Baked feta pasta went viral all over social media. It has millions of views on TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube. This recipe substitutes cream cheese for feta cheese. It’s a quick and easy creamy tomato pasta dish with a hint of sweetness.
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How To Make The Viral Baked Feta Pasta Without Feta
Why did this recipe go viral? Pasta recipes are so popular because they are the perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner. This one is indulgent with a block of cream cheese, oven-baked, and so easy to customize with your favorite ingredients.
What’s not to love? Sweet cherry tomatoes are oven roasted with cream cheese and mixed together with aromatics and cooked pasta. Yum.
Love Pasta? - Check out 17 The Best Viral TikTok Pasta Recipes List !!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Pasta - Use your favorite shape, size, or kind. Penne, cavatappi, ziti, rigatoni, shells, bow-tie, spaghetti, gluten-free, red lentil, chickpea, whole wheat, or even high protein.
Cream Cheese - I love to use full fat but a lesser fat content can be substituted.
Tomatoes- Sweet cherry or grape tomatoes are ideal.
Oil - Avocado, Olive, or any neutral oil would work perfectly.
Garlic & Herbs - Fresh garlic and herbs are best. Italian parsley, basil, oregano, or thyme would be delicious. Dried or powdered can be used in a pinch.
Salt & Pepper - Cracked fresh black pepper and salt just give this pasta dish a boost in flavor.
Optional - Heavy cream will make it extra creamy and delicious.
What Can Be Substituted For Feta Cheese in Baked Feta Pasta?
An alternative to feta would be a good melting cheese like burrata, Boursin, brie, queso fresco, or goat cheese.
If you want extra cheesy flavor after the pasta is mixed into the sauce, top it with parmesan, pecorino romano, sharp cheddar, or mozzarella cheese.
Tips and Additions
Start boiling your pasta water early while the oven is coming to temperature.
You can substitute the pasta for bread like a ciabatta, Italian, or a crusty baguette. Great dip for a party.
Toss in vegetables like roasted peppers, mushrooms, onions, baby spinach, zucchini, or broccoli.
Add cooked meat proteins like chicken, beef, bacon, or sausage.
Mix in flavorful liquids like heavy cream, white wine, fresh lemon juice, and reserved pasta water for extra flavor.
This can be served as a one-pan dinner and taken right to the dinner table.
How To Serve Baked Feta Pasta
Since the oven is going, side dishes include roasted vegetables and dinner rolls or a cool and crispy salad. Try this Viral Crunchy Lemon Parmesan Salad recipe.
Leftovers and Storage
If there are any leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and easily reheated in the microwave or frozen for up to 3 months.
Step By Step Photos and Directions
- Grab all the prepped ingredients. Cherry tomatoes, garlic, oil, cream cheese, pasta, Italian parsley, black pepper, and salt.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Start to boil water to cook the pasta.
3. Rinse the cherry tomatoes.
4. Place them evenly into a 9x13 oven-safe baking dish.
5. Add some of the oil, salt, and pepper to coat the cherry tomatoes.
6. Make a space in the middle of the baking dish to add the block of cream cheese.
7. Top the cream cheese with the remaining oil, salt, and pepper. Place the baking pan into the oven uncovered to roast for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
8. Cook the pasta to your texture preference or al dente. Strain and set aside, toss with a little oil to prevent sticking.
9. Remove from the oven and let cool or stand for 5-10 minutes.
10. Add minced garlic.
11. With a fork smash the cherry tomatoes and mix together the garlic and cream cheese to form a creamy sauce. Be very careful because the cherry tomatoes can easily squeeze out hot liquid.
12. Add the cooked pasta and mix well.
13. For a creamier texture add the reserved pasta liquid or heavy cream for an extra creamy velvety texture.
14. Top with chopped fresh Italian parsley. Ready to serve enjoy.
Baked Feta Pasta Without Feta
Equipment
- Baking Dish 9x13
- Saucepan
- Strainer or Sieve
- Cooking Spoon or Spatula
Ingredients
- 2 Pints Cherry Tomatoes or Grape Tomatoes
- 1 8oz Block of Cream Cheese
- 3-4 tablespoon Avocado Oil or Olive Oil
- 2 cloves Fresh Minced Garlic
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Minced Italian Parsley or Basil
- Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper
- ½ Box Dry Pasta Cooked Al Dente
- Reserved Pasta Water or Heavy Cream Optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Start to boil water to cook the dry pasta.
- Rinse the cherry or grape tomatoes. Place into an oven-safe baking pan.
- Add some of the oil, salt, and pepper and mix. Make a space in the middle of the pan to add the block of cream cheese. Top the cream cheese with a touch more oil, salt, and pepper. Place into the preheated oven uncovered to roast for about 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
- While the sauce is in the oven, cook the pasta until al dente or cooked to your preference. You can reserve the pasta liquid at this point. Strain and set aside, can toss with oil to prevent sticking.
- Remove from the oven and let cool or stand for 5-10 minutes. Add minced fresh garlic.
- With a fork smash the tomatoes and mix together the garlic and cream cheese to form a creamy sauce. Be very careful because the cherry tomatoes can easily squeeze out hot liquid.
- Add the cooked pasta and toss well. Optionally, you can also add the reserved pasta liquid or heavy cream for an extra creamy velvety texture. Top with chopped fresh Italian parsley or basil. Ready to serve enjoy.
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