Description
Looking for an easy dinner idea that’s comforting, cheesy, and bursting with flavor? This Creamy Velveeta Rigatoni with Italian Beef Marinara is your go-to pasta bake! Perfect for busy nights or weekend meal prep, this easy recipe combines tender rigatoni with a rich Italian beef marinara and a smooth, melty Velveeta cheese sauce. Whether you’re after quick dinner ideas, indulgent comfort food, or meal ideas the whole family will love, this dish hits all the right notes. Ideal for anyone craving cheesy food ideas or a hearty baked pasta for dinner!
Ingredients
1 pound rigatoni pasta
1 pound ground beef
2 cups marinara sauce
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1.5 cups Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes
0.5 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon butter (optional)
1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon dried parsley or basil
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain excess grease.
3. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and marinara sauce to the skillet. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer on low for 15–20 minutes.
4. In a small saucepan, melt Velveeta with milk and butter over low heat. Stir constantly until smooth.
5. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Combine pasta, beef marinara sauce, and Velveeta sauce in a large bowl or oven-safe pan. Mix until fully coated.
6. Transfer the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top evenly with shredded mozzarella and sprinkle with dried parsley or basil.
7. Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until bubbly and slightly golden on top.
8. Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving for clean slices and better flavor blending.
Notes
Melt Velveeta over low heat to avoid clumping or burning.
Use al dente pasta to prevent it from becoming too soft after baking.
Simmer the beef marinara sauce long enough for flavors to fully develop.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of dish
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: easy dinner, creamy pasta, pasta bake, cheesy rigatoni, comfort food, Italian beef, Velveeta pasta