Description
This Cheesy Velveeta Rotini with Italian Beef Marinara is a comforting and hearty pasta dish combining tender rotini pasta with a savory Italian beef and marinara sauce, all smothered in creamy Velveeta and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, it offers a delicious fusion of rich flavors and cheesy goodness baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz rotini pasta, uncooked
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb ground Italian beef
- 2 cups marinara sauce
Cheese
- 8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional Garnish
- 1 tsp dried parsley flakes
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Brown the Italian beef: In a large oven-safe skillet, heat over medium heat and add the ground Italian beef. Cook while breaking it up with a spoon until browned completely. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
- Simmer with marinara: Stir in the marinara sauce to the browned beef in the skillet. Let it simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes to blend flavors.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked rotini pasta to the skillet and mix well to ensure the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Add Velveeta cheese: Stir in the cubed Velveeta cheese until it melts completely, creating a creamy texture throughout the pasta and sauce mixture.
- Top with mozzarella cheese: Evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the skillet mixture. Optionally, garnish with dried parsley flakes for added color and flavor.
- Bake to finish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the oven-safe skillet in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and bubbling.
Notes
- Make sure to use an oven-safe skillet for the entire cooking process so you can bake directly without transferring.
- Velveeta cheese provides a creamy texture but can be substituted with another melting cheese if desired.
- Draining excess fat from the ground beef ensures the dish isn’t greasy.
- For a spicier version, consider adding red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce while simmering.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated before serving.
