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Simple pasta dish with olive oil sheen, fresh vegetables, and rustic presentation

Fridge Raid Pasta

This Fridge Raid Pasta is a colorful vegetable pasta made with roasted peppers, sweet onions, green beans, spinach, tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan. It is fresh, flexible, and perfect for an easy lunch or light dinner.
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Course: Lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean-inspired
Keyword: Fridge Raid Pasta
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 2 bell peppers halved and deseeded
  • 3 tbsp olive oil divided, plus extra for finishing
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 onions sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 c fresh or frozen green beans trimmed and chopped
  • 2 c baby spinach roughly chopped
  • 1 pint cherry or small tomatoes quartered
  • 1 lb spiral penne, or elbow pasta
  • Pinch white pepper
  • 1 bunch basil roughly chopped
  • 1/2 c shaved Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Roast the Peppers

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the bell peppers on a lined baking pan and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, or until tender, turning only a few times during baking. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.

Cook the Onions and Garlic

  • While the peppers are roasting, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute. Remove from the heat.

Blanch the Green Beans

  • Fill a large stockpot halfway with water and bring it to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until bright green and just tender. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beans to a bowl of cool water.

Blanch the Spinach

  • Add the spinach to the same boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer it to the bowl of cool water with the beans.

Cook the Pasta

  • Cook the pasta in the same pot of boiling water according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, rinse it with cool water, and drain again thoroughly. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and toss with a small drizzle of olive oil.

Prepare the Remaining Ingredients

  • Dice the roasted peppers once they are cool enough to handle. Roughly chop the basil and quarter the tomatoes if not already prepared.

Combine the Pasta

  • Add the roasted peppers, cooked onions and garlic, green beans, spinach, tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan cheese to the bowl with the pasta. Season with salt, black pepper, and white pepper. Drizzle with a little additional olive oil and toss thoroughly to coat and combine.

Serve

  • Serve immediately, or chill and serve later if desired.

Notes

To make this Fridge Raid Pasta gluten free, substitute the regular pasta with a certified gluten-free pasta in your preferred shape. Also check the Parmesan cheese and any packaged frozen vegetables to confirm they are gluten free and free from cross-contact risks. The remaining ingredients are typically naturally gluten free, but label-checking is always recommended when cooking for someone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.