Description
A quick and creamy Baked Feta Pasta featuring roasted cherry tomatoes, smoky turkey bacon, and a luscious plant-based feta sauce. This easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, delivering comforting flavors and vibrant colors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 block of feta cheese (plant-based), approximately 200g
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (natural)
- 10 oz pasta of choice (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli recommended)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and prep your ingredients: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the block of feta cheese (plant-based) in the center of a baking dish. Arrange the cherry tomatoes and garlic cloves around the feta. Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil (natural), then season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Roast the feta and tomatoes: Roast in the oven for about 30 minutes until the cherry tomatoes burst and the feta is soft and golden on top, creating a creamy sauce base.
- Crisp the smoked turkey bacon: While roasting, cook the smoked turkey bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Chop into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving some pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency later.
- Combine and finish the sauce: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Stir the feta, roasted tomatoes, and garlic together until smooth and creamy. Add apple cider vinegar (natural) and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural) to enhance flavor. Toss in the cooked pasta and smoked turkey bacon, mixing well. Add reserved pasta water as needed for a saucier texture.
- Garnish and serve: Tear fresh basil leaves over the finished dish and serve immediately for vibrant flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use ripe cherry tomatoes for the best roasting and sauce formation.
- Avoid overcooking pasta to maintain firmness with the creamy sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to help adjust sauce consistency as needed.
- Cut the block of feta cheese (plant-based) evenly for uniform melting.
- Experiment with fresh herbs like oregano or parsley in addition to basil for varied aromatic profiles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: baked feta pasta, creamy pasta, roasted tomato pasta, smoked turkey bacon pasta, plant-based feta, easy weeknight dinner
