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 234 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 234 votes (105 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Debbie
    October 21, 2022

    I love this recipe too! We don’t care much for asasparagus so I add some cooked chicken cut into bit size pieces, or today I used used kabbassa . this is a really good receipe. So fun watching you cook it!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 22, 2022

      Thank you for sharing, Debbie! 🙂

      Reply

  • Barbara Burk
    October 13, 2022

    I have made this recipe at least 5 times and love it every time. My family loves it too.Tonight I wanted to make it but I didn’t have asparagus and weather was bad here in Wi. So I cut up a zucchini in larger cubes and threw that in instead. I also cooked a piece of Polish Sausage, sliced it up and threw it in. I have to t egg ll you, I was worried about ruining the recipe, but it turned out great! Thank you Natasha, we love you and your revipes.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 14, 2022

      So glad it turned out great, Barbara! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Wendy
    September 26, 2022

    hi Natasha. Could i try out this recipe with just cream chease, or half of both cream cheese and feta?.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 26, 2022

      Hi Wendy. I think that would work fine.

      Reply

      • Sheryl Jones
        October 25, 2023

        Do you think I could use brusselprouts instead of asparagus?

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          October 25, 2023

          Hi Sheryl, I haven’t tested that to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.

          Reply

  • Aracely
    September 25, 2022

    Natasha you neglected to mention it’s also a breeze for cleanup. Thank you

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 25, 2022

      You’re so welcome and yes that’s right!

      Reply

  • Kathleen
    September 25, 2022

    Hi, just made this tonight for dinner. Excellent very tasty.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 25, 2022

      Hi Kathleen, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Carol
    September 21, 2022

    I made this and was expecting it to be delicious and it was just ok. I found it to be bland and needed salt to taste better. Won’t make it again.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 22, 2022

      Hi Carol, feel free to add more seasoning according to your preference. Thank you for the feedback.

      Reply

  • Mike Z
    August 5, 2022

    This is delicious! I made this, but with a twist. I seasoned and cooked some chicken thighs down till tender. Cut the chicken up into bite size pieces and added it to the dish. Delicious!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 5, 2022

      Yum! Thanks for sharing, Mike. 🙂

      Reply

  • Gail
    July 26, 2022

    This is an amazing recipe and has now become a staple in our home. I’ve added fresh spinach at the end and let it wilt a bit before serving and black olives. For a protein, I’ve added sautéed garlic shrimp at the end as well. I love how simple this recipe is and how many ways you can add your own spin on it depending upon your family’s preferences. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 26, 2022

      Thank you for sharing that with us, Gail. So glad you enjoy this recipe. 🙂

      Reply

  • Judith B.
    July 19, 2022

    I sometimes use 4 oz. Feta and 4 oz. Goat cheese and it is also delicious! Love this recipe!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 19, 2022

      Hi Judith! I bet that is delicious. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Leslie
    July 16, 2022

    Hello…. You’re super awesome! Ok, now to the question. May I make this overnight to take to the beach stay. next day? Or best not to.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 16, 2022

      Hi Leslie! Thank you. We like to heat this freshly made but several of my readers have reheated this just fine. It also kept in the freezer well for one reader. I hope that helps.

      Reply

  • mary p. jones
    July 7, 2022

    Great, easy, delicious recipe. Added kalamata olives… yum!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 7, 2022

      Thank you for the good feedback and suggestion, Mary.

      Reply

  • Kristin
    June 21, 2022

    Hi .. my first time to your site and I have to say I was NOT disappointed!! Made this dish for the first time. I did add a couple extra tomatoes, zucchini instead of asparagus and some precooked shrimp with about 5 minutes or so left. (per another readers comment) . It was absolutely amazing!! This will be my go to dish. I can’t wait to look at your other recipes and find even more to love!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 21, 2022

      That’s wonderful! So glad you came across this recipe. Thank you for the feedback and I hope you find many more you love.

      Reply

  • Kim
    June 16, 2022

    Thank You for the super quick pasta recipe. I only had Campari tomatoes and cubed feta. Still worked, quartered the tomatoes, guessed at the amount of feta and added some chili pepper flakes for a little heat. I will certainly make this again

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 17, 2022

      Nice to know that the substitutions that you used worked for this recipe! Thank you for sharing that with us.

      Reply

  • Suzan
    June 11, 2022

    This was amazing !! Will be our new favorite. I couldn’t find block feta and only had about a 4oz chunk left used cream cheese with the feta and it worked well too. I used parsley and basil. Might try adding grilled chicken next time for the hubby lol Fantastic recipe !! Can’t wait to try others

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 11, 2022

      Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Suzan! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Donnie
    June 8, 2022

    This is a very good recipe and a delicious combination. I prepared per the instructions and added some additional dried herbs.
    I served it with baked salmon and ciabatta bread on the side.
    Thanks Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 8, 2022

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Donnie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Deborah
    June 7, 2022

    Do you think fresh spinach would work in place of asparagus?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 7, 2022

      Hi Deborah, I love the idea of adding spinach, I haven’t tested that myself, but I bet that could work. If you experiment please let me know how you love it!

      Reply

  • John
    June 6, 2022

    I made this recipe for my love and my son’s family. Its was a hit!! For dessert we had your fruit salad. I substituted agava for honey and it too was delicious. My grandson loved it!!
    Cheers

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 6, 2022

      Thank you for sharing, John. I’m so glad it was a hit! 🙂

      Reply

  • kia
    May 29, 2022

    Hello natasha
    i want to to try this recipe for school lunches… and wondering whether i can keep it in the fridge and serve it cold?

    thanks

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 29, 2022

      Hi there, I’m sure that’s fine but we love serving this fresh out of the oven.

      Reply

  • Christine Richens
    May 13, 2022

    Love your recipes, and this one looks wonderful. I live in Australia (NSW) and I have a heart condition and can’t eat a lot of salty foods. Is there a substitute Cheese I can use instead of Feta please. Thank you. Chris

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 13, 2022

      Hi Christine! Thank you, I’m glad you enjoy my recipes. Some of my readers have recommended using Boursin cheese. I am not sure what a lower sodium alternative cheese would be. Any cheese that is creamy and melts well could have potential in this recipe.

      Reply

  • Kori
    May 12, 2022

    This was delicious! Love your recipes. Will definitely make again.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 12, 2022

      Hi Kori, I’m happy to know that you enjoyed it!

      Reply

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