Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta Bake
Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta Bake is a comforting and flavorful dish that brings out the best of Mediterranean-inspired ingredients in every bite. Roasted vegetables, fresh basil, spinach, and melty mozzarella come together in a creamy sauce that hugs every twist of pasta. This oven-baked pasta is perfect for cozy weeknight dinners, family gatherings, or even a casual date night at home. It’s satisfying, veggie-packed, and easy to make ahead.
Ingredients
For the roasted vegetables:
- 4 capia peppers or red bell peppers
- 4 medium ripe tomatoes
- 1 large onion cut into quarters
- 1 whole garlic bulb just cut off the top
- 2 –3 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: smoked paprika oregano, chili flakes
For the pasta:
- 350 –400 g 12–14 oz pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni work great)
- Salt for boiling water
- 1 cup 240 ml reserved pasta water
For the sauce:
- Roasted peppers tomatoes, onion, and garlic (from above)
- A handful of fresh basil leaves about 15–20 leaves
- Additional salt pepper, and chili flakes to taste
For assembling:
- 100 g 1 cup grated cheese (cheddar, gouda, or your favorite melting cheese)
- 125 g 4.4 oz mozzarella balls (mini bocconcini or cut-up regular mozzarella)
- 2 handfuls of fresh spinach about 50–70 g / 2 oz
Instructions
Step 1: Preparing the vegetables for the sauce
- Cut the onion into quarters, then trim the stem of a whole garlic bulb, leaving the rest intact. Place the whole kapia peppers, tomatoes, quartered onion, and garlic bulb into a baking dish. Sprinkle your favorite seasonings over the vegetables and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Bake everything in the oven at 190°C (375°F) until nicely roasted.
- At the same time, boil the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Once cooked, save a cup of the pasta water and drain the rest.
Step 2: Making the sauce
- Peel the roasted vegetables, remove the skins from the peppers, tomatoes, and garlic. Put them into a blender with some fresh basil leaves. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water and season to taste. Blend everything until you get a smooth, creamy sauce.
Step 3: Assembling the dish
- First, grate the cheese. In a baking dish, add the cooked pasta and pour the sauce on top. Mix everything well, then add the spinach leaves and stir again. Add the mozzarella balls and sprinkle grated cheese on top.
Step 4: Final baking
- Place the dish in the oven at 190°C (375°F) and bake until the cheese is melted and slightly golden on top
Notes
*Nutrition info is a rough estimate based on the ingredients. Note that values may vary from case to case.
*As with all recipes, there is a number of ways you can get things done. If you believe that some of the instructions can be improved, or have a good alternative solution, feel free to leave a comment.
