Baked Creamy Red Pepper Penne Pasta Recipe
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
1 hour
Servings:
8 Servings
Ingredients
  • 2 red bell peppers
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • 32 ounces marinara sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ½ teaspoon garlic granules
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to broil.
  2. Brush the whole red peppers with avocado oil and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of salt.
  3. Broil in the oven for 30 minutes using the top rack, rotating until each side has blackened.
  4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  5. Cook the pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  6. Remove the red peppers from the oven, cool for 10 minutes, then peel and discard skin, core, and seeds.
  7. Reset the oven to 350 F.
  8. Add the sauce and the roasted red peppers to a blender and blend until smooth.
  9. Add this mixture and the Italian seasoning to a large pot over medium heat.
  10. Add the cream cheese and Parmesan and stir well. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  11. Add the pasta to the pot with the sauce and mix well.
  12. Add the pasta mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish and top with mozzarella cheese.
  13. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
  14. Meanwhile melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat.
  15. Add the panko to the pan and add the remaining salt, garlic granules, and pepper.
  16. Stir for about 5 minutes until the breadcrumbs become toasted and fragrant.
  17. Remove the pasta from the oven and top with the toasted breadcrumbs.
  18. Serve, optionally garnished with fresh basil.