Creamy Feta Pasta with Tomatoes (Printable Version)

Rich feta and roasted tomatoes create a luscious sauce coating perfectly cooked pasta in this simple Mediterranean-style dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 lb cherry tomatoes
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - Handful fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Dairy

07 - 7 oz block feta cheese

→ Spices & Seasonings

08 - ½ tsp dried oregano
09 - ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large baking dish, combine cherry tomatoes, garlic, red onion, olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
03 - Create a space in the center of the dish and place the block of feta cheese. Drizzle additional olive oil over the feta.
04 - Roast for 30–35 minutes, until tomatoes burst and feta becomes golden and soft.
05 - While roasting, cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
06 - Remove baking dish from oven. Using a fork or spoon, mash feta and tomatoes together until a creamy sauce forms.
07 - Add drained pasta and most of the basil to the dish. Toss thoroughly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired sauce consistency.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional basil and freshly ground black pepper.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The sauce practically makes itself while you catch up on emails or pour a glass of wine
  • That tangy feta combined with sweet roasted tomatoes creates restaurant quality flavor with zero effort
02 -
  • Do not be tempted to skip reserving pasta water, that starchy liquid is what brings the whole dish together into something silky and cohesive
  • Let the feta roast until it is genuinely golden on top, that deeper flavor development is what separates good from incredible
03 -
  • Buy your feta from a specialty store or deli counter if possible, the quality difference in melting and flavor is remarkable
  • If your cherry tomatoes are on the larger side, cut them in half before roasting so they release their juices more readily

Go Back