Description
Viral Garlic Butter Baked Feta Pasta is a simple, delicious dish that’s perfect for beginners. It uses minimal ingredients and steps to create a creamy, flavorful meal.
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta of your choice
- 1 (8 oz) block of feta cheese
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 head of garlic, top sliced off
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large oven-safe baking dish, add the cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and toss to coat.
- Make a well in the center of the tomatoes and place the block of feta cheese in the middle. Place the whole head of garlic (cut side up) and the butter cubes around the feta.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the tomatoes have burst and the feta is soft and beginning to brown.
- While the feta and tomatoes are baking, cook your pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
- Carefully remove the hot baking dish from the oven. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins into the dish. Add the 2 cloves of minced raw garlic.
- Mash the feta, roasted garlic, and burst tomatoes together to create a creamy sauce.
- Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and fresh basil.
- Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh basil if desired.
Notes
- Bow tie or similar pasta shapes work well.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Garnish with extra basil for added freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking and Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired