We’ve all seen it: the viral “TikTok pasta” that’s taken over the internet and our social media feeds. The process looks easy and the ingredients are ones that almost everyone can find at their grocery store. But just because something is viral doesn’t mean it’s actually good. And since I’m obsessed with both pasta and feta cheese, I had to try it. Here’s how it went!
What you’ll need:
Before anything else, you’ll need an oven and an oven-safe baking dish. Once you have that, you’ll want to make sure you have olive oil, cherry tomatoes, a block of feta cheese, salt, pepper and fresh basil. You’ll also want to have cooked noodles of your choice. I used bowtie noodles, but I’ve seen videos of people using rotini, macaroni and more.
How I did it:
First, preheat your oven. I set the oven to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit and also got my pasta water boiling. While that’s going, you can focus on the sauce. First, you’re going to coat the bottom of your pan with olive oil. You can honestly just eyeball the exact amount since it’s going to vary for whatever size pan that you’re using. Regardless, the bottom should be covered and there should be enough to coat your tomatoes. Because it’s the middle of winter and not exactly peak tomato season, I ended up using grape tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes because that’s all there was at the store. Turns out, grape tomatoes are longer than cherry tomatoes and also not as sweet. Despite this, they’re pretty interchangeable and tasted just as good. They also last longer too! I bought two containers of them and that was enough for my 9×13 pan but the amount you’ll need might vary based on how much you’re making. Once the tomatoes were in the pan, I added the minced garlic. I didn’t have a clove with me, so I just used the jarred kind. You can kind of add however much you prefer, and I went with about two to three spoonfuls just to make sure I got the flavor. Next, it was time for seasoning. I decided to go simple and just use salt and pepper, but I was very generous with it. Then I used my hands to make sure that the tomatoes were covered in both oil and seasoning. The final step is to put the block of feta in the middle and then bake! I let it cook for about 30 minutes which is a pretty safe median time. You could probably do slightly more or less depending on your oven (or your patience). By that point, my water was almost boiling, so I was able to cook my pasta. You can really make the pasta at any point in your process or day, but you just want to make sure that it’s done by the time your sauce is ready.
How it turned out:
When I took it out of the oven, it looked and smelled really delicious, but it was very hot, and the oil was sizzling. I set my pan on top of the stove and added the basil which I just tore into little pieces. I then prepared myself for the most satisfying moment—spreading the cheese. Sure enough, the slightly browned block of feta broke into a creamy sauce. When I stirred this with the tomatoes, it helped the tomatoes break down too. I recommend doing this as soon as the pan comes out so that everything blends and melts very easily. Next, I folded in the noodles and made sure they were evenly covered in the sauce, and finally it was to time to eat. As soon as I took a bite, I was so impressed. I thought that because it was so hyped up, the dish wouldn’t live up to my expectations. But I was wrong! It was a nice light, summery dish with great flavors. It’s salty and flavorful and great for sharing with others too. This is a dish where it’s really hard to resist going back for seconds or even thirds.
What I would do differently:
To be honest, this dish doesn’t need anything more. However, there are ways you can take it to the next level that I think would be really good. I’ve seen a lot of versions include adding some spinach to your sauce after it comes out of the oven which I think would be very good. I’ve also seen a few recipes call for a drizzle of lemon juice, a pinch of oregano, or even red pepper flakes. I personally didn’t think it needed a protein but if you were going to go that route, I’d go with something mild like chicken or shrimp.
Overall, I am excited to make this again and explore different variations of it. With the recipe becoming so popular, you can probably find a version for any specific taste or dietary need. It’s a simple, yet delicious dish that anyone can make and use to impress their family, friends and significant others.