Viral Baked Feta Pasta

Ingredients

• 3 cloves Garlic (smash until flat)
• 1 Shallot (slice into thin wedges)
• 2 pints Grape Tomatoes (whole, halved optional)
• 8 oz Feta Cheese (block, preferably Greek feta, full‑fat)
• 12 oz Pasta (any short or long pasta, e.g., penne, fusilli)
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil (extra‑virgin, for drizzling)
• 2 pinches Salt (kosher or sea salt)
• 1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes (adjust to heat preference)
• 1 pinch Italian Seasoning (optional, for extra herb flavor)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven

   Set the oven to 400°F (200°C) and let it preheat while you prep the ingredients.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: 400°F

2. Prep Aromatics

   Smash the 3 garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife until flattened. Slice the shallot into thin wedges.

   Time: PT5M

3. Arrange Tomatoes

   Place the 2 pints of grape tomatoes in a single layer inside the baking dish.

   Time: PT2M

4. Add Garlic, Shallot & Seasonings

   Scatter the smashed garlic and shallot wedges over the tomatoes. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp olive oil, then sprinkle with the pinches of salt, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning.

   Time: PT3M

5. Place Feta

   Put the 8 oz block of feta in the center of the pan, nestled among the tomatoes.

   Time: PT1M

6. Bake

   Bake the dish for 40 minutes, until the tomatoes are blistered and the feta is lightly browned on top.

   Time: PT40M

   Temperature: 400°F

7. Cook Pasta

   While the pan bakes, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 12 oz pasta until al dente (about 10 minutes).

   Time: PT10M

8. Reserve Pasta Water & Drain

   Set aside ½ cup of the hot pasta water, then drain the pasta.

   Time: PT2M

9. Combine Pasta with Baked Mixture

   Remove the baking dish from the oven. Add the drained pasta directly into the pan and toss to coat with the roasted tomatoes and melted feta.

   Time: PT2M

10. Create Sauce

    Pour the reserved ½ cup pasta water over the mixture and stir until a creamy sauce forms and coats every noodle.

    Time: PT2M

11. Serve

    Plate the pasta, drizzle with a final splash of olive oil if desired, and enjoy immediately.

    Time: PT1M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

450

Protein

15 g

Carbohydrates

60 g

Fat

12 g

Fiber

3 g