Baked Feta Tomato Pasta (Print-Friendly Version)

Tangy feta and roasted tomatoes create a creamy, flavor-packed pasta perfect for easy weeknight dinners.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 pints (approx. 600 g) cherry or grape tomatoes
02 - 1 shallot, quartered
03 - 3 garlic cloves, smashed

→ Dairy

04 - 1 block (225 g) feta cheese, drained

→ Pantry

05 - 120 ml extra-virgin olive oil, divided
06 - Kosher salt, to taste
07 - Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

→ Herbs

08 - 3 fresh thyme sprigs
09 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
10 - Zest of 1 lemon (optional)

→ Pasta

11 - 340 g short tubular pasta (macaroni or cavatappi recommended)

# How to Make It:

01 - Arrange oven rack in the centre and preheat to 200°C. In a medium (2-litre) baking dish, combine tomatoes, quartered shallot, and smashed garlic cloves. Add 110 ml olive oil (reserve 10 ml), season with kosher salt and red pepper flakes, and toss to evenly coat.
02 - Place drained feta block in the centre of the tomato mixture. Drizzle with reserved 10 ml olive oil. Scatter thyme sprigs evenly over the contents.
03 - Transfer dish to oven. Roast for 40–45 minutes, until tomatoes have burst, feta is golden on top, and juices are bubbling.
04 - Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 120 ml cooking water before draining.
05 - Remove thyme sprigs from roasted mixture. Add hot pasta, reserved pasta water, and lemon zest (if using) to the baking dish. Gently stir until sauce coats pasta evenly. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.

# Additional Tips:

01 - For maximal flavour, use cherry tomatoes for their juiciness and vibrant sweetness.
02 - Stirring in reserved pasta water ensures a creamy, clingy sauce without becoming oily.
03 - Roasting at a steady temperature prevents burning garlic and herbs; do not increase oven heat.
04 - Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
05 - Lemon zest brightens the sauce, but omit if a classic profile is preferred.

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