TikTok Pasta with Broccoli & Bacon

 This deliciously creamy baked cheese pasta has been all the rage on TikTok and Instagram. Super simple to make and so delicious, your family will have you making it time and time again.

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Keeping up with all the social media trends at my age can be exhausting. Every week there seems to be a new TikTok dance, a new Instagram challenge, or a new recipe that blows up the internet. That was the case with this Baked Feta and Tomato Pasta which originated on TikTok. For months I've been hearing about this recipe and how delicious it is. My friends have made it. Some of my family has made it. All with rave reviews. The thing with me is, I am not really one to hop onto trends. I'd rather march to the beat of my own drum, rather than copy every trend going around. BUT this trend I had to try.

What is TikTok Pasta?

I am not 100% who first posted this recipe video on TikTok. Basically the concept is that you place grape tomatoes in a baking dish, with garlic, a block of feta cheese and herbs. You then throw the dish in the oven, to roast the tomatoes. Once the tomatoes are roasted and the cheese is nutty and melty, you toss in some cooked pasta and bam! Dinner is ready!

For years now, I've been making something similar to this on the stove top, using grape tomatoes and throwing in some shredded cheddar, rather than using feta. It is one of our favourite quick meals, so I was pretty sure we'd enjoy the TikTok pasta. Only one little problem.... my daughter does not like feta cheese. Plus one small piece of feta costs about $5.99 here in Canada, and for it to equal the amount in the video, it would cost me $15 in cheese. No thank you! So I had resigned myself to never trying this trend that everyone was so crazy about. Then I had a brilliant idea, as I was shopping for a charcuterie board. BOURSIN cheese!

What is Boursin Cheese?

Boursin is a type of Gournay Cheese, which is a creamy cheese, somewhat similar to cream cheese. Garlic and Fine Herbs was the first flavour of Boursin cheese, which was created in 1957, by Francois Boursin. It was first produced in Normandy and at one time was exclusively made in Croisy-sur-Eure, France. In 1990 the Boursin name was purchased by Unilever and it has been available in Canada and the U.S ever since. While Garlic and Fine Herbs is the original flavour, you can also purchase flavours such as Pepper, Fig & Walnut, Shallot and Chive, and a few other seasonal flavours. 

How do I make TikTok Pasta?

This recipe could not be any easier! The complete recipe with measurements can be found below. Firstly you place grape tomatoes in a casserole dish with garlic, onion, broccoli and Boursin cheese. Then you drizzle everything with olive oil and season with salt, pepper and herbs. Pop the casserole dish in the oven and bake until tomatoes are nicely roasted and have burst. 

While the tomatoes roast in the oven, bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook your desired cut of pasta, according to package directions. Reserve a bit of pasta water before draining the cooked pasta. Toss the hot pasta with the roast tomato and cheese mixture and voila, dinner is ready!

Tips for making the perfect TikTok Pasta

Use grape or cherry tomatoes- this recipe works best with grape or cherry tomatoes, The skins get roasted and slightly sweet and when they pop, the juices create a luscious tomato sauce. 

Save some pasta water- this is my favourite trick, when I cook pasta and make my own sauce. If the sauce is too dry when I toss in the pasta, I add in some starchy pasta water, to create a looser, more moist, silky sauce.

Use the cheese you prefer- in my recipe I am using Boursin, because my daughter does not care for Feta. I've also heard of people using cream cheese. While I can not attest to how good the feta and cream cheese versions are; the Boursin version is amazing!

Add in some extras- I wanted to jazz up my dinner, so I decided to add some broccoli to my tomatoes, before throwing them in the oven. I wanted to use some of the fresh Lemon Thyme I am growing, so I threw in a few sprigs of that as well. I also had leftover bacon in the fridge and added it in for some smoky saltiness. 

Use your favourite pasta- in this recipe I used Penne, but this would also be great using Farfale, Macaroni, even Rigattoni. You could even make this low carb by using zucchini noodles!

PIN IT!!!

 

Equipment needed for this recipe

• casserole dish, or dutch oven
• large pot for pasta
• measuring cups and spoons
• strainer/colander
• wooden spoon or spatula

TikTok Pasta with Broccoli & Bacon

1 lb penne pasta

1/2 C olive oil

2 pints grape tomatoes (20-24 oz)

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

1 bunch of broccoli, cut into florets (about 3 cups)

5 sprigs fresh thyme (I used lemon thyme)

1 tsp dried basil

1 pkg Boursin Garlic and Fine Herb flavour

4 slices bacon, crumbled

pink sea salt and fresh ground pepper

fresh grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 

Place tomatoes, garlic, onion and broccoli in a casserole dish. Drizzle with 1/2 C olive oil and season with basil, salt and pepper. Toss to thoroughly coat tomatoes and broccoli. Nestle the Boursin cheese in the center and drizzle with a touch more olive oil. Add in thyme springs and place casserole dish in oven, baking for 30-40 minutes; until tomatoes burst and Boursin begins to brown.

While tomatoes are roasting, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in pasta and cook according to package directions, or to al dente. Reserve 1 C pasta cooking water, before draining pasta in a colander. Return the pasta to the hot pot.

Once tomato and broccoli is roasted, fish out the thyme sprigs and dump contents of the casserole dish into the pot with the pasta. Add in crumbled bacon and toss pasta to coat thoroughly, adding pasta water if too dry. Top with fresh grated Parmesan before serving.

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