Baked feta pasta recipe

Have you seen the viral TikTok baked feta pasta recipe where you bake tomatoes and feta in olive oil, then stir into pasta? Well, I've tested and perfected a few tweaks to add bags of extra flavour, mellow out that sourness, and make the sauce smooth and creamy.

Don't worry, you can still make it in a single roasting pan.

Now, roasted tomatoes are delicious, but this version includes red onion and red pepper too, which adds more of a rounded out flavour, more texture in every bite, and more sweetness to balance out the tangy feta.

This version also recommends using a good pinch of crushed chillis. This adds some heat that works so well with the creamy sauce. Your palate is in for an adventure!

If you want to mellow out that sourness that feta is known for, the recipe explains what secret ingredient you can add before roasting to add some balancing sweetness without spoiling the dish.

Finally, I'll show you how to loosen the sauce without watering it down or causing it to split, so that you get a finished dish that's creamy, rich and smooth.

It looks like mac and cheese but the flavour is quite different, tangy, earthy, fresh, creamy. Honestly, it's stunningly tasty.

I've suggested that this recipe makes 6 portions. That's only 50g of pasta (dried weight) each, which might seem stingy, but this dish is pretty rich and flavourful, so I don't think you need a huge bowl. You can of course have a bigger portion, if you wish!

Instructions

Preheat the oven to a nice hot 220C (200C fan).

Grab a large roasting tray and place the feta in the centre.

Throw in the tomatoes. You don't need to slice them unless you have some large ones.

The viral TikTok recipe just uses tomatoes, but we're going to pack in more flavour with a range of veggies. First up, sliced red onion and red pepper.

Now scatter in the garlic, aiming to distribute it all over the dish.

Scatter on the chilli flakes, salt and pepper, then dress everything with 3/4 of the olive oil (save the last for serving). If you're using honey (see notes) then go ahead and drizzle that over the feta.

Bake for 20 minutes, stir the vegetables gently so that they roast evenly, then pop back into the oven to roast for another 10-15 minutes until the feta is golden and the veggies are just starting to char at the edges.

When your feta and veggies are back in the oven after stirring, you can bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook your pasta. That way, everything's ready to go at about the same time.

Give everything in the roasting tray a really good mix. In the viral TikTok recipe, this would be your sauce done, but we're going to add a few more things to make it silky and delicious.

First, add the cream cheese. This helps make the sauce creamier but also helps stabilise it so that no longer seems split.

Stir everything together. See? Starting to look better.

Now drain your pasta but reserve a full mug of the pasta water. Throw the drained pasta into the tray.

Mix again. It'll seem a bit thick but we're going to fix that.

It's time to introduce that lovely, starchy pasta water. This is going to loosen your sauce and make it creamy and perfect. Add bit by bit while stirring. You'll probably need 200-250ml (7-8.5 floz).

Finish the dish with a scattering of freshly chopped parsley. The green not only makes the whole dish look more attractive, it also adds a mild, fresh flavour.

Serve to bowls and garnish with the remaining olive oil. You can also add extra salt, pepper, parsley and chilli flakes, if you like.

Enjoy and please do let me know if you try it.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect baked feta pasta

Is baked feta pasta easy to make?

This recipe could hardly be easier! Other than a pan to boil the pasta in, you'll cook and mix everything in a single roasting tray from start to finish.

Will I need any special equipment for baked feta pasta recipe?

No special equipment is required to make this easy baked feta pasta. You'll just need weighing scales and measuring spoons, a chopping board and kitchen knife to prepare the veggies, a saucepan to boil the pasta, and finally, a large roasting tray and wooden spoon.

What is feta and where can I buy it?

Feta is a Greek cheese, traditionally made from sheep's and goat's milk.

It's a brined, softly set, crumbly white cheese, perfect for adding a tangy, salty edge to salads, pies, pizzas and meze platters. You can find it in the chilled dairy aisle in most supermarkets, alongside the other cheeses.

Feta has "Protected Designation of Origin" status, which means that within the EU, it must be produced, processed and prepared in a specific region, in this case Greece, using traditional production methods. That's why you might see similar products labelled "Greek-style cheese", since they cannot legally be called feta if they don't hail from Greece.

How can I tell if my feta has gone bad?

Keep your feta in the coolest part of the fridge and only open when you are ready to use it.

Unopened feta usually has quite a long 'Use By' date - don't eat cheese that is past that date. There is also usually information about how long you can keep your feta once the pack is open - typically within 3 days (and within the Use By date).

Feta is usually packed with a little of the brine solution which is used in the maturing process and this helps to preserve it for longer.

If you are not using the whole block at once, you can make up a salt solution to keep the leftover feta in. This will stop it from drying out and keep it fresh for longer.

Make a 10% saltwater solution so 100ml of cold water with 10g salt dissolved into it. Put the leftover feta into an airtight container and pour over the saltwater solution. Use a fork or spoon to handle your feta to reduce the risk of contamination. When you are ready to use your feta, just take it out of the container and dry it off with some clean kitchen towel.

If your feta has dried out, smells or tastes strange, or has started to go mouldy it is not safe to use.

Do I need to use cherry tomatoes?

This dish is tangy and acidic as that's the nature of feta, but the natural sugars in the veg come out during roasting and that helps mellow it out. 

It's best to use cherry tomatoes as opposed to salad ones are they're naturally sweeter and so will help better balance the tartness of the feta.

Do I need to use the honey?

You don't have to use the honey but it can be worthwhile to help soften the tang of the feta.

If your tomatoes are really sweet, you might not need it, but outside of the sunnier months, tomatoes bought from the store can be a lot less sweet than in the summer season. 

Taste a raw tomato and if it's lacking in sweetness, go ahead and add the honey to the dish at the stage directed.

Of course, if the tomatoes are sweet but you just love honey-roasted feta, they you can go ahead and add it anyway. Just be aware that the exact sweet/sourness will vary according to the ingredients used.

Is baked feta pasta suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, this baked feta pasta is suitable for vegetarians as it contains no meat, fish or poultry.

Be sure to check the labels on your ingredients to be certain. Feta and cream cheese are usually vegetarian-friendly, but may contain animal rennet and gelatine respectively.

Is baked feta pasta suitable for vegans?

This recipe isn't suitable for vegans as it contains two types of dairy cheese.

Violife makes an excellent vegan version cream cheese called Violife Non-Dairy Cheese Alternative Soft Original, which you could try using in the recipe - I suspect it would work really well. In place of the feta, Violife also makes a Greek White Block, which looks like a good substitute but I haven't tried baking it, so if you give it a go, let me know how you get on.

Is baked feta pasta gluten-free?

Standard pasta is made from wheat and so not suitable for a gluten-free diet. However, it would be easy to make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta.

Be sure to check the labels on your ingredients to be certain. Feta and cream cheese do not naturally contain gluten, but the label will tell you if they may be traces acquired during production.

Is baked feta pasta keto-friendly?

This recipe isn't keto-friendly as pasta is a key ingredient. You could try switching the pasta for courgette noodles and leaving out the honey.

Is baked feta pasta healthy?

This is a very cheese-rich recipe, making it high in fat. It does contain vegetables too, of course. I recommend a relatively small portion as it's a deliciously rich, piquant dish.

Is baked feta pasta safe to eat while pregnant?

It's important to make sure to use feta that is made with pasteurised milk to ensure it is safe for a pregnant woman to eat.

As long as the ingredients are in good condition and the meal is prepared hygienically and safely there is nothing else in this recipe that should pose a risk to someone who is pregnant.

This website does not offer medical advice. If you have any concerns please speak to your health professional.

In the UK the NHS also has some fantastic guidance on food to avoid whilst pregnant, but information can vary from country to country.

Is baked feta pasta for babies and toddlers?

I'd say no. It's spicy, which some toddlers may like, but it's also salty, which makes it unsuitable for young children. Since the salt is a natural part of the feta, it's not something that can be easily avoided.

What goes well with baked feta pasta?

This pasta would be great with lush, crunchy green salad and a few chunks of crusty bread.

Can I make this recipe with vegetable oil instead of olive oil?

You can use vegetable oil for this recipe if you prefer. Sunflower oil or rapeseed oil would be fine.

Can I use a different cheese?

Feta has a particular quality when baked of softening but not melting, meaning it takes on the perfect texture to stir into pasta.

If you were to use something like a block of cheddar, you'd end up with a bubbling, molten, potentially burnt pool of cheese amongst your veggies that probably wouldn't stir through very well.

Conversely, cooked cheeses like halloumi or paneer would hold their shape and wouldn't soften during baking to a consistency that could stirred through pasta, If cut into chunks, though, it would be delicious, just very different from the recipe given here.

Can I add extra vegetables to this recipe?

You can add extra vegetables to this recipe, yes.

Consider the size of your roasting tray. If you pack too much in, the veggies won't roast properly to release all that lovely sweetness and flavour. You could probably add another half the current volume of vegetables, so long as you have a nice big tray.

How should I store leftover baked feta pasta?

Any leftover baked feta pasta will need to be cooled and kept in the fridge.

Transfer the cooled pasta into a suitable container, or put it into a covered bowl and get into the fridge within two hours of making.

How long does baked feta pasta keep?

When stored correctly in a sealed container in the refrigerator, this baked feta pasta will keep for a couple of days. 

Can I leave baked feta pasta out on the counter?

Hot food like this shouldn’t sit out on the side for any more than 2 hours total from the time it comes out of the oven, so it’s fine to leave it out during dinner, but make sure to get any cooled leftovers into a sealed container and into the fridge as soon as you can. 

The longer food is left out on the counter, the more risk there is of bacteria spreading over the food and potentially causing foodborne illnesses.

Can I make baked feta pasta ahead?

This pasta dish is definitely best enjoyed freshly made, but if need be, you can make, cool, place in a sealed container and store in the fridge, ready to reheat in a saucepan over a medium heat when you're ready to serve.

You might need to add a splash of milk to loosen the sauce, and the pasta may not have optimal texture. Make sure to cook until piping hot all the way through.

Can I keep baked feta pasta in the refrigerator?

Yes, leftovers do need to be kept in the fridge. Make sure to cool the pasta completely, then get it into a sealed container and into the fridge quickly, and definitely within 2 hours of cooking.

What is the best way to reheat baked feta pasta?

Transfer your chilled pasta into a saucepan and stir gently over a medium heat. You might need to add a splash of milk to loosen the sauce. Make sure to cook until piping hot all the way through.

Can I freeze baked feta pasta?

You can freeze baked feta pasta if you like. The sauce might split but it should come back together when you reheat it. Keep in mind the pasta will soften more with the process of freezing and reheating.

Cool the pasta, transfer to a sealed container and place in the freezer within 2 hours of making.

Make sure to label your container with the date, and what's inside. Your pasta should keep for up to 2 months.

How should I defrost baked feta pasta?

Remove your container of frozen baked feta pasta from the freezer and transfer to the fridge to thaw out overnight.

Once thawed, you can cook in a saucepan over a medium heat, stirring gently. You might need to add a splash of milk to loosen the sauce. Make sure to cook until piping hot all the way through.

Once thawed consume within 24 hours, and don't refreeze already frozen food.

Can I make baked feta pasta in a different quantity?

Yes, it's really simple to adjust this recipe to make more or less of this baked feta pasta.

Head down to the recipe card below, and you’ll see the servings are set to 6. When you click or hover over this number, a little slide bar will appear that you can move up or down to get the number of servings you want to make.

All the ingredient quantities will update automatically. If you're making a lot less, you'll be better off using a smaller tray so that the veggies don't burn. Likewise, if you're making a lot more, you will need a bigger tray or multiple trays.

Can I make blend the baked feta and vegetable sauce to make it smooth?

You can use a stick blender in the tray to blitz your sauce until smooth before adding your pasta, if you like. It will probably turn a slightly unusual salmon pink, but it will taste great.

Since the veggies will be blended, the sauce will thicken, so you may need a little more of the pasta cooking water than directed to get the desired consistency.

Can I fry this recipe instead of using the oven?

You could certainly try frying the veggies and feta in a pan, but you won't get the "Maillard reaction" achieved by roasting, where the chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars gives browned food (bread crusts, the skin on roast chicken, the edges of roast veg) its distinctive, savoury, "umami " flavour.

How can I make sure my baked feta pasta is perfectly cooked?

There isn't much that can go wrong with this recipe as long as you follow the steps and measurements closely.

I always recommend weighing everything out and getting your equipment ready before you start. Next, taste a tomato so that you know if it's sweet or not and can decide whether you want to use the honey (see notes in the recipe card below).

Don't forget to stir your vegetables gently around your feta after 20 minutes so that they then roast evenly.

Once you've stirred the veggies and put the tray back in the oven, put the pasta on to boil so that so that everything's ready at the same time.

Don't forget to reserve a mug full of pasta cooking water before you drain your pasta and, finally, be sure to add the pasta water slowly while stirring so that you don't add too much.

Why did my baked feta pasta turn out dry/claggy?

Did you remember to reserve that pasta water? Folding that beautifully starchy hot water into the pasta will really help loosen everything out. Add slowly, stirring as you go until you achieve your ideal consistency.

Why did my baked feta pasta turn out watery?

Did you add your pasta to the sauce, fold through and then decide how much reserved pasta cooking water to add? The amount of moisture released by the roast vegetables can vary, which is why it's important to add the water after the pasta and stir in slowly until you get the consistency you want.

Why did baked feta pasta so tart?

Assuming your feta had not gone bad, an element of tangy sourness is a natural part of feta's flavour.

However, with the original TikTok recipe, some were finding it delicious and others were finding it impossibly tart. Why? Well it's mostly down to the tomatoes.

Cherry tomatoes are best for this recipe because they're naturally sweet but some cherry tomatoes are way sweeter than others. If the tomatoes you use aren't very naturally sweet, they won't release much in the way of natural sugars as they roast, which means the final dish could be pretty tart.

That's why in my version of this viral baked feta pasta recipe, I use extra vegetables (red onion and red peppers) to bring more sweetness, and recommend adding honey with the olive oil if you don't feel your tomatoes are very sweet (or if you just love honey roasted feta).

Towards the top of this FAQ there are lots more tips on why we use cherry tomatoes, and when to use the honey.

Why did baked feta pasta turn out sweet?

Cherry tomatoes and red peppers are naturally sweet, red onion has some sweetness, and roasting them helps bring out some of the natural sugars. If you've got good quality veggies, their natural sweetness should be enough to balance the tartness of the feta.

This is why I recommend tasting a tomato before you decide whether to add the honey. If the tomatoes are beautifully sweet, you don't need the honey, but if they're a bit bland, the honey (along with the cream cheese and reserved pasta water) will help mellow out the final dish.

Why did my baked feta pasta taste bland?

This dish is designed to celebrate the tangy feta, rather than disguise it. Roasting brings out a lot of flavour in the vegetables and the feta, and alongside the chilli, honey, cream cheese, parsley, salt and pepper, it shouldn't be bland.

Of course, you could definitely add more herbs, if you like. A scattering of dried oregano, added before roasting, would add a lovely dimension.

How can I add/change the flavours in this baked feta pasta dish?

You can use any combination of herbs to add your own extra flavour to this dish, or you could try using chipotle chilli flakes instead of standard ones for a smoky flavour.

You might also like to experiment with different soft cheeses. I've heard that Boursin, a creamy, crumbly cheese, flavoured with garlic and herbs can work very well.

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