Bloom the garlic powder and Italian seasoning in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding tomato sauce to intensify their flavors and eliminate any raw, powdery taste.

Cook your small pasta shapes 1-2 minutes under package directions separately, then add to sauce; this prevents mushiness since they'll continue cooking in the creamy tomato mixture.

Whisk almond milk with nutritional yeast flakes before adding to create an emulsion that coats the pasta evenly and prevents the sauce from becoming watery or separating.

Add garlic powder and paprika in two stages—half when blooming, half at the end—to create depth and ensure a balanced flavor that isn't one-dimensional.

Reserve some nutritional yeast flakes to sprinkle on top of each bowl just before serving for a cheesy, umami boost that adds texture and prevents clumping in the hot sauce.