Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Some pasta dishes rely on long simmered sauces, but this one proves you can build big flavour in a much shorter time.

The combination of salami, tomatoes and roasted red pepper paste creates a sauce that feels deep and savoury, while a spoonful of cream cheese softens everything into a smooth, slightly creamy finish.

It’s one of those pasta recipes that feels almost restaurant-like but is actually very straightforward to cook at home. Once the pasta is boiling, the sauce comes together in the same amount of time.

That makes it a great option for weeknights when you want something satisfying but don’t want to spend ages cooking.

Why Salami Works So Well in Pasta

Salami is one of my favourite ingredients for quick pasta sauces because it behaves a little like pancetta or bacon when cooked.

As the diced salami warms in the pan it releases its oils and spices, which become the base flavour for the sauce. Those rich, savoury notes then infuse the tomatoes and red pepper paste as everything cooks together.

The result is a pasta sauce that tastes far more complex than the short ingredient list would suggest.

The salami I originally used for this recipe was one I bought on a trip to Bologna, made simply with pork, salt and plenty of black pepper. But the beauty of this recipe is that it works well with almost any salami you can find locally.

The Secret to a Quick but Rich Pasta Sauce

The sauce here uses roasted red pepper paste to add depth quickly.

Because the peppers are already roasted and concentrated, they bring a sweet, smoky flavour that would normally take much longer to build from scratch.

The cream cheese then melts into the sauce, smoothing everything together and giving the finished pasta a silky texture without making it overly heavy.

It’s a simple trick, but it makes the whole dish feel far more luxurious.

What Pasta Works Best for This Recipe

Long pasta shapes work particularly well with this sauce because they pick up the creamy tomato mixture beautifully.

Good options include:

tagliatelle
spaghetti
linguine

That said, the sauce is quite forgiving, so short shapes like penne or fusilli would work perfectly well too.

close up of salami and tomato pasta in a bowl

Ingredients, Substitutions and Variations

The pasta – long pasta works best in this recipe, so go for a tagliatelle, spaghetti or linguine.
Salami – if you can’t get hold of salami, you could also use chorizo or pepperoni here.
Red pepper paste – you can use any red pepper paste. I use this one. You could also use a red pesto.
Tomatoes – small tomatoes are best here, so use plum or cherry tomatoes.
Cream cheese – it’s best to use an unflavoured cream cheese, because the rest of the flavours are powerful.

Easy Variations

This recipe is very adaptable depending on what you have in the fridge.

You could add a handful of spinach at the end of cooking and allow it to wilt into the sauce.
A few roasted peppers would also work beautifully with the red pepper paste.

What to Serve with Salami and Tomato Pasta

This pasta is rich and satisfying enough to serve on its own, but if you’d like to turn it into a bigger meal there are a few simple sides that work particularly well.

A green salad with a sharp lemon dressing helps balance the richness of the sauce, while a slice of warm focaccia or garlic bread is perfect for soaking up any leftover tomato sauce.

If you’d like to add more vegetables, roasted courgettes or tenderstem broccoli pair nicely with the flavours of the dish.

More Pasta Recipes

If you enjoy quick and easy pasta dinners like this one, you might also like some of my other pasta recipes:

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta – a comforting weeknight favourite
Pesto Pasta with Feta and Green Olives – a 15 minute dinner packed with flavour
Garlic Chilli Prawn Tagliatelle – quick, garlicky and perfect for seafood lovers
Quick and Easy Tagliatelle – a speedy pasta recipe for busy evenings

You can also explore all of my pasta recipes here: 40 Easy Pasta Dinners for Busy Weeknights