Description
Creamy Velveeta Rigatoni with Italian Beef Marinara is a rich, family-friendly pasta dinner featuring tender rigatoni tossed in a silky Velveeta cheese sauce and topped with a hearty Italian beef marinara. This easy weeknight pasta recipe brings classic Italian-American flavors together in one comforting bowl. Keywords: creamy Velveeta rigatoni, Italian beef marinara, cheesy pasta, weeknight dinner, easy pasta recipe.
Ingredients
16 ounces rigatoni
12 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 pound ground beef
24 ounces marinara sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup milk, optional for thinning cheese sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, optional for serving
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, optional for garnish
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook rigatoni until al dente; drain and set aside.
2. Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add diced onion, and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes.
3. Stir in minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add ground beef, break it up, and cook until browned and no longer pink; drain excess fat.
5. Stir in marinara and Italian seasoning; season with a pinch of salt and pepper and simmer 8 to 10 minutes.
6. In a saucepan over low heat, melt Velveeta with milk (if using), stirring often until completely smooth and creamy.
7. Toss drained rigatoni with the Velveeta sauce until every piece is coated.
8. Plate cheesy rigatoni, spoon beef marinara over the top, and finish with Parmesan and basil if desired.
Notes
The cheese sauce thickens as it cools; loosen with a splash of warm milk when reheating.
For extra savoriness, swap part of the beef for Italian sausage.
Make it spicy by adding crushed red pepper to the marinara while it simmers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg