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Creamy Baked Feta Rigatoni

creamy baked feta rigatoni - featured image
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A quick and easy 30-minute pasta dish featuring baked feta and burst cherry tomatoes that create a creamy, flavorful sauce perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes (about 300 grams)
  • 8-ounce block feta cheese
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Handful fresh basil leaves, roughly torn
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Lemon zest from one lemon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Arrange the cherry tomatoes in an oven-safe baking dish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper evenly over the tomatoes. Toss gently to coat.
  3. Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over the feta.
  4. Bake for about 30 minutes until tomatoes burst and feta melts with golden edges.
  5. While baking, boil a large pot of salted water and cook rigatoni according to package instructions (10-12 minutes) until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
  6. Remove baking dish from oven and mash the softened feta and burst tomatoes together to create a creamy sauce.
  7. Add cooked rigatoni to the baking dish and toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water gradually to loosen sauce as desired.
  8. Finish with torn fresh basil leaves and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
  9. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use a whole block of feta cheese for better melting and creaminess. Reserve pasta water to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the pasta. Be gentle when mixing to avoid breaking the rigatoni. Experiment with slightly longer baking for caramelized edges. Can substitute gluten-free pasta or add protein like grilled chicken or shrimp.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked feta, rigatoni, cherry tomatoes, creamy pasta, easy pasta recipe, 30-minute meal, comfort food, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/creamy-baked-feta-rigatoni-recipe-easy-30-minute-pasta-with-cherry-tomatoes/