Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Step 1: Preheat & Prep Tomatoes
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large oven-safe baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Toss gently until the tomatoes are evenly coated.
Step 2: Add Feta
- Nestle the block of feta cheese in the center of the baking dish, surrounded by the tomatoes. You can gently press it down or flip it a couple of times to coat it lightly with the olive oil and seasoning.
Step 3: Bake
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the cherry tomatoes have burst open, releasing their juices, and the feta cheese is soft and golden.
Step 4: Cook Pasta
- While the tomatoes and feta are baking, cook your cavatappi pasta (or chosen pasta) in a pot of generously salted boiling water according to the package directions until it reaches al dente. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the starchy pasta water.
Step 5: Create the Sauce
- Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven. Add the minced garlic cloves and chopped fresh basil directly into the hot dish with the burst tomatoes and melted feta. Stir vigorously with a fork or spoon to mash the feta and tomatoes together, creating a creamy sauce. The heat from the tomatoes and feta will cook the garlic slightly and release its aroma.
Step 6: Combine & Serve
- Add the drained pasta directly into the baking dish. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated in the tomato-feta sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency. Garnish with extra fresh basil and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Notes
This easy tomato feta pasta bake is a delicious and simple one-dish meal. For best results, use a block of feta cheese, cook pasta to al dente, and reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. If you'd like to add a kick, include a pinch of red pepper flakes with the tomatoes before baking. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.