Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta (Printable)

Silky sauce blends roasted peppers with cream, smoked paprika, and Parmesan for a comforting 30-minute pasta dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine

→ Sauce

02 - 1 (12 oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained
03 - 2 tbsp 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 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

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

# How To Make:

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.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 4–5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook for another 1 minute.
03 - Transfer sautéed onion and garlic to a blender or food processor. Add drained roasted red peppers, heavy cream, Parmesan, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Blend until smooth and creamy.
04 - Return the sauce to the skillet over low-medium heat. Simmer for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.
05 - Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat with sauce. If needed, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to achieve desired consistency. Serve immediately, garnished with basil or parsley and extra Parmesan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in under 15 minutes using pantry staples
  • It tastes like a restaurant dish but costs a fraction of the price
  • The roasted pepper flavor is naturally sweet and smoky without any added sugar
02 -
  • Reserve that pasta water before draining, it is liquid gold that helps emulsify the sauce and makes it cling to the pasta
  • Blend the sauce longer than you think necessary, any tiny chunks will make the final texture feel less velvety
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it stands off heat, so remove it from the stove when it looks slightly looser than you want
03 -
  • Use a high speed blender if you have one, it creates the smoothest, most luxurious texture
  • Warm your cream slightly before adding it to the blender if your kitchen is cold, this helps prevent the sauce from separating
  • Grate your Parmesan from a wedge if possible, pre grated cheese contains cellulose that can make sauce grainy
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