Not another TikTok Pasta Recipe… actually it is, just better
Baked Feta Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes and Chicken Sausage
This is a modified (I'd like to think "elevated") version of the infamous TikTok pasta that was circling social media throughout 2020 and 2021. I add some cooked chicken sausage and sun dried tomatoes to take it to the next level. Using multi-colored farfalle and tomatoes gives it a colorful pop that has my kids (mostly) coming back for more.
Ingredients
- 10 oz bow tie (farfalle) pasta, I like to use tri-color
- 8 oz block high quality feta cheese in brine
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup sun dried tomaotes, cut into strips
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 TBSP Tuscan seasoning (preferred) or Italian seasoning
- 2 whole garlic cloves, minced or finely grated
- ¼ cup fresh basil, cut into ribbons
- ½ lb Italian sausage, chicken or pork, (your choice)
- pepper to taste
- Himalayan salt or course sea salt for finishing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Toss halved cherry tomatoes, Tuscan (or Italian) seasoning, olive oil, and several generous cracks of black pepper together in a bowl.
- In a large baking dish, pour the tomato and olive oil mixture. Place whole block of feta cheese in middle. Discard brine. Spoon some oil over top. Bake for 25 minutes.
- While cheese and tomatoes are baking, get a medium pot of salted water boiling on the stove. Add farfalle (bowtie) pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions (usually about 10 minutes or so). Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Slice sausage and brown in a pan. Set aside for later.
- When cheese is done baking for 25 minutes, add sundried tomatoes and minced garlic to baking dish. Stir to combine without breaking up the feta cheese. It's okay if you break up the fresh tomatoes a bit as you stir in the garlic and sundried tomatoes. Increase heat to 450 degrees and bake another 10 minutes.
- To assemble pasta, use a large spoon to mix in baked feta with tomatoes and olive oil. Use the back of the spoon to smash the fresh tomatoes a bit. Add in basil ribbons, ¼ reserved pasta water, noodles, and sausage. Toss well to combine.
- Season with course sea salt or Himalayan salt to taste. Garnish with additional basil if desired.
- Serve immediately.
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