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.

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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.

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.

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

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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Add pasta – drain the pasta and add it to the hot cheesy sauce and toss to combine.

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:
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.
I don’t recommend substituting tomatoes since their juice helps for the sauce. We haven’t found anything that works as well as tomatoes.
The oil is important to forming the right saucy consistency. I would not recommend reducing the amount of olive oil.
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.

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

Ingredients
- 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.
I’ve been wanting to try this for so long, glad I used your recipe 😘 absolutely delicious 😋 thank you for sharing
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Toni!
Another fantastic recipe!! My hubby (who hates feta) loved it!!! So good, it’s hard to stop eating it!! Thank you, Natasha!!!
Thanks, Annette for your great comments and feedback!
I just made this and it’s legit! Thank you for the best meal in this cold rainy day!
You’re welcome, Jessica! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
This is so so good! I used rigatoni which was great, and I added chunks of chicken breast that I had cooked in the air fryer and marinated in some lemon vinaigrette. Will be making this one again and again!
That sounds great! Thanks for sharing.
Hey Natasha! I measured out 4 cups of tomatoes, it looks like way more than you have. Am I doing it wrong?
Hi Kelly, did you ensure to use cherry or grape tomatoes? It should be about 500 grams worth.
I used too much the first time. I cooked it again tonight. It’s delicious! Thank you so much!
You’re welcome, Kelly!
This has become one of my go-to during the week and I like to add mini peppers, or bell peppers depending on what I have on hand, especially if I do not have enough tomatoes. Have done without Asparagus. Also have added in chicken ( cooked separately) and also shrimp for added protein! Definitely something you can modify easily. Also red pepper flakes too are good!!
All of those variations sound amazing, Megan! Thank you for sharing.
Can this be eaten cold as a lunch leftover? Sounds great, just not sure if it needs temperature
Hi Karen, I haven’t tested that, but I think it may be ok. I personally love it warmed up. If you give it a try, let me know how you liked it cold!
Love this recipe! For elegant creamy sauce be sure to use sheep’s milk feta cheese. I purchased it in the gourmet cheese section of my grocery.
Thank you for sharing, Lizzie! 🙂
The pasta was delicious and so easy. Will definitely make it again maybe with zucchini as suggested by others.
Sounds great, Anisa! I’m glad you loved the recipe. 🙂
I love your recipes.
I would like to adjust this receipe and make a baked feta cheese appetizer. Do you have a receipe for that?
Hi Susan! I’m glad you love my recipes. I do not have one for a baked feta appetizer.
I love this dish and make it often. But just 2 of us, can I freeze leftovers for another night?
Hi Anne, we like to heat this freshly made but several of my readers have reheated this just fine. It also kept well in the freezer well for one reader. I hope that helps.
I made the Feta Pasta Recipe. The kitchen smelled so wonderful and the recipe was sooo delicious! Only difference is that I added some cut up & boneless rotisserie chicken for added protein.
Really impressed the hubby!
This will be my go-to recipe for quick dinners.
That sounds delicious, Mary! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I’ve never cooked asparagus for more than 10-12… did anyone think it was over cooked at 30mins? I was thinkin to add the asparagus the last 15mins
I thought the feta cheese was too sour tasting. Is there another creamy cheese that could be used?
Hi Joanie. It could also be the type/brand of feta cheese that you used. I have noticed that some have a more sour taste than others. Some of my readers have recommended using Boursin cheese as well. Any cheese that is creamy and melts well could have potential in this recipe.
Would adding Sliced black olives take away from the flavor of this dish?
Hi Anne! One of my readers reported adding black olives as a finishing touch to this recipe and they loved it. 🙂
Can’t wait to try it.
FYI bursted is not a valid word. It’s just burst.
I have a question actually. Can the asparagus be substituted with something else?
Hi Linda! Yes, you can. In the comments, you can find some ideas from my readers who have substituted for spinach, broccoli, red & yellow peppers, and artichoke hearts. I hope that helps.
I like to add fresh zucchini instead of asparagus! It’s delicious!
Sounds amazing!
I was not totally successful at this, because I did not have a block of feta cheese so put a bag of feta in the middle..Did not work, it wouldn’t mix in so had to take the blobs of cheese out and spread it out and cut into little pieces..lol. It still tasted good, next time I will get a block of feta. Thank you for all your recipes , I am having so much fun trying so many, becoming a better cook… 😊
P.S. Natasha, last night I made your roasted chicken with the garlic and lemon and vegetables around it and it was delicious!
So glad you loved it, Maria!
So , I just realized I put my bag of mozzarella cheese in the middle, no wonder, I laughed today, when I saw the pesto cheese in the fridge. Must of been preoccupied…too funny… looking forward to making it again with the pesto cheese..😀
Hi!
Can fresh green beans be substituted for the asparagus? Thank you!
Brande
Hi Brande! I think that could work. Let us know how it is if you experiment.
Hi Natasha, you mentioned we can replace asparagus with a pound of chicken tenders. But I want to keep the asparagus and add one pound of chicken tenders. Do I have to modify the rest of the recipe if I do this?
Thank you,
Fivi
Hi Fivi, I would just cook the chicken tenders on the side and serve them on the side, otherwise, it will get a little dry especially after adding pasta with so much ingredients but the same amount of sauce.
Would it be okay if I were to use a 9×13 cake pan instead of a casserole pan?
Hi Sandy! That should be fine.
I’ll be serving this dish alongside Parmesan Chicken and salad greens. What dressing would you recommend for the salad?
Thanks so much for all your delicious recipes. I appreciate all the work you put into ensuring your recipes turn out just right…… they always do!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Rita!