Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta: A Flavorful, Easy, and Quick Dinner Recipe

Looking for a dinner recipe that's quick, easy, and packed with flavor? This Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta is the perfect blend of smoky roasted peppers, creamy sauce, and tender pasta. It’s vegetarian, incredibly satisfying, and comes together in less than 30 minutes, making it ideal for weeknights or last-minute gatherings.

Course dinner, lunch, Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword dinner, pasta, spaghetti, vegetarian

Prep Time 35

Cook Time 20

Total Time 55

Servings servings

Calories 375kcal

Ingredients

10-12 oz pasta- use any pasta shape you like; I like spaghetti for this
2 red bell peppers, cut in half and deseeded
2 tomatoes sliced in half
1/2 medium yellow or white onion cut in half
7-8 cloves of garlic
2 tbsp olive oil; divided
2-3 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp Chili flakes
1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
2 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
1-2 tsp Salt as per taste
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/4 tsp sugar
1/2-2/3 cup pasta water
1/2-2/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

Put the oven or air fryer on at 425F. On a lined baking tray or air fryer put tomatoes, peppers, onions, & garlic cloves. Drizzle about 1/2 tbsp of olive oil, salt, and pepper over the veggies.
Roast till the veggies are well cooked. Cook in the oven for 30-35 mins, air fryer for 20-25 minutes. Be sure to flip the veggies over mid-way.
Once they are well roasted, let it cool.
Once cooled puree them in a food processor till smooth. If needed add very little water.
Put water to boil in a saucepan with salt. Boil pasta of your choice till al dente. Keep aside and reserve pasta water.
In a saute pan on medium heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil.
When the oil is warm, add the tomato paste. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the tomato paste is well cooked.
Add the pureed veggies and mix well till combined.
Add salt, pepper chili flakes, sugar, nutmeg powder and pepper. Mix it well.
Add 1/2 of the parsley leaves and cream cheese. Mix well till almost combined.
Add pasta water and let it cook for 1 minute till well combined and bring it to a low simmer.
Add half of the parmesan cheese and mix well till it melts in.
Add the boiled pasta and toss them together. Cook for 3-5 minutes till the pasta is well coated and the sauce thickens. Add more pasta water if needed.
Garnish with the remaining parsley leaves and grated parmesan and serve!

Video

Notes

Tips for the Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta

Use red bell peppers not green!
Use fresh herbs if possible because it makes a world of difference.
You can use pecorino romano instead of parmesan cheese.
You can use light cream cheese.
You can use vegan cream cheese & cheese to make it vegan.

Nutrition