Description
Cheesy Velveeta Rotini with Italian Beef Marinara is a creamy, comforting pasta dish loaded with melty cheese and rich beefy marinara. Perfect for weeknight dinners, this easy recipe features smooth Velveeta, ground beef, rotini pasta, and a robust tomato sauce, making it a hearty and family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
16 oz rotini pasta
1 lb Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 lb ground beef
28 oz crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup milk or reserved pasta water
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sautée onion until soft. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
3. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking into crumbles. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10–15 minutes to develop flavor.
5. In a separate pan, melt Velveeta cubes with milk or pasta water over low heat, stirring until smooth.
6. Toss rotini with the cheese sauce until fully coated.
7. Serve with marinara spooned over or combine both mixtures. Serve hot.
Notes
Velveeta melts best on low heat, so be patient to avoid curdling.
Cook pasta just to al dente since it will warm further in the sauce.
Adjust seasoning in layers—taste as you go for best results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 85mg