• Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce. • Halve bell pepper; remove stem and seeds. Peel garlic. Thinly slice chili. Remove sausage* from casing; discard casing.

• Drizzle each bell pepper half with oil and season with salt and pepper; place, cut sides down, on a lightly oiled baking sheet. • Place garlic in the center of a small piece of foil. Drizzle with oil; season with salt and pepper. Cinch into a packet and place on same sheet. • Roast on middle rack until pepper is lightly charred and garlic is softened, 20-25 minutes.

• Once water is boiling, add cavatappi to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. • Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water (2 cups for 4 servings), then drain.

• While pasta cooks, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. (TIP: If there’s excess grease in your pan, carefully pour it out.) If desired, stir in a pinch of chili; cook until fragrant, 15 seconds. • Add tomato paste and ½ cup reserved pasta cooking water (¾ cup for 4 servings). Simmer until thickened, 2-3 minutes more. Turn off heat.

• Carefully transfer roasted bell pepper and garlic to a cutting board. Thinly slice bell pepper into strips. Mash garlic with a fork. • Return pan with sauce to low heat; stir in garlic. Pour in cream sauce base. • Stir in bell pepper, drained cavatappi, half the Parmesan (save the rest for serving), and 2 TBSP butter (4 TBSP for 4 servings). TIP: If needed, stir in more reserved pasta cooking water a splash at a time until pasta is coated in a creamy sauce.

• Season pasta with salt and pepper and divide between bowls. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and a pinch of remaining chili if desired. Serve.