Description
Looking for a comforting and easy dinner idea that the whole family will love? This Cheesy Velveeta Rotini with Italian Beef Marinara is a creamy, satisfying, and crowd-pleasing pasta bake that’s perfect for busy weeknights, casual gatherings, or quick meal prep. Loaded with tender rotini pasta, flavorful Italian-seasoned ground beef, rich marinara sauce, and gooey Velveeta cheese, this dish combines everything you love about home-cooked comfort food into one irresistible casserole. Whether you’re searching for easy dinner recipes, kid-friendly food ideas, or hearty pasta meals, this one checks every box.
Ingredients
12 oz rotini pasta
1 lb ground beef
2 cups marinara sauce
0.5 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
0.5 tsp salt
0.5 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
0.5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1.5 cups Velveeta cheese, cubed
0.25 cup milk
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp chopped parsley
Grated parmesan (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini and cook until just under al dente, about 7–8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Add diced onion and cook until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
3. Add marinara sauce, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.
4. In a separate saucepan, melt Velveeta with milk and butter over low heat, stirring until smooth.
5. In a large bowl, combine drained pasta, beef marinara, and cheese sauce. Stir until evenly coated.
6. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Transfer pasta mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
7. Top with shredded mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
8. Uncover and bake an additional 8–10 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly. Broil for 1–2 minutes if desired.
9. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley and optional parmesan.
Notes
Use freshly shredded mozzarella for a smoother melt.
Don’t skip salting your pasta water — it’s key to flavor.
Let the pasta rest before serving to keep it from falling apart.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of dish
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: cheesy pasta, easy dinner, Velveeta pasta, beef marinara, comfort food