This is one of those easy meals that comes together in under a hour and is made in one skillet.

That's right, no extra pot to pre-boil the pasta and no additional casserole dish to pour the mixture into.

Therefore, scrumptious meal + less dishes = happiness. Okay, maybe I won't go that far, but a big, tasty meal while cleaning a few less pots and pans is always a plus!

This rigatoni pasta casserole is so hearty, filling, meaty, vegetable-y and pasta-y!

When making a baked pasta dish, I love to use big noodles with lots of surface area to soak up the delicious sauce; rigatoni is perfect for this, but penne or rotini make excellent substitutions.

This recipe is quite versatile, so you can experiment with different meats and vegetables to find your favourite combination -- just be sure to not overfill the skillet as it will bubble up a bit when in the oven.

If you choose to include the red wine, the sauce takes on a fun reddish-purple colour.

This dish also has the super melty mozzarella and crunchy parmesan cheese topping that makes it extra yummy.

I hope you enjoy this recipe!

All the ingredients you'll need! Listed below in the "Ingredients" list. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

At medium-high heat, add olive oil, onions, and carrots in a large 12-inch cast iron skillet (or ovenproof pan), stir occasionally until onions are translucent.

Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper for one minute. Add beef and cook until it is brown.

Pour in crushed tomatoes, broth, wine, and pasta and toss to combine. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer; stir periodically until pasta is almost al dente.

Sprinkle parmesan and lay mozzarella on top.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until pasta is done. Optional step: broil for a few minutes until the cheese is golden-brown. Top with fresh basil.

Plate and enjoy!