Roasted Red Pepper Pasta (Printable)

Silky roasted red pepper sauce coats tender pasta in this vibrant, easy Italian-inspired dish perfect for weeknight dinners.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

02 - 2 large red bell peppers or 12 oz jarred roasted red peppers, drained
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

11 - Fresh basil leaves, torn
12 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese

# How to Make It:

01 - If using fresh red bell peppers, roast them over an open flame or under the broiler until the skin is charred. Place in a bowl, cover, and let steam for 10 minutes. Peel, deseed, and roughly chop.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the roasted red peppers to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes, then transfer the mixture to a blender or use an immersion blender directly in the pan. Blend until completely smooth.
05 - Return the sauce to the skillet over low heat. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, oregano, and red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and black pepper. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick.
06 - Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss gently to coat evenly.
07 - Divide among serving bowls and garnish immediately with fresh torn basil and additional grated Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant fancy but comes together faster than ordering takeout.
  • The sauce is silky and sweet without being heavy, and leftovers somehow taste even better the next day.
  • You can toss in whatever protein or vegetables you have lying around and it still works.
02 -
  • Don't dump all the pasta water in at once, add it a splash at a time or your sauce will go from creamy to soupy.
  • If you blend the sauce while it's still screaming hot without venting the blender lid, it will explode all over your ceiling, trust me on this.
03 -
  • Char your peppers until they're almost black, the burnt bits add a smokiness you can't get any other way.
  • Toss the pasta in the sauce over low heat for a minute before serving so it absorbs the flavor instead of just sitting in it.
  • If you want it vegan, swap the cream for coconut cream and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan, it's shockingly close.
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