Try the viral TikTok Baked Feta Pasta in your Slow Cooker! This incredibly easy recipe uses just a handful of ingredients, is simply bursting with flavor and your crockpot does ALL the work. A fabulous weeknight pasta dish that’s easy to customise – prepare to be obsessed!
Post may contain affiliate links. For more information, check my disclosure
Some viral recipes are all show and no substance. But this viral Baked Feta Pasta recipe popularised on TikTok by Grilled Cheese Social, based on an existing viral recipe #uunifetapasta, is worth the hype!
The original uunifetapasta (which translates as oven-baked feta pasta) was shared by Finnish blogger Tiiu Piret but it became incredibly popular once Jenni Hayrinen posted a version on Liemessa. The recipe was such a hit that stores in Finland run out of feta cheese!
Right now baked feta pasta is pretty inescapable on social media so I had to try it to see what the fuss was all about. Spoiler alert – it is delicious!
Here’s what you will need
- Cherry tomatoes or baby plum tomatoes
- Finely diced sun dried tomatoes, olives or both (optional)
- Minced or sliced garlic – though you can leave out if you are not a fan
- Virgin olive oil
- Greek Feta Cheese – ideally barrel aged feta that’s made with 70% sheep’s milk.
- Dried oregano or mixed Italian herbs
- Salt, pepper and chilli flakes
- A little sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes (optional)
- Pasta – since my recipe is all cooked in one pot (the slow cooker) small dried pasta shapes are preferred.
- Hot vegetable stock (from a stock cube)
- Fresh basil
Slow Cooker Baked Feta Pasta
Full measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Please take a look at the steps and video before attempting this recipe!
STEP 1 Preheat the slow cooker to HIGH. Drizzle with olive oil, add the tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, oregano and sugar and stir together to combine. Season with sea salt, pepper and chilli flakes.
STEP 2 Clear some space in the center of the crockpot and add the block of feta cheese. Season and drizzle with olive oil then cover and cook on HIGH for an hour.
STEP 3 Check the slow cooker – the tomatoes should be almost bursting and the feta cheese melty and creamy. Use a spoon to mix everything together.
STEP 4 Add the dried pasta and hot vegetable stock and stir together. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour on HIGH, checking after 30 minutes and stirring the pasta.
STEP 5 Once the pasta is cooked to your liking have a taste and adjust the seasoning. Stir in plenty of fresh chopped basil leaves and serve.
How To Make Oven Baked Feta Pasta
STEP 1 Preheat the oven to 200C (400F). Tip the tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, oregano and sugar into an oven safe ceramic dish.. Drizzle with olive oil and season with sea salt, pepper and chilli flakes. Stir to combine.
STEP 2 Place the block of feta cheese to the center of the baking dish, season and drizzle with a bit of oil. Bake for around 40 minutes, or until the tomatoes burst and the feta melts. Meanwhile cook your favorite pasta in salted water and drain, reserving some of the pasta water.
STEP 3 Mix the tomatoes and feta together, add the pasta and stir to coat. Add some of the reserved pasta water if it looks a bit dry. Have a taste and adjust the seasoning, as needed. Stir in plenty of fresh chopped basil leaves and serve.
Tips for making the BEST baked feta pasta
Since this recipe uses such few ingredients you need to make sure they are the best quality possible! Use ripe cherry tomatoes, barrel-aged Greek feta, extra virgin olive oil and plenty of fresh basil.
I have tested the baked pasta recipe in my slow cooker using both orzo and small pasta shapes. Both turned out great! Use good quality durum wheat pasta – and definitely avoid anything that says “easy cook” or ”quick cook”.
You need to check the pasta halfway through cooking since some shapes cook much quicker than others. You can also simply stir in cooked pasta (leaving out the stock).
Frequently asked questions
Can I use other types of cheese? Any creamy cheese that melts when cooked will work, such as goat’s cheese and Boursin (garlic and herb soft cheese). Feta is still the best option I think, since it has robust taste and combines so well with the tomatoes!
What’s the best pasta to use? Yes you can use whatever pasta shape you like, such as penne, bow ties, rigatoni etc. I haven’t tried spaghetti in the slow cooker so I can’t vouch that it would work. But you could always stir in cooked spaghetti.
Can I add anything else? You can freestyle as much as you want with this recipe! Any mediterannean ingredients would work well, such as olives, capers, anchovies etc. You can also add raw shrimp (add them 10 minutes before the end of cooking time, until they turn pink), cooked chicken, tinned tuna etc. You can also try using vegan feta cheese alternative for a Vegan version.
How long will this keep? Best eaten fresh but it will keep in the fridge for up to three days. You might need to add a little water when reheating.
Is Baked Feta Pasta Slimming World friendly? If you leave out the olive oil and sun dried tomatoes then this pasta recipe is suitable for Slimming World.
HAVE YOU MADE MY CROCKPOT BAKED FETA PASTA RECIPE? Please leave a rating, post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #supergoldenbakes and make my day!
Baked Feta Pasta in Your Slow Cooker!
Equipment & Tools
Ingredients
- 3-4 tbsp virgin olive oil , or more as needed
- 450 g (1lb) cherry tomatoes or baby plum tomatoes
- 2 tbsp finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes , (optional)
- 4 garlic cloves , minced or sliced
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp sugar (optional – use if tomatoes are a bit acidic)
- Salt and pepper to season
- ½ tsp chilli flakes
- 1 block Greek Feta Cheese (200g / 7oz)
- 300 g (10 ½ oz) small dried pasta shapes
- 480 ml (2 cups) hot vegetable stock (stock cube), more if needed
- Fresh basil , to garnish
Instructions
Slow Cooker Method
- Preheat the slow cooker to HIGH. Drizzle with olive oil, add the tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, oregano and sugar and stir together to combine. Season with sea salt, pepper and chilli flakes.
- Clear some space in the center of the crockpot and add the block of feta cheese. Season and drizzle with olive oil then cover and cook on HIGH for an hour.
- Check the slow cooker – the tomatoes should be almost bursting and the feta cheese melty and creamy. Use a spoon to mix everything together.
- Add the dried pasta and hot vegetable stock and stir together. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour on HIGH, checking after 30 minutes and stirring the pasta.
- Once the pasta is cooked to your liking have a taste and adjust the seasoning. Stir in plenty of fresh chopped basil leaves and serve.
Oven Baked Feta Pasta
- 1 Preheat the oven to 200C (400F). Tip the tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, oregano and sugar into an oven safe ceramic dish.. Drizzle with olive oil and season with sea salt, pepper and chilli flakes. Stir to combine.
- Place the block of feta cheese to the center of the baking dish, season and drizzle with a bit of oil. Bake for around 40 minutes, or until the tomatoes burst and the feta melts. Meanwhile cook your favorite pasta in salted water and drain, reserving some of the pasta water.
- Mix the tomatoes and feta together, add the pasta and stir to coat. Add some of the reserved pasta water if it looks a bit dry. Have a taste and adjust the seasoning, as needed. Stir in plenty of fresh chopped basil leaves and serve.
Video
Notes
Since this recipe uses such few ingredients you need to make sure they are the best quality possible! Use ripe cherry tomatoes, barrel-aged Greek feta, extra virgin olive oil and plenty of fresh basil.
I have tested the baked pasta recipe in my slow cooker using both orzo and small pasta shapes. Both turned out great! Use good quality durum wheat pasta – and definitely avoid anything that says “easy cook” or ”quick cook”. You need to check the pasta halfway through cooking since some shapes cook much quicker than others. You can also simply stir in cooked pasta (leaving out the stock). Frequently asked questions
Can I use other types of cheese?
Any creamy cheese that melts when cooked will work, such as goat’s cheese and Boursin (garlic and herb soft cheese). Feta is still the best option I think, since it has robust taste and combines so well with the tomatoes! What’s the best pasta to use?
Yes you can use whatever pasta shape you like, such as penne, bow ties, rigatoni etc. I haven’t tried spaghetti in the slow cooker so I can’t vouch that it would work. But you could always stir in cooked spaghetti.
Leave a Reply