet, make some new recipes, and interact with all of you lovely internet friends. This baked feta pasta was one of the weekend’s recipes.
So Quick and Easy!
I can’t emphasize how ridiculously easy this recipe is. First, I tossed a pint of cherry tomatoes with olive oil. After that, I added sliced red onions and halved black olives and sprinkled in some kosher salt. The feta sits in the middle of the pan with the veggies all around. I happened to have some fresh thyme on hand, so I added that as well. Slide all of that into the oven at 400 degrees until the cheese is melty and tomatoes split and bubbly. Make sure to set aside some pasta water in case you feel the cheese mixture needs a bit more spreading power.
Baked Feta Pasta – on Pasta!?
The baked feta was served over – well, pasta, of course. My husband made the point that it might also be great on some crunchy, toasted bread. Note that this recipe was for two, so you should double it if you want more. It’s almost easy and delicious enough for some TikTok dancing!
Baked Feta Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 oz block of feta cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 medium red onion
- 1/2 cup halved black olives
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 2 servings cooked pasta of your choice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. I know my photos show aluminum foil but while that is possible, it is not ideal. There was a little sticking situation.
- Place the washed cherry tomatoes in a medium bowl.
- Toss the cherry tomatoes with the olive oil and kosher salt.
- Add in sliced red onion and halved black olives. Toss everything together.
- Place the feta in the middle of the prepared baking sheet. I cut an 8 oz. block of feta in half because it was just for me and my husband.
- Add the tomato, red onion, and olive mixture to the pan. I used a slotted spoon because you don't want pools of olive oil in a 400 degree oven.
- Sprinkle with fresh thyme and red pepper flakes.
- Bake until the cheese is gooey and the tomatoes pop open – about 30 minutes.
- While your cheese is baking, prepare your pasta. I used mostaccioli, which is like ziti.
- Before draining your pasta, scoop out about 1/2 cup of the pasta water with a ladle and set it aside.
- Place your drained pasta in a serving dish.
- Place the melted cheese and veggies on the pasta and mix everything together. If you feel that you need to stretch out the sauce a bit, add a little bit of pasta water until you reach the desired consistency.
