Baked Feta Pasta — The Recipe That Broke the Internet (and Grocery Stores)

In January 2021, Finnish food blogger Jenni Häyrinen posted a simple baked feta pasta recipe. By February, it had been recreated millions of times on TikTok. By March, grocery stores across America were literally running out of feta cheese. This is that recipe.

Why It Works

It shouldn’t be this good for this little effort. But the oven does all the work — roasting concentrates the tomato sweetness, turns the feta into a creamy sauce, and caramelizes the garlic. You barely have to cook.

The Mistakes Everyone Makes

Using pre-crumbled feta. It’s dried out and won’t melt into a sauce. You need a solid block — ideally one packed in brine.

Not reserving pasta water. The starchy pasta water is what turns the mashed feta from chunky to silky. Add it gradually.

Overcooking the pasta. It keeps cooking when you toss it in the hot dish. Pull it 1 minute before al dente.

Variations That Also Went Viral

• Pesto version: Add a layer of pesto under the feta before roasting
• Spicy version: Use a habanero feta or add diced jalapeños to the tomatoes
• Protein add: Toss in roasted chickpeas or Italian sausage after baking