Description
A creamy, tangy, and budget-friendly one-pan pasta dish featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and a block of feta cheese, costing under $1.50 per serving.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pint (200g / 7 oz) cherry or grape tomatoes
- 7 oz (200g) block feta cheese
- 8 oz (225g) spaghetti
- 3 tbsp (45ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place tomatoes in a 9×13 baking dish. Toss with 2 tbsp olive oil, minced garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes. Drizzle remaining 1 tbsp olive oil over the feta.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until tomatoes are soft and burst, and feta is golden and melted.
- While baking, boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Remove dish from oven. Mash feta into tomatoes and oil with a fork until creamy.
- Add drained pasta to the baking dish. Pour in 1/4 cup reserved pasta water and toss vigorously to emulsify. Add more water if needed.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use block feta, not crumbles, for better melting and cost. Do not overcook the pasta as it will continue cooking in the hot sauce. Pasta water is essential for creating a creamy emulsion. This dish does not freeze well due to the feta sauce separating.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 450
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
Keywords: viral baked feta pasta, budget dinner, one-pan meal, cheap pasta, feta cheese recipe, easy weeknight dinner, gluten-free option