Description
Creamy Velveeta Beef & Bowtie Pasta is a comforting, cheesy dish combining tender bowtie pasta with savory ground beef and smooth Velveeta cheese sauce. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or cozy gatherings, this hearty recipe delivers warm flavors that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz bowtie pasta
Beef and Aromatics
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Cheese Sauce
- 8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then cook the bowtie pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving a little pasta water.
- Brown the beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess fat for a leaner dish.
- Sauté aromatics: Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with beef; cook about 3-4 minutes until onion softens and becomes fragrant.
- Make the cheese sauce: Reduce heat to low, stir in butter until melted. Gradually add cubed Velveeta and splash of milk, stirring constantly until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add cooked bowtie pasta to skillet, gently tossing to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Serve warm: Remove from heat once combined and heated through. Serve immediately for the best creamy texture.
Notes
- Use fresh Velveeta, cubed and added gradually for smooth sauce.
- Cook pasta al dente to prevent mushiness when mixed with sauce.
- Drain excess fat from ground beef to avoid greasy dish.
- Reserve pasta water to thin sauce if needed and help it cling to pasta.
- Customize seasoning with herbs like parsley or additional spices.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: Velveeta, beef pasta, creamy pasta, comfort food, quick dinner, bowtie pasta