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

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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:

If you enjoyed this video for Baked Feta Pasta, please  (P.S. Click the BELL icon so you can be the first to know when we post a new video). Thank you for subscribing!

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

  • jules
    May 2, 2021

    Just popped two pans of this in the oven, everyone is wanting to try it so i thought id give it a chance. taking to a potluck and hope it turns out good!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 3, 2021

      I hope you all love this recipe!! Enjoy!

      Reply

  • Linda
    May 1, 2021

    Oh Natasha…I am writing to you from the funny farm because I completely lost my mind over this dish – HAHA, just kidding! I am still in the afterglow of inhaling two helpings, and trying to restrain myself from a third. What a knockout recipe! Thank you so much for sharing your version, and for always putting up videos that make me drool and laugh.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 1, 2021

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Linda!

      Reply

  • Trish
    April 29, 2021

    Found it abit dry – but overall a good taste! And once again an easy family meal.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 29, 2021

      Thanks for your comments and feedback, Trish. Did you also add the pasta water?

      Reply

  • Christine
    April 27, 2021

    Hi. Can I use quartered roma tomatoes instead of cherry or grape?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 27, 2021

      Hi Christine, I’ve only tried it with cherry and grape, but that may work. If you experiment, I would love to know how you like that.

      Reply

  • Leslie C
    April 26, 2021

    Absolutely delicious. I Made it with low carb pasta purchased on amazon by The Great Low Carb Bread Company.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 26, 2021

      Yum! That’s so great, Leslie! I’m so happy you enjoyed that.

      Reply

  • Connie
    April 26, 2021

    FINALLY!!! I’ve been wanting to try this unique recipe ever since you posted it. It did not disappoint: fun, easy and delicious!! My husband and I ate far too much but enjoyed every bite. Thanks again for giving us another great recipe.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 26, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Connie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Allison
    April 25, 2021

    So easy! So tasty! I had to use crumbled feta and it worked just fine.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 26, 2021

      Hi Allison, I’m glad it turned out great!

      Reply

  • Janine Barclay
    April 25, 2021

    Once I saw the ingredients in this recipe I knew I would love it. Natasha you did not disappoint. When a recipe is this good AND this easy well……..

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 25, 2021

      I’m happy that you loved this recipe, Janine! Thanks for your great review and feedback.

      Reply

    • Maria Saiz
      May 2, 2021

      Another easy-to-make recipe with delicious result 👍👍👍 I added chicken and half a block of feta and it came out wonderful. Thoroughly enjoyed eating this pasta dish! (Hubby always reminds me to post a comment and note of thanks to you Natasha!)

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        May 3, 2021

        The perfect meal! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Maria!

        Reply

  • Ashlan
    April 25, 2021

    Absolutely love this recipe! I was wondering if campari tomatoes would be ok to use?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 26, 2021

      Hi Ashlan, I haven’t tested that but Campari are larger and would take longer to burst which is why I would recommend cherry or grape tomatoes.

      Reply

  • Christine
    April 24, 2021

    Great recipe! Will be making this again. We roasted prawns separately and stirred in with the pasta, over the top fantastic! Thank you 🙏

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 24, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

      • Ann Marie
        April 26, 2021

        I wanted to like this so bad and I don’t know what went wrong but it had a very bitter, vinegar flavor!
        I followed the recipe exactly.

        Reply

        • Natasha
          April 27, 2021

          Hi Ann, was your cheese possibly expired, or did you accidentally add vinegar instead of olive oil? There should be no vinegar or bitterness in this recipe with the ingredients here.

          Reply

        • JaimeAnn
          June 13, 2021

          Ann Marie,
          Look through each and every ingredient in the recipe very carefully.
          Then check expiration dates on the ingredients you used.

          Whenever I follow a recipe, I will constantly check and re-check as I go, just to be sure I added absolutely everything, and followed every step accordingly.

          (Recently I was in a hurry and accidentally forgot to add milk to my mashed potatoes…and I make those all the time!)
          Again, no matter how familiar we think we are with a recipe, it’s always a good idea to take a minute to re-read the ingredients and steps as we go.

          Reply

  • Donna Federspiel
    April 24, 2021

    Would this be good cold? I’m hosting a baby shower and need make ahead dishes. This looks fantastic but, I don’t want any last minute preparations.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 24, 2021

      Hi Donna, I haven’t tried it cold, but the recipe truly is best fresh, but because I made a ton of baked feta pasta when I was developing this recipe, we were able to reheat for a couple of days and microwaved it with a sprinkle of water over the top. It reheated well. See the Common Questions section titled: Does feta pasta reheat well?

      Reply

  • Debbie M
    April 22, 2021

    Absolutely fantastic! I We loved this . And the best part is that it warmed up great ! Thanks Natasha … you’re recipes are great !

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 22, 2021

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Debbie!

      Reply

  • Kaela Fine
    April 21, 2021

    I love this recipe!! I used feta cheese that had sun dried tomatoes and basil in it. I didn’t use any salt as the feta is salty enough and that was fine.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 21, 2021

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

      Reply

  • Wendy
    April 21, 2021

    Wow Natasha…another winner! This was just perfect! I heard people complaining earlier today that the viral baked feta recipe was really bland and overhyped. Obviously they didn’t use your recipe! I ate wayyyy too much. Haha!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 21, 2021

      I’m so glad you gave this a try, Wendy! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Cass
    April 21, 2021

    This was a hit with my fam of 4. One of a few dishes that everyone loves…I loved the ease and versatility. I served it with an easy baked pesto chicken and roasted veggies. Everything in the oven at once and easy clean up – love that!! Next time I’ll add shredded rotisserie chicken and sliced Italian sausage. Can’t wait to dig in to more of your recipes

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 21, 2021

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Cass! I’m so happy you enjoyed that.

      Reply

  • Gem D
    April 20, 2021

    I finally had a go tonight and my 2 boys (husband and son 😂) who happened to be the 2 pickiest eaters in the world were delighted by the taste! We all enjoyed it. I pan fried some chicken breast strips because they won’t fit in my oven dish and immediately put them in with the rest when they were done from the oven. Then added the pasta. I was a bit worries with the amount of oil but they were just fine. Thank you, Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 20, 2021

      I’m so happy you all loved the feta pasta! Thank you for sharing that with me and I love that you added the chicken.

      Reply

  • Mark Chambers-Bray
    April 19, 2021

    I made this dish for dinner last night. It was easy, it was so fragrant, and it was soooo delicious!!! It’s a MUST try and will be made many times to come. I’ve already decided to serve it at our next book club gathering. YUM!!!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 19, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Mark!

      Reply

  • Nancy Stephanos
    April 19, 2021

    I made this Saturday night. Oh wow! So easy and delicious – my new favorite pasta dish. I didn’t have fresh parsley or basil so I used Italian seasoning. Yummy. I will surely put this in my regular meal rotation.
    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 19, 2021

      Glad you loved it! Thank you for sharing your great feedback with us.

      Reply

  • Alicia
    April 19, 2021

    Delicious
    I’ve tried many of your recipes and they’ve all been great thank you

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 19, 2021

      Great to hear that you’ve been enjoying my recipes, Alicia. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Beth
    April 18, 2021

    Fantastic! I will definitely make this again!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 18, 2021

      Thanks, Beth. Glad you loved the recipe!

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.