Cheesy Pasta Bake

Combine the rich flavors of spaghetti sauce, sautéed mushrooms, spicy pepperoni, crunchy green pepper, caramelized onion, and aromatic garlic in a large saucepan. Cover the mixture and let it simmer gently for one hour.

Next, prepare a large pot by filling it with lightly salted water and bringing it to a vigorous boil. Then, carefully add the rigatoni, rotini, and macaroni to the pot, stirring in a generous amount of salt. Return the mixture to a rolling boil and cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired level of tenderness yet still retains a slight firmness to the bite. This should take 8 to 10 minutes, after which you can drain the pasta.

To add a savory twist, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Then, combine the cooked pasta with a generous helping of creamy ricotta and 1 1/2 cups of melted mozzarella. Transfer the mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish and create a layered effect by alternating between pasta, cheese mixture, and the remaining spaghetti sauce. Finish the dish with a layer of additional 1/2 cup mozzarella on top.

Finally, bake the dish in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving, and enjoy the delightful flavors of your pasta bake.