Aurora Borealis Pasta

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A stunning pasta dish with layers of vibrant red, orange, and yellow vegetables in a creamy tomato sauce, resembling the dancing lights of the aurora. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 40 minutes pairs penne pasta, pint, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 pint, halved cherry tomatoes
• 1, diced red bell pepper
• 2 medium, grated carrots
• 2 cups spinach
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cook penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water for 10-12 minutes until al dente, then drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add minced garlic, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add diced red bell pepper and grated carrots, and sauté for 5 minutes until carrots are tender and peppers are softened.
4. Step 4: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, then add cherry tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes until they begin to soften.
5. Step 5: Add heavy cream, salt, and black pepper, and simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
6. Step 6: Stir in spinach until wilted, then add cooked penne and toss to coat evenly with sauce.