I am admittedly terrible at keeping up with trends. There is, however, one viral recipe that I fell for when it seemed like just about everyone else did: baked feta pasta. The TikTok recipe by Finnish food blogger Jenni Hayrinen went viral in early 2021 and has since become—at least in my kitchen—a classic.
The combination of warm, melty feta cheese, juicy tomatoes, and al dente pasta is not only totally comforting, but also ridiculously easy to make, as the sauce comes together in the oven.
While the original recipe is almost perfect, I think the tweaks I’ve made over time result in the best version of baked feta pasta yet.
What is Baked Feta Pasta?
Baked feta pasta is a recipe that went viral on TikTok in 2021. It involves baking a block of feta cheese with cherry tomatoes and olive oil until the cheese becomes soft and golden-brown and the tomatoes burst. The feta melts into a creamy, tomato-studded sauce when tossed with hot pasta. Garlic and fresh basil round out the pasta before eating.
My version stays true to the original recipe, but adds a couple of additional ingredients to the mix that gives this baked feta pasta more depth than the original.
Feta cheese: Opt for feta packed in brine, which is softer than blocks that are sold simply wrapped in plastic. I always find it melts into an even creamier sauce for the pasta.
Cherry or grape tomatoes: Either works well here.
Red pepper flakes provide classic Italian heat.
Honey helps caramelize the tomatoes while balancing the acidity of both the tomatoes and the feta.
Dried short pasta, such as cavatappi or fusilli, catch the sauce.
Lemon: A finish of grated lemon zest works with the basil to keep the pasta feeling bright while still remaining rich and creamy.
