Creamy Feta Pasta (Printer-Friendly)

Rich, tangy pasta with roasted tomatoes and feta, ready in 45 minutes for easy weeknight meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 lb cherry tomatoes
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
06 - Handful fresh basil leaves, torn (plus more for serving)

→ Dairy

07 - 7 oz block feta cheese

→ Spices & Seasonings

08 - ½ tsp dried oregano
09 - ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large baking dish, add cherry tomatoes, garlic, red onion (if using), olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
03 - Make a space in the center and place the block of feta cheese. Drizzle a bit more olive oil over the feta.
04 - Roast for 30–35 minutes, until the tomatoes burst and the feta is golden and soft.
05 - Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
06 - Remove the baking dish from the oven. Using a fork or spoon, mash and mix the feta and tomatoes together to create a creamy sauce.
07 - Add the drained pasta and most of the basil to the dish. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
08 - Serve immediately, garnishing with extra basil and freshly ground black pepper.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted feta creates an incredibly velvety sauce without any cream
  • Everything happens in one baking dish while your pasta water boils
  • It tastes like you spent hours but actually takes minutes of active work
02 -
  • Block feta melts into a creamy sauce, while crumbles just get rubbery and sad
  • That reserved pasta water is pure liquid gold for getting the right silky consistency
  • The dish thickens quickly as it cools, so sauce it up more than you think you need to
03 -
  • Room temperature feta roasts more evenly than cold from the fridge
  • If your tomatoes seem extra juicy, reduce the pasta water accordingly

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