Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken: The Viral TikTok Sensation, Elevated to a Complete Meal
The Baked Feta Pasta recipe, which initially took social media by storm thanks to its viral TikTok presence, quickly became a global cooking phenomenon. You’ve likely seen countless versions of this deliciously simple dish, featuring creamy, oven-roasted feta cheese mingling with sweet cherry tomatoes and pasta. While incredibly popular, many home cooks, myself included, often wonder how to transform it into a more substantial, protein-rich dinner. My answer? Introducing Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken – a game-changing twist that makes this trendy pasta a complete, satisfying meal without sacrificing any of its beloved simplicity or flavor!
It’s natural to be a little cautious about trying every new viral food trend, but this particular recipe earned its hype. Its runaway success convinced me to give it a try, and I can wholeheartedly confirm: the final dish is truly exceptional! In fact, I’m enjoying a bowl of this protein-packed pasta as I type this – it’s that good.
I’ve always had a fondness for warm feta cheese, but cooking it in this specific oven-roasted manner was an entirely new experience for me. I’ve experimented with grilling and pan-frying feta in the past, but I am now utterly convinced that baking it alongside tomatoes and other aromatics is the absolute best method to unlock its full creamy potential and infuse it with incredible flavor.
For quick access to the full recipe, simply use the JUMP TO RECIPE button located at the top of this post, or scroll down to find the complete recipe card with detailed ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions.
Baked Feta Pasta: Transforming a Viral Dish into a Complete Protein-Packed Meal
My unique twist on this globally recognized Baked Feta Pasta is what I like to call the “protein-style” enhancement. By incorporating succulent chicken breasts directly into the roasting pan alongside the feta and tomatoes, we elevate a simple pasta dish into a hearty, balanced, and incredibly flavorful dinner. This approach demonstrates how effortlessly a few basic ingredients can come together to create something truly delicious and satisfying. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the depth of flavor achieved with minimal effort.
Why Add Chicken to Your Baked Feta Pasta?
- Complete Meal Solution: Adding chicken transforms this side dish or light lunch into a substantial dinner, perfect for family meals.
- Protein Boost: Chicken breasts provide an excellent source of lean protein, making the meal more filling and satisfying.
- Enhanced Flavor Profile: As the chicken roasts, its juices meld with the tomatoes, feta, and olive oil, adding another layer of savory deliciousness to the sauce.
- One-Pan Convenience: The chicken cooks simultaneously with the other ingredients in the same baking dish, maintaining the beloved one-pan simplicity of the original recipe. Fewer dishes mean less cleanup!
Essential Ingredients for Your Elevated Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken
Crafting this protein-rich version of the viral feta pasta requires a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need, along with tips for making the best choices:
- Pasta: While almost any pasta shape will work, a smaller, tighter pasta such as Gigli, Campanelle, or even penne and orecchiette performs exceptionally well. These shapes capture the creamy sauce and roasted ingredients perfectly.
- Feta Cheese: Opt for full-fat blocks of feta cheese. The block format allows it to soften and melt into a luxurious, creamy sauce as it bakes. If only crumbled feta is available, simply form it into a mound in the center of your baking pan to achieve a similar effect.
- Cherry Tomatoes: These small, sweet tomatoes are ideal for roasting. The riper they are, the better! In fact, if your cherry tomatoes are just starting to get a little soft or past their prime, this recipe is an excellent way to use them up. Roasting intensifies their natural sweetness, adding a burst of flavor to the final dish.
- Olive Oil: A generous amount of good quality olive oil is crucial. It helps the ingredients roast beautifully, prevents sticking, and forms the base of the rich sauce. Don’t be shy with it!
- Garlic: Always use fresh, whole cloves of garlic. Roasting them alongside the feta, tomatoes, and chicken infuses the entire dish with a mellow, sweet, and nutty roasted garlic flavor. I like to remove the roasted cloves, mash them, and then mix them in with the shredded chicken to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the pasta.
- Herbs: The original dish often features fresh basil, which is wonderful. However, feel free to get creative! I often use fresh thyme, tied into a small bundle, as it imparts a beautiful aromatic quality and makes the kitchen smell incredible. Rosemary or oregano would also be fantastic choices, adding their distinct herbaceous notes.
- Salt and Pepper: Proper seasoning is paramount for a dish bursting with flavor. I recommend Kosher salt for its pure taste and coarse texture. Ensure you liberally season the tomatoes and crack fresh black pepper over the feta before it goes into the oven.
- Red Pepper Flakes: A touch of crushed red pepper flakes truly rounds out this dish, adding a subtle warmth and livening up all the other flavors. Adjust the quantity to your preference – from a gentle hint of spice to a more pronounced kick.
- Chicken: For this protein-style version, I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Two 6-ounce breasts are typically sufficient for a family-sized meal. Season them well with salt and pepper before adding them to the baking dish. After roasting, shredding the chicken (which can be easily done in a KitchenAid mixer with the paddle attachment) allows it to blend seamlessly into the creamy pasta.
Building Irresistible Flavor: The One-Pan Magic of Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken
This recipe truly embodies the concept of a “one-pot” (or rather, one-dish) wonder. Its incredible depth of flavor is not accidental; it’s a result of carefully layering ingredients that transform and meld together during the baking process. My addition of chicken not only adds another layer of savory goodness but also provides a satisfying bulk, ensuring this dish functions as a complete, hearty dinner.
Begin by preparing your chicken breasts, seasoning them generously with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Arrange the cherry tomatoes, the block of feta cheese, and the seasoned chicken in a single baking dish. It’s important that your pan isn’t excessively large; the ingredients should be nestled fairly closely, almost touching. This ensures that as they cook, their juices and flavors can easily intermingle and create a more concentrated, richer sauce.
Once everything is arranged, drizzle a generous amount of olive oil over all the ingredients. This is a critical step, as the olive oil helps promote beautiful caramelization and forms the lush base of your sauce. Add your chosen herbs and whole garlic cloves, then gently toss the tomatoes and chicken to ensure they are well-coated with oil and seasonings, leaving the feta block in the center. Place this masterpiece into a preheated oven and let the magic happen.
During the baking process, several distinct layers of flavor will develop. The cherry tomatoes will soften, burst, and caramelize, deepening their sweetness and acquiring a slightly charred, savory edge. The feta cheese will melt into a warm, creamy pool, becoming less salty and more mellow, absorbing the surrounding flavors. The chicken will cook through, releasing its savory juices, which will eventually be absorbed by the pasta, enriching the entire sauce. Finally, the herbs and roasted garlic will infuse the whole dish with their intoxicating aromas and complex flavors. Each component plays an absolutely vital role in contributing to the exquisite taste of the final dish. Never underestimate the power of seasoning; a well-seasoned dish is the difference between “blah” and “wow,” and frankly, no one has time for a bland dinner!
Continue to bake the feta, tomatoes, and chicken until they are beautifully browned and slightly caramelized around the edges. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safety. If your oven doesn’t achieve the desired level of browning naturally, you can finish the dish under a high broiler for an additional 3-5 minutes, keeping a close eye on it to prevent burning.
Bringing it All Together: Serving Your Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken
Once your ingredients are perfectly roasted, it’s time to assemble your delicious meal. Carefully remove the chicken breasts, the bundle of herbs (if used), and the roasted garlic cloves from the baking dish. While the original recipe often calls for mashing the garlic directly into the sauce, I prefer to shred the chicken and garlic together. This can be easily done by hand, but for ultimate convenience, I use my KitchenAid stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Just beat the cooked chicken and garlic cloves in the bowl for about 60 seconds until the chicken is perfectly shredded and the garlic is well dispersed, creating a flavorful chicken mixture.
Now, add your cooked pasta and the crushed red pepper flakes (if using) directly into the baking pan with the warm, melty feta and caramelized tomatoes. Stir vigorously until the feta completely breaks down and combines with the tomato juices and olive oil, transforming into a luxuriously creamy and vibrant sauce. Finally, return the shredded, garlic-infused chicken to the pan and stir everything together until it’s uniformly combined and coated in the irresistible sauce. If the pasta seems a little too thick or dry, especially after cooling slightly, you can always add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water (about ½ cup at a time) to loosen it up and maintain that perfect consistency.
And just like that, your delectable Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken is ready to be devoured! I love serving this dish “Italian restaurant-style” with a generous loaf of crusty artisan bread, perfect for soaking up every last bit of the incredible sauce, perhaps accompanied by a small bowl of high-quality olive oil for dipping. However, the best way to enjoy it is simply how it makes you happiest!
Make it KETO-Friendly: Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken Variation
For those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet, transforming this Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken into a keto-friendly meal is remarkably simple and just as delicious! The key lies in swapping the traditional pasta for baked spaghetti squash. This substitution maintains the comforting “noodle” texture while drastically reducing carbohydrate content.
To prepare your spaghetti squash, simply cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Drizzle the cut sides with a little olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place them cut-side down on a baking tray. Roast in the oven for approximately 45 minutes, or until the flesh is tender enough to be easily pierced with a fork or spoon. The strands will separate easily, mimicking spaghetti.
Once your spaghetti squash is ready, follow the remaining directions for the baked feta and tomatoes. Decide whether you’d like to include the chicken for a protein boost, or keep it vegetarian. Then, simply serve the rich, creamy baked feta and tomato sauce (with or without chicken) over the tender spaghetti squash strands. This variation ensures everyone can enjoy the irresistible flavors of this viral dish!
More Delicious Homestyle Dishes to Explore
If you loved this protein-packed twist on a viral sensation, you’ll surely enjoy these other comforting and flavorful recipes from my kitchen:
- Quick and Classic Homemade Lasagna
- Greek Fries with Chicken
- Mac n’ Cheese Waffles (a unique comfort food)
- Hearty Homemade Sausage Manicotti
- Authentic Restaurant-Style Alfredo Sauce
- Savory Stuffed Butternut Squash
Loved this recipe? I’d be thrilled to hear from you! Please consider leaving a review or comment below. And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get delicious recipes delivered straight to your inbox. You can also follow along with my culinary adventures on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!
📖 Recipe Card
Baked Feta Pasta with Chicken
10 minutes
40 minutes
50 minutes
Inspired by the viral TikTok dish, this is my take on the Baked Feta Pasta, but made protein style, making it a complete and satisfying one-pan dinner!
Ingredients
- ½ lb Gigli Pasta, or your favorite small pasta (e.g., campanelle, penne)
- 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes, the riper the better
- 1Â bundle fresh Thyme sprigs, or basil, rosemary, oregano
- 2-3 cloves fresh Garlic, whole
- 1 block Feta Cheese, about 8oz, full-fat recommended
- 2, 6oz Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, seasoned with salt and pepper
- ½ cup Olive Oil, extra virgin
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (adjust to taste)
- Kosher Salt, to taste
- Fresh Cracked Black Pepper, to taste
- 2 cups reserved pasta water (optional)
Instructions
Notes
If your pasta becomes too thick or dry, especially as it cools, gradually add some of the reserved pasta water (½ cup at a time) until it reaches your desired consistency. I often add about a cup of pasta water to keep it loose and warm when reheating or serving leftovers.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Emile Henry Modern Classics Small Rectangular Baker 11×8, 11 x 8, Sugar White
- Barilla Campanelle Pasta, 16 oz
- Cobram Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil 100% California Select, First Cold Pressed, Non-GMO 750mL, Keto Friendly High in Antioxidants, Made from Californian Olives
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 459Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 540mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 27g
This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram