Description
A delicious Mediterranean dish featuring baked feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, and olives that became a viral sensation with over 1 billion views on TikTok. This simple yet extraordinary recipe creates a creamy, flavor-packed sauce that coats pasta perfectly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (200g) block of high-quality Greek feta cheese (traditional sheep’s milk feta provides the richest flavor)
- 2 pints (about 20 ounces) cherry or grape tomatoes, multicolored if available
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved (green olives work well too)
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
- 1/2 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Sea salt (use sparingly, as feta is already salty)
- 12 ounces (340g) pasta of choice (penne, rotini, or farfalle work best)
- Fresh basil leaves, torn or roughly chopped (about 1/4 cup)
- Zest of one lemon (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Select a 9×13-inch baking dish or one large enough to hold all tomatoes in a single layer.
- Place the whole cherry tomatoes and halved olives in your baking dish. Add the sliced garlic, then drizzle with most of the olive oil (reserve about 1 tablespoon). Sprinkle with dried oregano, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, and freshly ground black pepper. Toss gently to coat everything evenly.
- Create a space in the center of the dish and place the block of feta cheese there. Drizzle the feta with the remaining olive oil and add a light sprinkle of red pepper flakes on top.
- Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes burst and char slightly, and the feta becomes soft and golden. If needed, increase temperature to 425°F (220°C) for the final 5 minutes to help tomatoes burst.
- While the feta and tomatoes are baking, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- When the feta and tomatoes are done baking, remove the dish from the oven. Add the lemon zest if using, then mash and stir everything together to create a creamy, chunky sauce.
- Add the drained pasta directly to the baking dish and toss until every piece is coated with the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency. Fold in most of the fresh basil, saving some for garnish.
- Let the pasta rest for 2-3 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Plate it up, garnish with the remaining fresh basil, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use block feta rather than pre-crumbled for a creamier sauce.
- For a dairy-free version, replace feta with a vegan feta alternative.
- Add 1 cup of chickpeas or cannellini beans for a protein boost.
- Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free dish.
- Fresh thyme and oregano can replace dried herbs (double the amount).
- For a lower calorie option, reduce olive oil to 1/4 cup and use part-skim feta.
- The dish is excellent both warm or at room temperature.
- Leftover pasta can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The flavors often intensify after 24 hours of refrigeration.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: baked feta pasta, cherry tomatoes, olives, mediterranean, viral recipe, tiktok pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal