Description
Baked Feta Pasta is a quick, flavorful, and comforting dish featuring creamy plant-based feta cheese baked with oven-roasted cherry tomatoes and smoky turkey bacon. This easy bake-and-toss recipe takes under 40 minutes and delivers a rich, tangy sauce perfect for busy weeknights. Garnished with fresh basil and optional crushed red pepper flakes, this meal balances savory, creamy, and fresh flavors with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 block plant-based feta cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3–4 garlic cloves, whole
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 8 ounces pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the tomatoes and feta: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). In a baking dish, place a block of plant-based feta cheese in the center, surrounded by halved cherry tomatoes and whole garlic cloves. Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil (natural). Sprinkle salt, freshly ground black pepper, and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural) over everything. Toss the tomatoes slightly to coat.
- Bake until melty and roasted: Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until tomatoes are soft, bursting, and caramelized, and the feta is soft with a slightly browned top, forming a creamy sauce base.
- Cook the pasta and bacon: While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well. In a skillet, fry smoked turkey bacon until crisp, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine everything: Remove baking dish from oven. Use a fork to mash the baked feta and roasted tomatoes together into a thick, creamy sauce. Add hot pasta and chopped bacon, then toss until pasta is evenly coated.
- Add final touches: Sprinkle fresh basil leaves and crushed red pepper flakes on top. Toss gently one last time and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use ripe cherry tomatoes for a sweeter, more vibrant sauce.
- Do not skip the vegetarian Worcestershire sauce to enhance depth of flavor.
- Cook pasta slightly under package instructions to finish cooking in sauce.
- Do not overcrowd the baking dish to allow even roasting of tomatoes.
- Serve immediately for the best creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: baked feta pasta, plant-based feta, roasted tomatoes, turkey bacon, quick dinner, creamy pasta, vegetarian pasta, weeknight meal
