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This Baked Feta Pasta is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe that works well for everyone! It is made with a handful of simple ingredients all in one pan for a perfectly fuss-free lunch or dinner that’s so delicious and easy to make.
You have all probably heard of The Baked Feta Pasta by now. It’s said to have originated in Finland by Liemessa where stores were running out of feta cheese because of this recipe. This baked pasta recipe then because a viral sensation here in the US on TikTok and thousands of people have recreated this dish.
It is a very simple and easy recipe to make with just a handful of ingredients and fresh herbs. The creamy tomato base is made with roasted cherry tomatoes, a block of Feta Cheese, garlic, and herb. Add your cooked pasta and some spinach or fresh basil and toss together. We went ahead and added a little twist and some protein to this pasta bake recipe by adding in some shrimp to make it a well-balanced meal.
Why you will love this pasta bake recipe
- Easy to make: this baked feta pasta is really super easy to make. Add the tomatoes, herbs, oil, and feta cheese to a dish, bake, add in the pasta and fresh basil, and you have a perfectly delicious meal ready to be served.
- Tasty: you will be amazed at how tasty and creamy this pasta dish is. It is just the right combination of creamy and flavorful.
- So versatile: the different ways you can make this dish is just endless. You can be so creative in making this creamy pasta and make it into different flavors by adding in different veggies and herbs.
Ingredients you will need
Cherry or grape tomatoes
Extra virgin olive oil
Garlic cloves
Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper
Block Feta Cheese
1 lb raw shrimp
Pasta- use any of your favorite pasta
Baby spinach
fresh basil or parsley to garnish
Lemon- juice, and zest
How to make the baked feta pasta
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- First, prepare the creamy tomato base: to a large baking dish, add the tomatoes, olive oil, seasoning, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and mix to combine. Make some space in the middle to add the feta cheese and turn it into the oil to coat on both sides.
- Bake the tomato and feta: Next, bake for 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately stir everything together until the tomatoes and feta combine into a creamy sauce.
- Add the shrimp or your preferred protein: Then, add in the shrimp and bake for 6-8 minutes more, or until the shrimp is pink, curled, and opaque. While the shrimp is baking, cook the pasta to al-dente, according to the package directions. Save 1/4 cup of the pasta water, then drain well.
- Combine everything: Remove the dish from the oven and stir in the spinach, lemon zest, drained pasta, and hot pasta water. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve: Finally, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley or basil, if desired, and serve immediately!
Recipe notes and substitutes
- Pasta: use any of your favorite pasta. Healthier options can be lentil or chickpea pasta
- Cheese: the original recipe calls for feta cheese. Some may not like feta cheese and would like to use another type of cheese. Other options can be goat cheese, burrata, and Boursin creamy cheese blocks.
- Oil: Avocado oil will also work.
- Tomatoes: we highly recommend using cherry or grape tomatoes. They tend to be juicier and much more flavorful.
- Garlic: Best to use fresh garlic for optimal flavor.
- Veggies: you may add other veggies like kale, olives, or mushrooms. We used spinach for a boost of nutrition.
- Shrimp: this is optional. You can skip the protein altogether or add some cooked chicken.
- Herbs: Italian seasoning or oregano works best. You may also add some fresh basil at the end.
- Store leftover in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Low carb option: instead of pasta use zucchini noodles or cooked spaghhet squash.
- Nutritional facts: Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
frequently asked questions
Place leftover baked feta pasta in a container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave when ready to eat.
Its what it sounds like. Baked feta with pasta. This dish originated in Finland and then became viral in the US. It is made by baking cherry tomatoes and a block of feta cheese with some herbs to make a creamy sauce and then tossed in with some cooked pasta. The pasta isn’t baked but added in later.
Yes. You can freeze any leftover pasta for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge the night before and reheat in the microwave when ready to serve.
Other pasta recipes to try
- Creamy Salmon Pasta
- Shrimp Pasta Salad
- Creamy Wild Mushroom Pasta
- Asparagus Chicken Pasta
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Spinach Avocado Pasta
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Baked Feta Pasta with Shrimp
Ingredients
- 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped or pressed
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 8 oz block feta cheese
- 1 lb medium-sized raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz. pasta, GF if needed, whole grain, or lentil pasta
- 2 cups packed baby spinach, roughly chopped, or a handful of basil
- juice and zest of 1 lemon
Optional
- chopped parsley or basil, to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- To a large baking dish, add the tomatoes, olive oil, seasoning, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and mix to combine.
- Make some space in the middle to add the feta cheese and turn it into the oil to coat on both sides.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately stir everything together until the tomatoes and feta combine into a creamy sauce.
- Add in the shrimp and bake for 6-8 minutes more, or until the shrimp is pink, curled, and opaque.
- While the shrimp is baking, cook the pasta to al-dente, according to the package directions. Save 1/4 cup of the pasta water, then drain well.
- Remove the dish from the oven and stir in the spinach, lemon zest, drained pasta, lemon juice, and hot pasta water. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley or fresh basil, if desired, and serve immediately!
Video
Notes
- Pasta: use any of your favorite pasta. Healthier options can be lentil or chickpea pasta
- Cheese: the original recipe calls for feta cheese. Some may not like feta cheese and would like to use another type of cheese. Other options can be goat cheese, burrata, and Boursin creamy cheese blocks.
- Oil: Avocado oil will also work.
- Tomatoes: we highly recommend using cherry or grape tomatoes. They tend to be juicier and much more flavorful.
- Garlic: Best to use fresh garlic for optimal flavor.
- Veggies: you may add other veggies like kale, olives, or mushrooms. We used spinach for a boost of nutrition.
- Shrimp: this is optional. You can skip the protein altogether or add some cooked chicken.
- Herbs: Italian seasoning or oregano works best. You may also add some fresh basil at the end.
- Store leftover in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Nutritional facts: Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Excellent! I used chicken instead shrimp! Thanks for the recipe!
Delicious and all the gang loved it.
I made this today and it was AMAZING! I had to use Boursin cheese because my grocery store didn’t have a block of feta. I can’t wait for the left overs.
That’s another great substitute for Feta cheese. Good choice. Next time let me know how it comes out with feta cheese.
Really satisfying and delicious- I substituted the tomatoes for peppers and a courgette, worked really well. Just a note of caution- the feta cheese is quite salty so don’t overdo the seasoning! Will be cooking again.
Yes. Agreed. It’s best not to add any salt at all, the feta cheese is enough. Thanks for the feedback
Can I use a bag of frozen shrimp?
Yes, you can. Thaw it first, clean, and rinse.
This is delicious! If I substitute chicken would I add it at the same time as the recipe says to add shrimp? Would I then cook as the recipe indicates?
Thank you!
Delicious!
Thank you
How much hot pasta water do I remove and in which step do I apply it?
Hi there. Steps 6 and 7. You save 1/4 cup of pasta water
If I double the pasta (16) instead of 8 oz do I double every thing else? Thanks
Hi Becky. Not necessarily double everything. I feel like it will be too much. Maybe by half, so instead of x2 go for x1.5, just a bit more of everything. It is already really creamy so using 2 blocks of feta I feel will be too much. 1 and a half blocks of feta will be just enough.
So easy & delicious!
Thank you. Glad you loved it
What are suggestions if I wanted to fix this ahead of time and bake to warm it up for later in the week?
Hi. This stores well. So cook ahead and store in a sealed container in the fridge until ready to eat. You can also freeze them in individual serving containers.
Hi Rena,
Thinking about trying this Recipe. But I would like to double the pasta. Would I double everything else?
Thank you.
Becky
Hi, I replied to this in your other comment. I don’t think doubling will be great, Just a bit more of everything. Like x1.5 instead of x2
I’m making this a second time tonight because it was delicious. I have some recipe questions: it says 2 tbsp olive oil divided, yet recipe only references olive oil once in the instructions. It also says “juice and zest of one lemon”, yet in the instructions it only refers to the zest, I don’t see anything about what to do with the juice.
Thank you Mary. Sorry about that. You add it in with the pasta water. I fixed it!
I know the tomatoes work best but if you’re not a fan of tomatoes. What would be ok to use instead?
Ive seen this dish done with just veggies like onion, mushrooms, and peppers
I’m making this right now! If I don’t have a block would crumbled feta work too? Maybe just not cooked for as long?
Hi. Crumbles feta will unfortunately not yield the same creamy result.
Absolutely delicious!
Thank you!
Delicious Pasta (lentil rotini) have made it twice and can’t believe how simple and amazing this is.
Thanks! I love lentil pasta