Baked Goat Cheese Pasta
A creamier version of the famous baked feta pasta Tik Tok recipe, Baked Goat Cheese Pasta is a cozy 30 minute meal.
Servings 6
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pints grape or cherry tomatoes washed and dried
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 10 oz log of goat cheese can use 6-8 oz as well
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- fresh thyme, crushed red pepper, pine nuts, parmesan optional
- 6-8 whole peeled garlic cloves
- 1 lb cavatappi, cavatelli or fusilli dried pasta I prefer Barilla or DeCecco
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- In a oven safe baking dish with sides, toss the tomatoes, garlic and olive oil until the tomatoes are coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Nestle the cheese in the center of the baking dish. Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper
- Place on the center rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes until the tomatoes are roasted and are juicy and bubbly.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in sea salted, boiling water according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.
- Remove the baked goat cheese and tomatoes from the oven. Using a spoon, stir the cheese into the tomatoes and olive oil sauce until mixed and creamy. Stir in half of the chopped fresh basil.
- Add in the cooked pasta a cup at a time. Add in some reserved pasta water by the tablespoon as needed to make the sauce creamier. Sprinkle over the remaining basil and fresh parmesan before serving.
Notes
Make ahead. Baked goat cheese pasta is an easy recipe so making it ahead isn't a big deal but to save some time, you can have the pasta made ahead (or even use leftover cooked pasta when you've made too much). Run some warm water over the pasta sitting in a colander to loosen it up. Shake off the excess water before tossing with the sauce.
Reheating. Heat the leftovers in a microwave safe dish in 30 second increments with a teaspoon or two of leftover pasta water or chicken broth and stir until creamy.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Optional add-ins:
- any protein like strips of Foolproof Chicken, cooked Italian sausage, sauteed shrimp, scallops or tofu
- additional veggies like roasted red peppers; sauteed onions and mushrooms; spinach; artichoke hearts
- additional chopped fresh herbs like thyme or a bit of oregano
- a sprinkling of pine nuts, crushed red pepper flakes and parmesan for serving