This easy, creamy roasted red pepper pasta adds some goat cheese, cream and Parmesan to the mix, for a delicious, flavourful dish that’s ready in just about 30 minutes!

roasted red pepper pasta on plate with basil

This roasted red pepper pasta is one of my favourites! It combines roasted red peppers (jarred or home-roasted) with creamy goat cheese to make a perfect sauce that goes well with any pasta.

I’ve used rigatoni here, but it is equally good with other short pasta, such as penne or try it with spaghetti or linguini. If you’re looking for a straight-up roasted red pepper pasta sauce, with no tomatoes needed, this is it!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Roasted Red Peppers – you can use store-bought jarred roasted red peppers, or make your own roasted red peppers from fresh. Instructions for making your own roasted red peppers included below.

Cream – I find 10% Half and Half Cream perfect for this dish. Just creamy enough, without being too rich. You can approximate half and half cream by combining equal parts of whole milk and heavy cream.

Pasta – this sauce works nicely with short or long pasta, so use whatever pasta you have or enjoy. I’ve used rigatoni here.

Step-by-Step Photos

Here’s a quick walk-through of the steps to make this delicious pasta. Always refer to the complete instructions in the Recipe Card below when making the pasta.

photo collage of steps to make creamy roasted red pepper pasta 1

1. Start pasta boiling in a large pot of salted water before you start your sauce. The sauce comes together quickly, so it will be ready by the time your pasta is!

2. Start the sauce by softening onion and garlic in a little olive oil, together with a pinch of red pepper flakes.

3. Add roasted red peppers, cream, goat cheese and Parmesan and heat just until melted. Do not allow the sauce to boil.

photo collage of steps to make creamy roasted red pepper pasta 2

4. Remove sauce to a small bowl and puree with an immersion blender (or puree in a blender).

*It would be nice if we could puree the sauce right in the pan, but the sauce is a thin layer and most immersion blenders won’t work well if you can’t submerge it into the sauce. I find it best to quickly remove the sauce to a small bowl, making a deeper sauce, that can be pureed easily.

5. Return sauce to pan and add cooked, drained pasta.

6. Season well with salt and pepper and serve garnished with chopped, fresh basil and additional Parmesan.

Recipe Video

How to roast your own red peppers

Preheat oven to 450F. Cut the sides off the bell peppers and place onto a baking sheet skin side up. Roast in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the skin is very blackened. *Be sure the skin is very blackened, so the skin will come away easily after roasting. Remove from oven and let stand a 3-4 minutes, then use a sharp knife to peel the blackened skins off. Discard skin. Use right away, or transfer to an air-tight container and refrigerate up to 1 week. I like to toss in a little olive oil if making ahead and refrigerating.

roasted red pepper pasta on plate with basil

Top Tip

Don’t skip the fresh basil for garnish. It’s really more than a garnish, as the flavour pairs perfectly with the sauce. I’ve used the leaves here, for photos, but ideally, you’ll just chiffonade it (stack the leaves, roll them up from the long side into a tight roll and then thinly slice) and sprinkle over the top, along with the Parmesan.

creamy roasted red pepper pasta on plate with basil leaves

Get the Recipe: Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Easy and delicious creamy roasted red pepper pasta, with goat cheese, cream and Parmesan.
5 stars from 5 ratings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 3 servings

Ingredients

  • 5 - 5 1/2 oz dried pasta, *see Note 1
  • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, sliced (not minced)
  • 2 Tablespoons onion, finely diced
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • 6 Tablespoons half and half cream, 10% b.f., *see Note 2
  • 2 1/2 oz goat cheese, (70g or 1/2 small log)
  • 6 Tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, roughly chopped *see Note 3
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

Garnish:

  • Fresh basil, chopped or chiffonade cut
  • Additional freshly grated Parmesan

Instructions
 

  • Start a large pot of water boiling for the pasta and salt generously. When boiling, add the pasta and cook to al dente.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet on the stove-top over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, just until onion softens, but doesn't brown. Add cream, goat cheese, Parmesan and roasted red peppers and cook, stirring, just until the cheese melts and you have a smooth sauce. Do not allow sauce to boil. Reduce heat, if necessary. Once sauce is smooth, turn heat off under the skillet. Remove sauce to a small bowl and puree with an immersion blender or alternately, transfer to a blender to puree.
  • Return pureed sauce to the skillet. When pasta is ready, turn heat on under the skillet to medium and add the cooked, drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. (If you didn't weigh the pasta amount to start, be sure you don't add too much pasta to the sauce, so add in portions and stirring between, adding only as much pasta as will allow the pasta to be well coated with sauce). Cook the sauce and pasta together for 2 minutes. Taste sauce, then season with salt, as needed (and it will need some), and some freshly ground black pepper.
  • Serve garnished with fresh basil and additional freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

1. You can use a short of long pasta with this sauce. I've used rigatoni here. Penne, rotini or farfalle (bowtie) are also good options for short pasta. This sauce also works well with long pasta - linguini or spaghetti.
2. Half and half cream is 10% b.f. You can also use heavy cream, for a richer sauce, or make your own half and half substitute by using half whole milk and half heavy cream.
3. You can use store-bought, jarred roasted red peppers or make your own roasted red peppers from fresh red bell peppers. See above this Recipe Card for instructions on how to roast your own red peppers.
Be sure to read the information above this Recipe Card, for more tips on making this recipe.
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Course: Pasta
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 558kcal, Carbohydrates: 78g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 585mg, Potassium: 323mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 550IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 217mg, Iron: 2mg
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