Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta (Printer-Friendly)

Velvety roasted red pepper sauce coats tender pasta in this quick, budget-friendly Italian-inspired dish. Vegetarian and weeknight-ready.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine

→ Sauce

02 - 1 (12 oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley
12 - Additional Parmesan cheese for serving

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain in a colander.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Transfer sautéed onion and garlic to a blender or food processor. Add drained roasted red peppers, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Blend until smooth and creamy.
04 - Return the sauce to the skillet over low-medium heat. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
05 - Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly with sauce. If needed, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil or parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in under 10 minutes and tastes like something from a restaurant
  • Everything goes into one blender so cleanup is minimal
  • The smoky sweetness from the peppers makes even basic pasta feel special
02 -
  • The sauce thickens quickly as it cools so add more pasta water than you think you need while its still hot in the pan
  • Blending hot mixtures can cause explosions so either vent your blender or let it cool for just a minute
  • The sauce keeps beautifully for days and actually tastes better the next time around
03 -
  • Room temperature cream blends more smoothly than cold straight from the fridge
  • If your sauce looks too pink, a tiny pinch of turmeric fixes the color without changing the flavor
  • Grate your own Parmesan because pre grated has anti caking agents that make sauce grainy
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