{"id":33328,"date":"2022-07-08T19:24:24","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T23:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/?p=33328"},"modified":"2022-07-08T19:24:24","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T23:24:24","slug":"baked-feta-pasta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/2022\/07\/08\/baked-feta-pasta\/","title":{"rendered":"Baked Feta Pasta"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f9a72b\"><strong>&nbsp;Baked feta pasta is a game changer! <\/strong>It&#8217;s the perfect combination of tangy cheese, sweet tomatoes, and fresh basil\u2014all in a 30-minute meal that&#8217;s a serious upgrade from typical ziti.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Baked-Feta-Pasta-Recipe-12-1200x1800.jpg\" alt=\"A dish of baked feta pasta, ready to be served. \" class=\"wp-image-33325\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Baked Feta Pasta (Tik Tok Pasta): The Big, Bold Flavor You Need in Your Life<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have to be honest: I&#8217;m kind of a pasta snob.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So when I saw that baked feta pasta was taking over tiktok, I was pretty skeptical. But I do love the combination of feta, tomato, and basil so I figured I&#8217;d give it a try one night when I had nothign else planned.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now I see why everyone was raving about it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This recipe is so easy to throw together, you&#8217;ll find yourself making it nonstop. It basically requires zero effort or pre-planning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about a million takes on this recipe all over the internet, from one pot versions to instant pot versions to versions with no tomatoes at all. But my favorite way to make it is to bake the sauce in the oven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s less fussy than cooking it on the stovetop, and the flavors cook down and concentrate more than other methods. Plus the tomatoes get slightly charred and blistered, which is just so good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-70f3d7d2\"><span class=\"gb-icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M478.21 334.093L336 256l142.21-78.093c11.795-6.477 15.961-21.384 9.232-33.037l-19.48-33.741c-6.728-11.653-21.72-15.499-33.227-8.523L296 186.718l3.475-162.204C299.763 11.061 288.937 0 275.48 0h-38.96c-13.456 0-24.283 11.061-23.994 24.514L216 186.718 77.265 102.607c-11.506-6.976-26.499-3.13-33.227 8.523l-19.48 33.741c-6.728 11.653-2.562 26.56 9.233 33.037L176 256 33.79 334.093c-11.795 6.477-15.961 21.384-9.232 33.037l19.48 33.741c6.728 11.653 21.721 15.499 33.227 8.523L216 325.282l-3.475 162.204C212.237 500.939 223.064 512 236.52 512h38.961c13.456 0 24.283-11.061 23.995-24.514L296 325.282l138.735 84.111c11.506 6.976 26.499 3.13 33.227-8.523l19.48-33.741c6.728-11.653 2.563-26.559-9.232-33.036z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#0071a1\"><a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What you\u2019ll love about feta pasta:<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong><strong><strong>6 Ingredient Recipe: <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>This feta and tomato pasta bake is made with simple ingredients that are easy to keep on hand for those nights when you don&#8217;t have dinner planned.<\/li><li><strong><strong><strong>Versatile: <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>There are so many ways to dress up this pasta based on what you have in stock! (We&#8217;ll go over my favorite swaps below.)<\/li><li><strong><strong><strong>Hands-Off:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> The oven does the heavy lifting for this recipe, so you don&#8217;t need to spend a ton of time standing over the stove.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Baked-Feta-Pasta-Recipe-1-1200x1800.jpg\" alt=\"Ingredients needed to make feta pasta include block feta, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil. \" class=\"wp-image-33314\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ingredients\"><strong><strong>Feta Pasta Ingredients<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This recipe has so many variations, and it&#8217;s super easy to out your own spin on it. But at it&#8217;s core, feta pasta includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dried Pasta. <\/strong>I love a fat, tubed pasta with ridges that stand up to this chunky sauce. Ziti or rigatoni are great options!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cherry Tomatoes. <\/strong>Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes are small, so they roast quickly and there&#8217;s plenty of surface area to get charred and smoky.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Greek Feta Cheese: <\/strong>Feta makes this recipe what it is, so buy a block of the best Greek feta that you can find. It should be milky and fresh, with just a little salt and a bright, tangy flavor. Don&#8217;t use crumbled feta &#8212; it won&#8217;t melt the same way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Fresh Basil. <\/strong>Because there&#8217;s nothing quite like it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Crushed Red Pepper Flakes. <\/strong>I like to add chili flakes for a pop of heat and more complexity. My favorite are the extra-hot Indian pepper flakes from Penzy&#8217;s!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dried Italian Seasoning Blend. <\/strong>If yours isn&#8217;t heavy enough on the garlic, you can toss a few garlic loves in with the tomatoes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Olive Oil.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ground Black Pepper.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Baked-Feta-Pasta-Recipe-3-1200x1800.jpg\" alt=\"Feta pasta sauce, ready to go into the oven.\" class=\"wp-image-33316\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Baked-Feta-Pasta-Recipe-5-1200x1800.jpg\" alt=\"Feta pasta sauce after baking, but before mixing. \" class=\"wp-image-33318\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"method\"><strong><strong>How to make it:<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Place the feta cheese in the middle of a small baking dish and tuck the tomatoes around it. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, freshly ground black pepper, and chili flakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bake until the tomatoes collapse in on themselves and start to char in places.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-2493cfd4\"><span class=\"gb-icon\"><svg xml:space=\"preserve\" viewBox=\"0 0 100 100\" y=\"0px\" x=\"0px\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M23.6,5c-1.2,0-2.3,1.1-2.3,2.4v85.3c0,2,2.6,3.1,4.1,1.7L50,69.7l24.6,24.6c1.5,1.5,4.1,0.3,4.1-1.6V7.4  c0-1.3-1.1-2.4-2.4-2.4H23.6z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"gb-headline-text\"><strong>Busy Foodie Tip:<\/strong> I like to use my countertop oven to cut down on the preheating process and conserve energy!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the sauce roasts, bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil and cook your pasta.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Give the sauce a stir. The tomatoes should be so soft and the cheese so melty that everything combines easily into a creamy sauce.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stir in the cooked pasta and fresh basil and eat up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Baked-Feta-Pasta-Recipe-4-1200x1800.jpg\" alt=\"A pot of cooked pasta. \" class=\"wp-image-33317\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Expert tips and substitutions:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you don\u2019t have feta cheese, <\/strong>try boursin, chevre (goat cheese) or mascarpone. Any soft, tangy cheese will feel right at home in this recipe!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No cherry tomatoes?<\/strong> You can use 4-5 larger tomatoes instead. Look for heirloom tomatoes, beefsteaks, or something similar with a firm texture. Cut the tomatoes into 4-6 wedges before cooking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No tomatoes at all?<\/strong> Red peppers get roasty in the oven and give the pasta a fun Greek-inspired feel. Note that if you choose to use peppers, the sauce won&#8217;t be as juicy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Add a few cloves of roasted garlic <\/strong>in the the tomatoes while they roast for extra flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you don&#8217;t have fresh basil, <\/strong>you can use 1 1\/2 teaspoons of dried basil or Italian seasoning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For more protein, <\/strong>stir in leftover cooked chicken or shrimp or mix in a can of flaked tuna (I like tuna packed in olive oil, not water, for the best flavor).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For an extra boost of veggies, <\/strong>stir in a few cups of baby spinach along with the basil at the end. Let it sit for a few minutes to wilt. if you have any air fryer broccoli around, that also makes a great addition!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Skip the pasta,<\/strong> and serve this feta-tomato sauce over zucchini noodles, orzo, or gnocchi. It&#8217;s also great spooned over grilled chicken or fish!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Baked-Feta-Pasta-Recipe-7-1200x1800.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead view of a baking pan filled with feta pasta.\" class=\"wp-image-33320\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faqs\"><strong><strong>Frequently asked questions about feta pasta<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1632692599561\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong><strong><strong>Can I make this ahead of time?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Leftovers will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge, but I&#8217;m not a huge fan of reheated pasta. The texture is never right. You can make the sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it or freeze it, but the beauty of this recipe is that it&#8217;s so simple you really don&#8217;t need to plan ahead.\u00a0<br\/><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1632695442839\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can I use crumbled feta?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Please don&#8217;t. It gets dried out and doesn&#8217;t melt into the creamy, luscious sauce that we want. Save the feta crumbles for your salads. <\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1632695603958\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>My sauce is really thick. Is that right?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">This sauce should be fairly chunky and thick, but the texture will vary depending on how juicy your tomatoes are and what brand of feta you use. If you want a thinner sauce, stir in 1-2 Tablespoons of starchy water from your pasta pot.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Other pasta recipes you might like:<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>10-Minute <a href=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/cacio-e-pepe-recipe\">Cacio e Pepe<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/lemon-ricotta-pasta\">One Pot Lemon Ricotta Spaghetti<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/bruschetta-pasta\">Easy Bruschetta Pasta<\/a><\/li><li>30-Minute <a href=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/tortellini-vegetable-soup\">Tortellini Vegetable Soup<\/a><\/li><li>One Pot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthy-delicious.com\/one-pan-cajun-chicken-pasta-with-artichokes-and-lemon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cajun Chicken Pasta<\/a><\/li><li>30-Minute <a href=\"https:\/\/jonesinfortaste.com\/asparagus-carbonara-with-bacon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Carbonara<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/262451\/one-pot-pasta-with-tuna\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">One Pot Pasta with Tuna<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Baked-Feta-Pasta-Recipe-11-1200x1800.jpg\" alt=\"eating a portion of baked feta pasta. \" class=\"wp-image-33324\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Baked feta pasta is a game changer! It&#8217;s the perfect combination of tangy cheese, sweet tomatoes, and fresh basil\u2014all in a 30-minute meal that&#8217;s a serious upgrade from typical ziti.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":33325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,38,23],"tags":[41],"class_list":["post-33328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dinner-recipes","category-oven-recipes","category-recipes","tag-30-minute-meal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33328"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33328\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}