Vibrant Campanelle Pasta Recipe with a Dreamy, Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Hello, my friend, and welcome back to my kitchen! Today we’re making a dish that is pure sunshine in a bowl. It features one of my absolute favorite pasta shapes: Campanelle. In Italian, the name means “little bells,” and I just love that! Each piece is like a tiny, fluted flower, perfect for scooping up sauce. And the sauce we’re making today is worthy of these little bells. This creamy, vibrant Campanelle pasta recipe with roasted red peppers is a dish my family asks for again and again. It’s simple, elegant, and tastes like a warm hug from a summer garden.

Why You’ll Absolutely Adore This Campanelle Recipe

This isn’t just another pasta dish; it’s a new favorite waiting to happen. Here’s why:

• Incredibly Flavorful: The smoky sweetness of roasted red peppers blended with a touch of cream and garlic is simply divine.
• Visually Stunning: That beautiful orange sauce clinging to the unique Campanelle pasta shape makes for a restaurant-worthy presentation.
• Quick & Easy: This dish comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for a busy weeknight.
• Wonderfully Versatile: It’s a fantastic Campanelle pasta recipe vegetarian style, but you can easily add protein or other veggies (I’ll give you ideas below!).

The Ingredients for Our Creamy Red Pepper Campanelle

What You’ll Need

• Campanelle pasta
• Jarred roasted red peppers
• Garlic
• Yellow onion
• Heavy cream
• Vegetable broth
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• A pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
• Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
• Olive oil
• Salt and black pepper

The Importance of Each Ingredient

The real stars here are the jarred roasted red peppers. They are my secret weapon for adding instant, deep, smoky flavor without spending an hour roasting peppers myself. They provide all the sweetness and complexity this sauce needs. The other key is the Campanelle pasta itself. Its hollow bell shape and ruffled edge act like a perfect little cup, ensuring you get a burst of creamy sauce with every single bite.

• Simple Substitution: If you can’t find Campanelle, any pasta with lots of nooks and crannies will work beautifully. Try fusilli, rotini, or even radiatore.

The Instructions for Preparing This Vibrant Pasta

The Detailed Steps

1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the Campanelle and cook according to package directions until al dente. How long do you cook campanelle pasta for? It’s typically around 9-11 minutes, but always check the package! Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: While the pasta cooks, heat a splash of olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Build the Sauce: Add the entire jar of drained roasted red peppers and the vegetable broth to the skillet. Let it simmer for 5 minutes for the flavors to meld together.
4. Blend to Perfection: 

1. Carefully transfer the sauce mixture to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth and creamy. Be cautious when blending hot liquids!
2. Make it Creamy: Pour the blended sauce back into the skillet over low heat. Stir in the heavy cream and the grated Parmesan cheese until the cheese is melted and the sauce is velvety.
3. Combine and Serve: 

1. My grandmother always taught me to finish the dish in one pan. Add the drained Campanelle pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to coat every little bell. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil.

My Cook’s Tips

The first time I made a blended sauce like this, I didn’t let the sauce cool a bit and filled the blender too high. The steam popped the lid off and I had a red-orange kitchen! Lesson learned. Now, I either let it cool for a few minutes or I only fill the blender halfway and hold the lid on tightly with a kitchen towel. This little bit of patience prevents a big mess and ensures your sauce is perfectly smooth.

A Memory with Grand-Mère

I remember being in my grandmother’s garden as a child. She had rows of beautiful, bell-shaped peppers growing in the summer sun. She would pick them and roast them over the grill until the skins were blackened and blistered.

She let me help peel the soft, smoky peppers, and she’d tell me, “Every good sauce starts with a little bit of sunshine and a little bit of fire.” Then she’d point to the Campanelle pasta drying on the rack and say, “And we need little bells to ring in the flavor.”

That’s what this dish tastes like to me: sunshine and fire, a memory of summer in Nonna’s garden, all captured in a simple, beautiful meal.

Substitutions and Variations

This recipe is a perfect canvas for your creativity!

• Chicken Campanelle Recipe: For a heartier meal, stir in 1-2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken or pan-seared chicken breast at the end.
• Campanelle Mac and Cheese: This is a fantastic idea! After tossing the pasta and sauce, pour it into a baking dish, top generously with shredded mozzarella and breadcrumbs, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
• Campanelle Pasta Salad Recipe: This sauce is amazing served cold! Cook the pasta, let it cool, and toss it with the sauce, some cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and chopped arugula for a stunning pasta salad.

The Equipment I Used

• A Good Blender: This is key for getting that ultra-smooth, creamy sauce texture. An immersion blender also works well, right in the pot.
• A Large Skillet: For building the sauce and tossing the pasta.
• A Large Pot: For boiling your pasta perfectly.

Storage and Reheating

• Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The flavor gets even better the next day!
• Freezing: This sauce freezes beautifully! Pour it into a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of milk or broth to loosen it up as it warms.

Grandma’s Secret for the Best Creamy Sauce

While jarred peppers are my weekday secret, my grandmother’s ultimate secret was this: add a tiny pinch of sugar to the sauce. Just a ¼ teaspoon. It doesn’t make the sauce sweet, but it cuts through the acidity of the peppers and enhances their natural sweetness, making the overall flavor deeper and more balanced.

Tested and Approved by the CornerRecipe Community!

So many of you have fallen in love with this recipe! Here’s a wonderful note from David in Austin:
“Chef Tima, I made this Campanelle recipe last night and my wife said it was the best pasta I’ve ever made! That sauce is liquid gold. We’re already planning to make it again this weekend. Thank you!” – David K.

Have you tried this recipe? I’d be overjoyed if you’d leave a comment and a rating below. Sharing in your kitchen successes is the best part of my job!

FAQ about Campanelle Pasta

• What is campanelle pasta good for?
  Campanelle is fantastic for catching and holding onto sauce. Its cone shape with a ruffled edge is perfect for thick, creamy sauces, hearty meat ragùs, and chunky vegetable sauces. It’s also great in pasta salads and baked dishes like mac and cheese.
• How long do you cook campanelle pasta for?
  Typically, Campanelle takes about 9-11 minutes to cook to al dente. However, cooking times can vary by brand, so it’s always best to check the instructions on your specific package.
• What is the recipe for Gigi Hadid’s pasta?
  That’s a popular question! The “Gigi Hadid pasta” is a spicy vodka sauce without the vodka. While delicious, it’s a different flavor profile. My creamy roasted red pepper sauce is a wonderful, family-friendly alternative that pairs just as beautifully with a fun pasta shape like Campanelle.
• What pasta is similar to campanelle pasta?
  If you can’t find Campanelle, good substitutes that also have great texture for holding sauce include fusilli, rotini, radiatore, or cascatelli pasta.

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me to celebrate these beautiful “little bells.” I hope this Vibrant Campanelle Pasta Recipe brings a splash of color and a ton of flavor to your dinner table.

Craving More Cozy Bites?

If these creamy “little bells” stole your heart, don’t miss these other soul-warming dishes from my kitchen:

• For a burst of zesty elegance, my Veal Piccata with Lemon Butter Sauce is the perfect 30-minute stunner that always impresses.
• Cozy up with the Comforting Pasta al Forno Recipe a baked Italian classic that tastes like a hug from Nonna.
• Celebrate pasta simplicity with my Simple Homemade Garganelli Pasta Recipe with Sage Butter buttery, earthy, and absolutely divine.
• Looking for citrusy brilliance in under 20 minutes? My Italian Veal with Lemon Sauce delivers sunshine on a plate.
• Or cozy up to flavor with the hearty, elegant Comforting Mafaldini Pasta with Sausage and Mushrooms it’s one pan, tons of comfort.

With love and happy cooking,
Chef Tima

Midjourney Image Prompts & Placement

1. Hero Image (Placement: Directly after the H1 Title)

• Midjourney Prompt: food photography, a beautiful white ceramic bowl filled with vibrant orange campanelle pasta in a creamy roasted red pepper sauce, garnished with fresh green basil leaves and a sprinkle of parmesan. The pasta shape is clearly visible. Soft, natural light from a side window illuminates the dish on a light wooden table. cozy and appetizing, shallow depth of field. –ar 3:2 –style raw
• Image Alt Text: A vibrant bowl of Campanelle pasta with creamy roasted red pepper sauce and basil.
• Description: This is the captivating hero shot. The bright orange sauce and unique pasta shape will immediately draw the reader in and make them hungry.

2. Ingredients “Knolling” Shot (Placement: Within the H2 section “The Ingredients for Our Creamy Red Pepper Campanelle”)

• Midjourney Prompt: Flat lay photo of ingredients for a creamy pasta sauce on a rustic white wood background. A jar of roasted red peppers, a pile of uncooked campanelle pasta, a head of garlic, a yellow onion, a small bottle of heavy cream, and a block of parmesan cheese. Neatly arranged, top-down view, bright and clean lighting. –ar 3:2
• Image Alt Text: Ingredients for creamy roasted red pepper pasta, including Campanelle pasta and jarred peppers.
• Description: This visual guide shows the simplicity of the recipe’s ingredients, making it feel accessible and easy for the reader to tackle.

3. Process Shot 1: The Blended Sauce (Placement: Within the H3 section “The Detailed Steps,” near Step 4)

• Midjourney Prompt: Action shot, food photography of a vibrant, smooth, sunset-orange sauce being poured from a blender into a black skillet. You can see the steam rising and the creamy texture of the sauce. The lighting is warm and focused on the pouring motion. Dynamic and satisfying. –ar 3:2
• Image Alt Text: Pouring smooth, creamy roasted red pepper sauce from a blender into a skillet.
• Description: This shot highlights the key transformation of the recipe—when the ingredients become a single, silky sauce. It’s a visually satisfying step that builds anticipation.

4. Process Shot 2: The Final Toss (Placement: Within the H3 section “The Detailed Steps,” near Step 6)

• Midjourney Prompt: Close-up food photography of Campanelle pasta being tossed in a skillet with a vibrant orange cream sauce. A wooden spoon is mixing the pasta, which is perfectly coated. The fluted edges of the “little bell” pasta are filled with sauce. Appetizing, close-up, macro details, warm kitchen setting. –ar 3:2
• Image Alt Text: Tossing cooked Campanelle pasta in a creamy, vibrant sauce in a skillet.
• Description: This is the moment of pure satisfaction. It shows the pasta and sauce coming together, emphasizing how well the Campanelle shape “rings in the flavor,” just as the story describes.

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