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

  • Rosina Edgar
    April 11, 2021

    OMG! What a disaster l created with my lemon slice.
    Take a warning and follow Natasha’s instructions, there there for a reason. Tried to cut corners and used an electric mixer instead of a hand whisk for my custard and of course there was too much air so the whole thing turned brown.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 12, 2021

      Hi Rosina, I’m assuming you are referring to lemon bars and not feta pasta? It definitely helps to do it by hand or at a lower speed or the bubbles can come up more. No worries though – the powdered sugar hides them pretty well and it doesn’t affect the yummy flavor.

      Reply

    • Oxsana
      April 15, 2021

      We omitted the pasta completely, added chicken tenders and more veggies for a low-carb, keto friendly version! Hubby loved it! Cooked about the same time as the pasta version.

      Reply

  • Julia
    April 11, 2021

    Do you add raw chicken and cook it with the tomatoes and cheese or do you add cooked chicken when you mix in the pasta at the end?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 12, 2021

      Hi Julia, my sister made this with a pound of chicken tenders, roasting them in the same pan with the cheese and tomatoes.

      Reply

  • Kitty
    April 11, 2021

    Can I keep the asparagus and add chicken?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      Hi Kitty, I haven’t tested that yet but I think that would work. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.

      Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      I would also cut that into strips (see my notes on substituting asparagus with chicken in the post)

      Reply

  • Sara
    April 11, 2021

    Very yummy. I roasted a chicken (seasoned with basil) once cooked, I deboned and added the chicken to the completed pasta recipe. I used extra feta and oil to cover the chicken addition, plus I used orzo pasta, figuring it would give it more of a Greek flair. Came out perfect.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      That sounds awesome too, Sara. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Christine
    April 11, 2021

    Hi Natasha, Love your recipes! What would be a good substitute if you don’t love feta?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      I’m glad you’re enjoying my recipes, Christine. I think ricotta cheese would also work but I honestly haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.

      Reply

      • Patti Porter
        April 15, 2021

        Since this recipe came out, it’s almost impossible to find Block Feta Cheese anymore, so I am trying it with Goat Cheese. It’s in the oven now, so I will let you know how it turns out! Do you think adding some Baby Bella Mushrooms in the last 5 minutes would be a good addition? Love your videos!

        Reply

        • Natasha
          April 15, 2021

          Hi Patti, if the mushrooms are already cooked, I imagine that would taste great without releasing too much excess mushroom juices to the casserole dish. Also, I’ve heard good reviews about using goat cheese. I hope you love it!

          Reply

  • Andrea B
    April 11, 2021

    Made this tonight used spinach instead of asparagus absolutely delicious definitely in our rotation of meals!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      Sounds good! Thank you for your awesome review, Andrea. Glad you enjoyed this recipe.

      Reply

  • Margaret Maves
    April 11, 2021

    Natasha love your recipes but I want to know where you got the royal blue dress you had on inthe picture with your family loved it was around Easter you were on facebook

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 12, 2021

      Thank you for that sweet compliment. It is Tahari brand and I think it was from Macy’s last Christmas 2019.

      Reply

  • Susan
    April 11, 2021

    Yum! This was a quick, easy, and delicious dinner. Added chicken tenders & used fresh chives from the herb garden. The sauce is tangy but doesn’t scream “feta”. I’m a feta fan but my husband & son weren’t until they ate this 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      Hello Susan, I’m glad you loved this recipe! Thank you for your detailed feedback, we appreciate it.

      Reply

  • Renee
    April 11, 2021

    Made exactly as described and it is delicious!!! My husband and mother-in-law LOVED this dish. Husband told me to keep in rotation. 😁 Thank you, Natasha!
    .

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      That’s awesome! Glad they loved this recipe, Renee. Thanks for sharing that wonderful review with us.

      Reply

  • Allison
    April 11, 2021

    So simple, so healthy, so delicious! This will be a staple weeknight dinner for us. Thank you for another great recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      You’re very welcome, Allison. Thanks for your awesome review and feedback!

      Reply

  • Joan
    April 11, 2021

    I have made this several times and it is amazing. One time I was going to make it but did not have any Feta so I subbed Goat Cheese with Garlic and Herbs and it was absolutely the best.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      Hello Joan, that’s nice to know! Thanks for sharing that with us, others are also asking what substitute can be used for Feta so I’m glad you shared this with us.

      Reply

  • Nikki W
    April 11, 2021

    I was very excited to try out this recipe and while I enjoyed the asparagus and tomato, it tasted like it was missing something. You had recommended to play around with ingredients and I will. I really like this creamy feta, but I felt it could use some additional herbs to make it more flavorful. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 11, 2021

      HI Nikki, normally this is very flavorful. Make sure to use the garlic adding it both while roasting and adding fresh later – it makes a big difference.

      Reply

  • David Chapman
    April 10, 2021

    Hey Natasha, I just cooked this and it is fantastic! Have done loads of your recipes and can’t tell you how my culinary skills have improved! Many thanks! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      Wow, that is so awesome, and glad to hear that. Thanks for sharing and I hope you’ll love every recipe that you will try.

      Reply

  • Sheila
    April 10, 2021

    Yes I luv this dish have been doing it for years.. nice to put a couple of anchovies in with the baking part… prawns and olives..
    As always luv watching your videos.. Cheers! from Canada

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

      That’s great to hear, Sheila. Thank you for always watching my videos!

      Reply

  • Leasa
    April 10, 2021

    Where’s the.link to the pasta pan?

    Reply

  • Elena
    April 10, 2021

    This looks good I will try it. My own version uses cherry tomatoes yellow and green squash, variety of Italian dry herbs, garlic and I like to add goat cheese or sheep cheese for creaminess. I also add a protein my favorite is shrimp that I cook either in air fryer or pan sear with butter (a tiny bit under because it will cook when I mix in the pan too).

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 10, 2021

      Yum! Thank you for sharing that with me, Elena! I hope you enjoy our take on this!

      Reply

  • Leanne
    April 10, 2021

    Made this last night and it was a hit. Another great recipe. Thanks!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 10, 2021

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Judy Miller
    April 10, 2021

    Hi Natasha, I just made this dish and it is damn delicious! A dish that’s easy, economical and fit for company. Thank you! This one is a keeper.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 10, 2021

      You’re welcome, Judy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Pat
    April 10, 2021

    Love watching your videos you are always happy and funny to watch I enjoy when you act silly love your recipes

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 10, 2021

      You’re so nice! Thank you for that wonderful compliment!

      Reply

  • Penny
    April 10, 2021

    Hi there! My daughter does not like tomatoes. What could I substitute?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 11, 2021

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

      Reply

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