Baked Feta Pasta has become a major viral trend across the globe and is being called the “TikTok pasta.” Watch the video tutorial and you’ll be amazed how the feta cheese turns into a creamy pasta sauce.

Feta and tomatoes in casserole dish for baked feta pasta

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We love easy pasta casseroles from Baked Ziti to Chicken Tetrazzini and of course Classic Lasagna. If you are a fan of pasta recipes, this Baked Feta Pasta is a must-try!

Baked Feta Pasta Video Tutorial:

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What is Feta Pasta?

Baked Feta pasta is a brilliant way to create pasta sauce. You bake a block of feta in a casserole dish together with tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and a little salt and pepper. Once the tomatoes burst and cheese starts melting, you pull it out of the oven and mash the cheese into a creamy pasta sauce that melds with olive oil and juicy tomatoes.

This is our spin on this Baked Creamy Feta pasta with tomatoes and asparagus because my daughter loves the asparagus and my son swoons over those roasted tomatoes.

Feta Pasta Casserole

Origin of Feta Pasta

The Baked Feta pasta craze was started in 2019 by Tiiu Piret and Liemessa, two bloggers from Finland. Liemessa’s recipe was then adapted in the US by Grilled Cheese Social which went viral on TikTok and became a major trend. 

Ingredients for Baked Feta Pasta

  • Tomatoes – cherry or grape tomatoes work great.
  • Asparagus – we added it for more veggies but you can omit if desired.
  • Olive oil – an extra virgin olive oil has the best flavor.
  • Salt and pepper – a little goes a long way since the cheese is naturally salty.
  • Feta cheese – block-style feta is best and will give you the creamiest consistency. Greek or French Feta cheese is slightly creamier but USA Feta made from cow’s milk also works great.
  • Pasta – short pasta is easier to mix in (see our favorite varieties below).
  • Parsley – use a generous 1/4 cup or substitute with fresh chopped basil.
  • Garlic – Add half while baking and the rest as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Ingredients for baked pasta with feta and tomatoes

The Best Pasta to Use

We use short pasta for feta pasta because it is much easier to stir and combine with the cheesy sauce. Use only 8 to 10 oz or it will overwhelm the sauce. These are some of our favorite options:

  • Row 1: Penne, Rigatoni, Fusilli
  • Row 2: Gemelli, Trottole, Cavatapi
6 varieties of pasta in cups

Pasta Cooking Tip: The key to a great pasta casserole is to cook the pasta until it is al dente in salted water according to package instructions. Use at least a Tablespoon of salt in your boiling water.

How to Make Baked Feta Pasta

This recipe couldn’t get any easier. Your veggies and sauce bake together in the oven while your pasta boils on the stove, then you marry them together and you have an incredible baked Feta Pasta.

  1. Prepare veggies – in a 9×13 casserole dish, combine tomatoes, asparagus, 1/3 cup olive oil, half of your minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine and create a space in the center.
  2. Add Feta cheese – place an 8 oz block of feta cheese in the center and drizzle with 1 Tbsp olive oil and some black pepper. Bake at 400˚F for 30 minutes, until tomatoes start to burst.
  3. Cook pasta – about halfway through the baking time, start cooking your pasta in a pot of salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup hot pasta water.
  4. Add garlic and herbs – remove the finished casserole from the oven, add finely chopped parsley and remaining minced garlic and use the back of a spoon to mash the cheese into the oil and juices released from tomatoes.
  5. Add pasta – drain the pasta and add it to the hot cheesy sauce and toss to combine.
Baked feta and tomatoes in casserole dish

Pro Tip: To make the pasta creamier or saucier, add hot pasta water to reach desired consistency. If the water cools down, warm it up in the microwave until steaming hot.

Common Questions:

Can I add protein to feta pasta?

You can replace asparagus with chicken tenders. My sister made this with a pound of chicken tenders, roasting them in the same pan with the cheese and tomatoes.

Can I substitute the tomatoes?

I don’t recommend substituting tomatoes since their juice helps for the sauce. We haven’t found anything that works as well as tomatoes.

Can I use less oil?

The oil is important to forming the right saucy consistency. I would not recommend reducing the amount of olive oil.

Does feta pasta reheat well?

Yes! One of the things I love about feta pasta is that it reheats well. Unlike a heavy cream-based sauce which can separate, this one reheats creamy. Add a splash of pasta cooking water or filtered water to keep it moist when reheating in the microwave.

Feta Pasta Casserole with juicy tomatoes

This is one of the easiest ways to prepare a rich-tasting pasta. If you try baked feta pasta with your own spin on it, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Serve With

We love to serve Baked Feta Pasta as a main course paired with lean proteins and these simple sides:

Creamy Baked Feta Pasta

4.98 from 226 votes
Baked feta and tomatoes pasta
Feta Pasta with tomatoes and asparagus is a creamy and easy pasta casserole. Cook the pasta while the cheese and tomatoes bake for a quick dinner.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 people
  • 4 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 8 oz asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil , plus 1 Tbsp to drizzle over cheese
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 8 oz block Feta Cheese
  • 10 oz penne pasta
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely minced, divided
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, or basil, finely minced

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400˚F. Add tomatoes and asparagus to a 9×13 casserole. Add 1/3 cup olive oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp salt. Toss to combine. Make a space in the center and place your 8 oz block of feta in the pan. Drizzle the top with 1 Tbsp olive oil and another sprinkle of black pepper. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes until tomatoes start to burst.
  • About halfway through your baking time, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add pasta. Cook according to package instructions, stirring a few times to keep the pasta from sticking. Drain pasta (reserving some cooking water if you decide to add it later).
  • After 30 minutes, the tomatoes should burst and start to release their juice. Remove from the oven and immediately stir in remaining minced garlic and parsley and toss to combine. Use the back of a large spoon to press the cheese into the olive oil and stir until cheese is well dispersed in the dish.
  • Stir in drained cooked pasta. Add reserved pasta water if desired. Serve warm. Be mindful of those tomatoes (the juicy centers can be very hot if you eat them right away). Add reserved hot pasta water as desired for saucier pasta.

Nutrition Per Serving

411kcal Calories43g Carbs14g Protein21g Fat7g Saturated Fat34mg Cholesterol535mg Sodium446mg Potassium3g Fiber6g Sugar1143IU Vitamin A29mg Vitamin C224mg Calcium3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Baked Feta Pasta
Amount per Serving
Calories
411
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
21
g
32
%
Saturated Fat
 
7
g
44
%
Cholesterol
 
34
mg
11
%
Sodium
 
535
mg
23
%
Potassium
 
446
mg
13
%
Carbohydrates
 
43
g
14
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
6
g
7
%
Protein
 
14
g
28
%
Vitamin A
 
1143
IU
23
%
Vitamin C
 
29
mg
35
%
Calcium
 
224
mg
22
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Finnish
Keyword: baked feta pasta, feta pasta, tiktok pasta
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 411
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.98 from 226 votes (105 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Calli
    January 20, 2025

    This is SOOOOO good! We made it without the tomatoes because we don’t like them, but we added some yummy baked chicken we had. My family was raving!
    My youngest is extremely picky and she doesn’t like anything with vegetables. She said she didn’t know if she liked it and my son looked at her disgusted and said, that’s like not liking Ryan Reynolds’s!” 🤣 High praise! This dish is apparently the Ryan Reynolds of recipes. My other son’s exact words after eating were, “praise be”!
    Thank you for consistently sharing awesome recipes and for making them approachable!

    Reply

  • Nilda Rudd
    December 30, 2024

    I made this for my husband tonight. I have made it before, but this time I added feta and spinach chicken sausage plus Sun dried tomatoes. It came out perfect. No asparagus since I was using a protein this time. He said it was the best.
    Thank you, Natasha. You rock.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 30, 2024

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Nilda!

      Reply

  • Alma
    December 12, 2024

    Can I use canned whole peeled tomatoes? My kids don’t like the tomato skins. Would zucchini be ok to use as a substitute for asparagus? I loved your recipe the way it is. Thank you in advance.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 12, 2024

      Hi Alma, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe

      Reply

  • Jeanne
    October 25, 2024

    Very good & easy to make. Don’t use lentil pasta, though; not tender enough. This might also work with small halved potatoes.

    Reply

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