Description
Creamy Velveeta Rigatoni with Italian Beef Marinara is a hearty, cheesy pasta recipe featuring tender rigatoni, savory Italian beef marinara, and creamy Velveeta cheese sauce. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, this comfort food classic pairs rich flavor with a silky, indulgent texture.
Ingredients
16 oz rigatoni pasta
1 lb ground beef
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
12 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks until browned.
3. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until softened and fragrant.
4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Reduce heat and stir in Velveeta cheese cubes until fully melted into the sauce. Add pasta water if sauce is too thick.
6. Add cooked rigatoni to the sauce, tossing until well coated.
7. Garnish with chopped fresh basil before serving.
Notes
Use bronze-cut rigatoni for better sauce cling.
For a lighter version, swap beef for ground turkey.
Add vegetables like mushrooms or spinach for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg