Looking for a quick meal that is simple and delicious? You’ve come to the right place! These Spicy Creamy Bowties are a fun alternative to typical pasta with red sauce. This recipe requires minimal effort and packs lots of delicious flavor.
I created this dish to satisfy our love of spicy food with the decadence of a cream sauce. I enjoy a good alfredo dish, but the sauce can be so heavy and high in calories. This sauce marries the richness of a cream sauce with the flavorful punch of a spicy sauce. It takes no time at all and the results are so worth it!
I start out by boiling water for the pasta and sautéing garlic in olive oil. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
I then add the red sauce, spices, cream, and cheese. Give it a good stir and check the spice level. Don’t go full throttle on the red pepper at first. Taste it and add as desired.
Cook the pasta in boiling water according to box instructions. While the pasta cooks, let that sauce simmer and take in the delicious smells.
Once the pasta is cooked, go ahead and throw it in that decadent sauce. Add the chicken or meat if you desire. Both are excellent. This recipe is sauce-dominant, so go ahead and serve this dish with lots of fresh, crusty bread to dip it in.
Spicy Creamy Bowties
Notes
My husband and I love spice, so we use more ground red pepper. You can taste as you go and decide what you can handle. If I make this pasta for a party, I err on the side of mild-medium spice. Not every guest can take the heat.
I’ve made this recipe with spicy sausage and chicken. Both are delicious! You don’t need to add meat, but I prefer to have the protein.
We like very saucy pasta dishes. This recipe makes the sauce to pasta ratio a bit high. I just serve with fresh bread to soak up the extra sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 box bowtie pasta
- 2 jars pasta sauce (I like Barilla Traditional)
- 1 C heavy cream
- 1/2 C fresh grated parmesan cheese
- 2 TBSP minced garlic
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 sprinkle salt
- 1/2 tsp fresh black pepper
- 1-2 tsp ground red pepper (cayenne), depending on preferred spice level
- 2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped (optional)
- 4 spicy sausage links, cooked and cut into discs (optional)
- 1 loaf fresh bread to dip into the sauce
Instructions
- 1. Bring a pot of water to a boil
- 2. Heat skillet to medium heat. Cook minced garlic in olive oil for a few minutes until fragrant, making sure not to burn garlic.
- 3. Carefully pour in pasta sauce and mix with olive oil and garlic. Add seasonings, cream, and parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly and let come to a gentle bubble.
- 4. Once pot of water is boiling, cook bowties to desired texture. I prefer al dente. Follow box instructions for cook time.
- 5. Let sauce simmer in the pan until the pasta is ready.
- 6. When pasta is cooked, add directly to the sauce pan and serve! If you want to serve later, let both cool separately and store in the fridge. Add a bit of olive oil to the pasta so it doesn’t stick together.
Let me know if you give it a try! Bon appetit!