Change up your pasta game by stepping away from the usual tomato and whipping up this Roasted Red Pepper Pasta instead! It's the perfect blend of smokey, savory, and absolutely delicious.
Hi friends and happy MONDAY! Phew, spring break is just a week away and I am so ready. My recipe today won't do your bikini bod any favors, but it sure is delicious. This Roasted Red Pepper Pasta is so tasty that it'll blow you away! I'm an ~okay~ fan of peppers, so I wasn't expecting this to be too spectacular. The fact that I'm now seriously obsessed should be enough proof that it's GOOD stuff! And it's easy, too. Let's make it!
Like I said - this roasted red pepper pasta is easy. You roast your red peppers in the oven until the skins are blackened and crackly and the peppers are soft. Then you sauté some garlic and onion with olive oil until soft and fragrant. And then, throw everything in a blender with some cream and parmesan and my friend, you are all done. This roasted red pepper pasta strikes the perfect balance between smokey, savory, and just a little sweet. I'm not a huge fan of super smokey flavors as it sometimes feels like you're just eating a mouthful of ash (LOL) but this is juuuust smokey enough to pique your interest. 😉
So just before I let you go, I have some exciting news!!! Some of y'all may know that I've been engaged for-EVER because I'm in PA school and my fiance was in medical school. Well, he just finished up and he got his match for residency... IN DALLAS! Which is where I am! Which means now I can finally start planning this stupid wedding. Aaaah. Let me just exhale a big sigh of relief. Also this means I can start sharing more wedding things as they start happening which should be fun 🙂 Stay tuned for more!
I hope you guys try out this roasted red pepper pasta soon! I can't emphasize it enough, it is SO STINKIN GOOD. If you're looking for more easy pasta recipes, check out my Creamy Tomato Sauce, Avocado Pesto Pasta, Tomato Kale Spaghetti, and Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Macaroni. Happy cooking!
FAQ
- Can I use store-bought roasted red peppers instead? Absolutely! To be honest with you - I only made the roasted peppers from scratch the first time I made this recipe. I've used jarred every other time since and they work perfectly in here. I do recommend rinsing them first to wash off any excess salt/sodium before using.
- I'm vegan - how can I make this recipe? It's super simple to make this roasted red pepper pasta vegan-friendly! I like using canned coconut milk in place of the heavy cream. For the parmesan, you can use nutritional yeast or your favorite vegan parm (I like Violife and Follow Your Heart). A shredded mozzarella-style cheese works well too!
- Can I make this gluten free? Yup! Super easy - just use your favorite gluten-free pasta in the recipe. I love Banza for some extra protein!
roasted red pepper pasta
Ingredients
- 2 red bell peppers washed and dried
- ½ white onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese dairy or vegan-friendly
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1-2 teaspoon salt to taste
- 1 lb pasta of choice
Instructions
- First, roast the peppers. Turn on the broiler to 450F, place the peppers (whole) on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil, and place right under the broiler. Cook, turning every few minutes, until peppers are soft and skins are blackened and blistered.
- When ready, remove from oven and close the foil up tightly. This will create some steam and that will help peel the peppers more easily.
- When peppers are cool enough to handle, carefully remove the skins and discard the seeds and green core.
- Add the peppers to a food processor, along with the veggies, seasonings, parmesan, and cream. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- In a medium saucepan, add the olive oil and heat over medium-low. Add in your red pepper sauce and cook for 10-15 minutes to heat and thicken.
- Cook pasta according to package directions, toss with the prepared sauce, and enjoy!
Sheila says
Anything with cheese, pepper, and pasta definitely interests me. I would love to try these. Any tips on how to smoke it just right and not make it taste like ash?
valentina says
Thanks for your comment Sheila! I agree; pepper, pasta, and cheese are always a great combination 🙂 I would say to just watch your peppers as you are roasting them! You want the skin to blister and have some black spots but you don't want them to be completely burnt, as that will definitely make it taste more ashy than smokey!
Adina says
I used to make a very similar sauce ages ago all the time. Thank you for the reminder, I will definitely make it again soon, I think the only difference is that I wasn't using any paprika. But that's a great addition to any dish, so I should try it. Congratulations on your coming wedding!
valentina says
Thank you so much for your comment, Adina! 🙂 We really liked this! The paprika adds just a tiny bit of extra smoky flavor to make it extra special. I hope you enjoy! And thank you! <3