Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

After testing dozens of methods, I’ve perfected a roasted red pepper pasta sauce that’s silkier than traditional cream-based sauces, yet half the calories. My family now requests this over regular pasta dishes, and it takes just 15 minutes to make.

Why Most Recipes Disappoint

Common roasted pepper pasta recipes often turn out watery, grainy, or lacking depth. They miss crucial steps in pepper preparation and pasta finishing techniques that make restaurant versions so incredible.

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Perfect Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound pasta (rigatoni or penne)
• 2 jars roasted red peppers (16 oz total)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Salt and black pepper
• Fresh basil

Game-Changing Process

1. Pepper Prep:

• Drain and pat peppers completely dry
• Rough chop (no need for precision)
• Quick roast with garlic (5 minutes)

1. Sauce Magic:

• Blend peppers and garlic until smooth
• Add cream while blending
• Strain through fine-mesh sieve (crucial step!)

1. Pasta Perfection:

• Cook pasta 1 minute less than package directions
• Reserve 1 cup pasta water
• Finish cooking in sauce

Secret Tips Nobody Shares

1. The “Double-Roast” Method: Quick-roasting drained jarred peppers intensifies flavor and removes excess moisture.
2. The “Emulsion Trick”: Add pasta water gradually while stirring to create a glossy, restaurant-style sauce.
3. Temperature Control: Finish pasta over medium-high heat to properly emulsify the sauce.

Quick Wins for Today

• Use jarred peppers (versus roasting fresh)
• Prep sauce while pasta cooks
• Make extra sauce and freeze

Pro Tips for Success

1. Never rinse your pasta
2. Salt pasta water heavily
3. Finish with good olive oil

Make-Ahead Magic

The sauce keeps perfectly for 5 days:

• Store in airtight container
• Reheat gently
• Add fresh pasta water when reheating

This recipe has converted even the pickiest eaters. It’s now my most-requested dinner party dish and my go-to for impressing guests with minimal effort.

The best part? It’s incredibly versatile. Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or keep it vegetarian. The silky sauce works beautifully with any protein or vegetable addition.

Save this recipe for your next pasta night.

Questions about perfecting your sauce? Drop them in the comments!