When everyone reaches for another creamy, cheesy bite, you know dinner was a winner. This Baked Boursin Tomato Pasta packs juicy roasted tomatoes, creamy garlic-herb cheese, tender pasta, and fragrant herbs baked together until rich, silky, and irresistibly flavorful. Every bite is creamy, tangy, savory, and incredibly comforting — perfect for busy weeknight dinners, cozy family meals, or an easy Italian-inspired comfort dish. Serve it with warm garlic bread, a fresh green salad, or extra Parmesan for a dinner everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces (340g) short pasta, such as penne, rigatoni, or fusilli
- 2 pints (about 4 cups) cherry tomatoes, on the vine if possible
- 1 round (5.2 ounces) garlic-herb Boursin cheese
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, plus extra to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly oil a medium baking dish.
- Assemble the bake: Add the cherry tomatoes to the baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Nestle the whole round of Boursin cheese in the center, then scatter over the sliced garlic, chili flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Bake until creamy: Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the tomatoes have burst and softened and the cheese is melted and golden at the edges.
- Cook the pasta: While the tomatoes bake, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Mash into a sauce: Remove the baking dish from the oven and mash the tomatoes and melted Boursin together with a fork until a rich, silky sauce forms.
- Toss everything together: Add the drained pasta to the baking dish and toss until every piece is coated, loosening the sauce with splashes of reserved pasta water until glossy.
- Finish and serve: Stir in the Parmesan and torn basil. Serve hot with extra Parmesan, chili flakes, and warm garlic bread or a fresh green salad on the side.
Pro tip: Keep the tomatoes on the vine for the bake if you can — they roast beautifully and look gorgeous — and don’t skip the reserved pasta water; it turns the melted Boursin into a restaurant-smooth sauce that clings to every piece of pasta.
Estimated nutrition per serving: 450 kcal, 15g protein, 48g carbohydrates, 22g fat.
