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    Cucina by Elena » Recipes » Italian Main Dishes

    Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Sauce (with ricotta)

    Published: Oct 13, 2021 · Modified: May 26, 2023 by Elena · 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Creamy Ricotta Roasted Red Pepper (No Cook Sauce)- Get a nutrient-rich, flavor-packed dinner on the table in 20 minutes with this Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Pasta. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners and it is loved by children and adults!

    This is one of my favorite easy go-to pasta recipes for a busy weeknight. I serve it with Fast Italian No Knead Ciabatta Bread and a simple salad. If you want to serve it as a side pair it with: Best Baked Salmon with Pesto Recipe (Easy) or Crispy Baked Cod with Panko Recipe.

    plate with red pepper pasta and sauce
    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Simple Ingredients
    • No cook pasta sauce!
    • How To Make Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
    • Simple Italian inspired meals
    • Whipped Ricotta Cheese
    • Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
    • Can I use gluten free pasta?
    • Creamy Ricotta Recipes
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Creamy Ricotta and Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

    Why this recipe works

    Ready for this no cook creamy ricotta and roasted bell pepper sauce that comes together in minutes? It is your next easy and flavorful meal!

    This pasta sauce combines roasted red bell peppers, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, ricotta and basil for loads of flavor and pure comfort.

    Simple Ingredients

    • Ricotta cheese - smooth, mild, and creamy
    • Garlic - a little kick of flavor
    • Fresh basil - for that Italian-inspired pasta sauce taste!
    • Olive oil - I recommend using a good quality oil since this is a no cook sauce and the fragrance of the olive oil will shine.
    • Canned roasted peppers - the star of the show- make sure you purchase a quality trusted brand
    • Sun dried tomatoes - these will bring out and complement the flavor of the red peppers
    • Pasta of choice - I like short or long pasta for this recipe as both will coat the pasta beautifully
    • Reserved pasta water - the secret to creating a binder for the pasta and the sauce
    • Fresh chopped parsley for garnish - a little green to brighten the presentation

    No cook pasta sauce!

    You will love how easy this sauce is to make. No cooking involved! All you need is a blender and quality ingredients and your sauce is ready in a matter or minutes. Mangia!

    red pepper pasta on a white plate with a fork.

    How To Make Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

    Smoky, sweet and slightly tangy, jarred roasted red peppers create the most delicious pasta sauce! Here, we use this pantry favorite to make a simple homemade pasta sauce taste restaurant-worthy.

    This roasted red pepper sauce is so fast, it feels like cheating. If you can open a jar and open a carton, you can make this creamy roasted red pepper pasta sauce. Here’s what you do:

    1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
    2. Add your pasta and boil until it is al dente. We usually begin to taste for doneness after six minutes. Read how to make pasta like an Italian!
    3. While the pasta cooks, combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
    4. Before draining the pasta reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta water to the blender and pulse a few more times.
    5.  Remove the sauce from the blender and place in a large serving bowl. Toss immediately with hot pasta. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve hot! Mangia! (Eat!)

    Simple Italian inspired meals

    One of my goals with creating recipes is to inspire people to make home cooked meals on a regular basis, give them ideas of what to make, and empower them to actually do it by showing them it’s not so difficult.

    I love bringing simple Italian flavors to your homes in any way I can to make life easier and bring you delicious tasting recipe you can create!

    red pepper pasta on a white plate with a fork.

    Whipped Ricotta Cheese

    Whipping ricotta in the food processor or blender transforms it into an incredibly smooth, spreadable cheese.

    All the ingredients get tossed in a blender and whipped until a rich and creamy red pepper sauce form. It is a luxurious coating for pasta or even used as a dip!

    Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

    Yes! Make the sauce ahead and store in an air tight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Add the reserved pasta water when ready to make and serve. Dinner is pronto (ready)!

    red pepper pasta on a white plate with a fork.

    Can I use gluten free pasta?

    Absolutely! We don't eat a lot of gluten free pasta since we don't have any dietary restrictions.

    Since I know many do, there are plenty of great options out there to try with this sauce. Sub chickpea pasta or any other gluten-free pasta of your choice.

    Read this article for how to pair pasta and sauces.

    Creamy Ricotta Recipes

    More ricotta recipes to try: Italian Frittata Recipe with Peas and Ricotta, Easy Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Capers, and Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna with Tomato Sauce.

    If you love sweets try these- BEST Authentic Sicilian Cannoli Recipe and Sweet Ricotta Pie!

    Serving Suggestions

    This recipe is a perfect side dish for BEST Breaded Chicken Cutlets (Italian) or Best Italian Stuffed Chicken Thighs (Involtini di Pollo). Serve with a simple salad and side of bread. Enjoy!

    Made with Amore, Elena

    From my Cucina to your Table, Mangia! Mangia! (Eat!) 

    More delicious recipes for you…

    • Easy Italian Sausage and Peppers Recipe (Skillet)
    • Gemelli Pasta Recipe with Tomatoes and Mascarpone
    • Rigatoni Pasta Eggplant Tomatoes Mozzarella
    • Creamy Sausage Baked Ziti “White Baked Ziti”
    • Chicken Skillet Creamy Chive Mascarpone Sauce
    red pepper pasta on a white plate with a fork.

    Make sure to leave a ⭐️star rating on the recipe card and comment below if you make the recipe. I love to connect with you through my recipes.

    I would love for you to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena so I can see your delicious Italian recipes. To get more ideas, follow me on Pinterest.

    Print
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    Roasted red pepper pasta (no cook sauce) on a plate

    Creamy Ricotta and Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

    ★★★★★

    5 from 6 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Get a nutrient-rich, flavor-packed dinner on the table in 20 minutes with this Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Pasta. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners and it loved by children and adults! This pasta sauce combines roasted red bell peppers, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, ricotta and basil for loads of flavor and pure comfort. 

    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 lb (454 g) pasta of choice
    • 1 clove garlic, crushed
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 16 oz (454 g) container of whole milk ricotta cheese
    • 1 12 ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained and rinsed
    • 1 tablespoon fresh basil, torn my hand
    • ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes (variety packed in oil)
    • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
    • ½ cup reserved pasta water
    • fresh chopped parsley for garnish

    Instructions

    1.  In a blender place the garlic, herbs, peppers, sun dried tomatoes, olive oil, salt, and ricotta cheese. Blend for 2 minutes or until silky smooth in the food processor or blender, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container once or twice with a spatula*. Leave sauce in the blender for later use when adding the reserved pasta water.
    2. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to boil. Generously salt the water and taste it. It should taste salty like the sea. Cook pasta according to package directions. Before draining the pasta reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta water to the blender and pulse a few more times.
    3.  Remove the sauce from the blender and place in a large serving bowl. Toss immediately with hot pasta. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve hot! Mangia! (Eat!)

    Notes

    *Make the sauce ahead and store in an air tight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Add the reserved pasta water when ready to make and serve.

    • Author: Elena Davis
    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Savory
    • Method: Italian
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Keywords: red peppers, pasta, easy meal, roasted red peppers, garlic, Italian recipe, main meal, side dish

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cucinabyelena on Instagram when you make the recipe! I would love to see it. Don't forget to leave a STAR RATING and REVIEW on this post. Thank you!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hallie Wise says

      June 19, 2023 at 6:43 pm

      One of my very favorite meals! So delicious & so easy!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        June 19, 2023 at 8:27 pm

        Happy you love it! So easy too!

        Reply
    2. Ashley says

      June 19, 2023 at 6:28 pm

      Loved this simple but flavorful dish! My kids couldn’t get enough of it, perfect for a rushed weeknight. I’ve also had family over and served this dish with bruschetta and salad and everyone asked for the recipe. This is a must try recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        June 19, 2023 at 8:27 pm

        I love how easy it is! We've added grilled shrimp on the side and it is so yummy too.

        Reply
    3. Amanda says

      May 27, 2023 at 1:36 pm

      This sauce is delicious and so easy to make. Packs a nice punch of flavor. I love the little tang it has. Another great one Elena!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        May 28, 2023 at 8:28 am

        Yes! So easy to make too! Thank you.

        Reply
    4. Martha says

      April 16, 2023 at 6:32 pm

      So easy and so creamy! Was looking for a quick pasta for dinner that had a new element for my kiddos to try. Creating pink sauce makes red peppers easy for kids. I made it with rigatoni, next time I’ll use a slightly smaller shape like penne I think. We added peas and sprinkled with feta cheese on top.
      I warmed up some mini pita breads to dip in the sauce on the side. So yum.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        April 17, 2023 at 10:40 am

        Yay! So happy everyone loved it! I love your additions to the dish.

        Reply
    5. Dani says

      October 08, 2022 at 9:07 pm

      Delicious and super easy!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        October 09, 2022 at 12:59 pm

        Happy you loved it, Dani!

        Reply
    6. Nicky says

      February 01, 2022 at 11:17 pm

      The sauce was so easy, I couldn't believe how delicious it turned out. I made a batch to keep at work and throw on pasta for an easy lunch.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        March 03, 2022 at 7:35 pm

        I love it as a dip too!

        Reply

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    Ciao! I'm Elena. Welcome to my cucina (kitchen). I was born in Italy and grew up spending my summers on the beaches of Sardegna cooking, eating, and sharing tasty Italian meals. Here you will find trusted, achievable, and delicious Italian (and more) recipes that highlight fresh ingredients with a simple process.

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