This creamy tomato pasta recipe is for the goat cheese lovers! Tomato and goat cheese pasta is the perfect easy, creamy, and sorta-fancy meal and it makes the perfect quick dinner for busy weeknights. Despite its simplicity, this restaurant quality meal is little bit tangy and whole lot delicious! This is the perfect pasta to throw into your regular rotation.
As far as soft-cheeses go, I'm a goat cheese girl all the way. I prefer it over feta because I love its subtle tang. The tangy, yet savory flavor pairs so well with cooked down tomatoes and garlic, and it melds together for a such a creamy pasta sauce!
Not to be mistaken with the viral TikTok baked feta pasta, this recipe bakes the tomatoes and garlic, but adds the goat cheese in cold, so it emulsifies into the sauce perfectly.
If you're looking for a vegan-friendly delicious recipe like this tomato pasta, try my Tomato Coconut Milk Pasta!
- Simple ingredients - Minimal ingredients required. Just pasta, tomatoes, goat cheese, garlic, and some oil and seasoning! This is one of those easy pasta recipes that you'll add to your weekly dinner menu.
- Bursting with Flavor - The tomatoes and garlic are roasted which brings out such a unique sweetness and the goat cheese just makes the flavor burst!
- Versatile - If you want to branch outside of the staple ingredients, feel free to add other things to this easy recipe. Add extra veggies or herbs like spinach, broccoli, or basil for extra fiber. Add chicken or tofu for extra protein. The best part of any dish is making it your own!
What you need for this recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions:
- Pasta - Use any pasta shape you like! I prefer spaghetti for this, and I used fresh pasta. Any boxed or fresh pasta is fine, and gluten-free works too.
- Cherry Tomatoes - I recommend using red cherry tomatoes, but the flavor will still be good if using any small, fresh tomatoes. Grape tomatoes can work too, but they may need to roast a bit longer.
- Goat Cheese - I just used plain goat cheese. However, if you would like to use an herbed goat cheese, go ahead! Just make sure it isn't a sweet-flavored cheese.
- Garlic - Whole garlic cloves work best, though you can mince it or slice it if you choose. Do not use jarred pre-minced garlic.
- Olive Oil - For roasting the tomatoes. Extra virgin olive oil is best for richness and flavor.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 350ºF/175ºC.
Peel film off of the garlic cloves, but leave them whole.
Add olive oil, tomatoes, garlic to an oven safe baking dish.
Step 2: Cook & Bake
Place the baking dish in the oven at 350ºF for 35 minutes, stirring about halfway through.
Once there are about 10-15 minutes remaining on the 35 minute timer, cook pasta according to box or package instructions. Al dente pasta is best for this dish. I recommend adding sea salt to your pasta water for extra flavor.
Drain cooked pasta and reserve a small amount of starchy pasta water, in case you need to thin the sauce later.
Step 3: Finishing Touches
Once the 35 minutes are up, the garlic should be soft and the tomatoes should be slightly burst or "deflated" looking.
To the drained pasta in a large skillet or pot add the roasted tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil that it was cooked in.
Stir to combine with the pasta.
Add in the goat cheese. I recommend crumbling or cutting it into pieces before adding.
Continue to stir until the cheese is all melted and combined.
If necessary, add pasta water to thin.
Add salt, black pepper and any other seasonings you like. Red pepper flakes add a nice kick! Adjust to taste.
Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot and enjoy!
Expert Tips and Tricks:
- I recommend using cherry tomatoes. Note that grape tomatoes will work, but may need longer roasting time.
- This is a recipe for goat cheese pasta, however, I believe feta will work too! I don't recommend substituting for anything other than feta though.
- Using a flavored or herbed goat cheese is perfectly fine, just ensure that you do not use a sweetened goat cheese.
- Pasta cooking water is a great way to achieve the perfect consistency for your sauce. If your creamy tomato sauce is a little too thick, add some starchy pasta water until the sauce reaches the desired texture. The starchiness of the water can also make it a great thickening agent in smaller quantities!
Recipe FAQs
Goat cheese is a great melting cheese because it doesn't have the elasticity that mozzarella has and it also doesn't "roast" the way feta would. It melts perfectly in the oven or on a stove.
Goat cheese is naturally pretty tangy, so it goes really well with softer and sweeter flavors. Goat cheese is often paired with honey or blueberries or figs, but also with things like roasted tomatoes.
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this tomato goat cheese pasta should last up to 1 week. Your leftover tomato pasta makes a great side served with a fresh grilled protein. Always inspect for impurities before eating.
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📖 Recipe
Tomato Goat Cheese Pasta
Ingredients
- 10 oz Cherry tomatoes
- 3-4 Garlic cloves peeled, left whole
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- 4 oz Pasta long pasta recommended
- 4 oz Goat cheese plain
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt more to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF/175ºC.
- Peel film off of the garlic cloves, but leave them whole.
- Add olive oil, tomatoes, garlic to an oven safe baking dish.
- Place the baking dish in the oven at 350ºF for 35 minutes, stirring about halfway through.
- Once there are about 10-15 minutes remaining on the 35 minute timer, boil your pasta according to box or package instructions.
- Drain cooked pasta and reserve a small amount of pasta water, in case you need to thin the sauce later.
- Once the 35 minutes are up, the garlic should be soft and the tomatoes should be slightly burst or "deflated" looking.
- To the drained pasta in a large pot or pan, add the roasted tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil that it was cooked in.
- Stir to combine with the pasta.
- Add in the goat cheese. I recommend crumbling or cutting it into pieces before adding.
- Continue to stir until the cheese is all melted and combined.
- If necessary, add pasta water to thin.
- Add salt and any other seasonings you like. Adjust to taste.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- I recommend using cherry tomatoes. Note that grape tomatoes will work, but may need longer roasting time.
- This is a recipe for goat cheese pasta, however, I believe feta will work too! I don't recommend substituting for anything other than feta though.
- Using a flavored or herbed goat cheese is perfectly fine, just ensure that you do not use a sweetened goat cheese.
Laura says
I just made this; so good and easy. I added some fresh spinach to mine right at the end. I will definitely make again!