Pizza Pasta

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the pasta according to package directions, to a slightly chewy "al dente" firmness. (Take care not to overcook the pasta on the stove top, as it will cook an additional amount of time in the oven.) Drain the pasta.

While the pasta is cooking, cook and crumble the sausage in a very large oven-proof skillet over medium high heat. Transfer the cooked sausage to a medium size bowl and return the skillet to the stove. Drizzle the oil into the skillet along with any remaining grease from the sausage. Add the peppers, onions, and garlic to the hot skillet.

Cook the vegetables, stirring frequently, over medium high heat. When the peppers are almost tender, about 3-4 minutes, add the mushrooms and continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes, until the mushrooms have browned and softened. Transfer the cooked vegetables to the bowl with a sausage.

Turn off the heat under the skillet and add the sauce to the skillet, along with the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and remove about 1½ cups of the sauce, setting it aside for the moment.

Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir well to mix throughout. Add the sausage and vegetables to the pasta mixture, reserving a small amount for topping the pasta. Stir in most of the pepperoni slices, reserving a few for topping the pasta.

Add half the shredded cheese to the pasta and stir to mix throughout. Pour the remaining sauce over the pasta and then sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and scatter the remaining toppings over the cheese.

Place the skillet in the oven for 15 minutes, until the cheese has melted completely. Serve immediately.

Main Course