Description
This Cheesy Velveeta Rotini with Italian Beef Marinara is the ultimate comfort food — creamy, beefy, and bubbling with flavor. It’s a perfect weeknight meal or potluck favorite, combining the richness of Velveeta cheese with hearty Italian-style meat sauce and tender rotini pasta baked to perfection.
Ingredients
1 pound rotini pasta
1 pound ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini until al dente (about 8 minutes), drain, and set aside.
2. In a deep skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; sauté until softened.
3. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes to blend flavors.
4. Combine cooked pasta with the meat sauce in a large bowl or the skillet. Mix well until coated.
5. Transfer mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Distribute Velveeta cubes evenly and top with shredded mozzarella.
6. Bake at 375°F for 15–20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden.
7. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
For extra creaminess, add 1/4 cup of heavy cream to the sauce before combining with pasta.
You can substitute ground turkey or sausage for the beef if preferred.
To make it a full meal, add sautéed spinach or mushrooms directly into the meat sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta Bake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 960mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: cheesy rotini, Velveeta pasta bake, beef marinara