Description
Comfort meets convenience in this Velveeta Beef Bowtie Pasta, delivering creamy cheesy goodness with hearty ground beef. Quick weeknight dinners get an upgrade with this simple, satisfying one-pot meal that draws you in with its rich flavor and easy preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 or lean)
- 8 ounces Velveeta cheese (cubed)
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for extra cheesiness)
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 12 ounces bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel tomatoes with green chilies (drained, optional for spice)
Seasonings and Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups milk (whole or 2%)
Instructions
- Boil a generously salted water pot and cook bowtie pasta until perfectly tender, then carefully drain and reserve to the side.
- In a robust skillet, brown ground beef with diced onions, breaking meat into fine crumbles until no pink remains and onions become translucent.
- Eliminate excess fat from the skillet, then infuse the meat mixture with minced garlic, fragrant seasonings, and zesty Rotel, allowing flavors to meld for several minutes.
- Create a velvety cheese sauce by crafting a golden roux with melted butter and flour, whisking diligently to prevent lumps.
- Gradually introduce milk, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and develops a smooth consistency.
- Incorporate Velveeta cubes and shredded cheddar into the sauce, gently stirring until completely melted and achieving a luxurious, creamy texture.
- Merge the seasoned beef, perfectly cooked pasta, and decadent cheese sauce in the skillet, ensuring every morsel is lavishly coated.
- Warm the combined ingredients thoroughly, allowing flavors to harmonize and intensify.
- Transfer to serving dishes, optionally garnishing with fresh parsley or an additional sprinkle of cheese for visual appeal and extra flavor complexity.
Notes
- Customize the pasta’s texture by cooking it slightly less than package instructions for a firmer bite.
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce overall fat content and make the dish healthier.
- Swap Velveeta for a homemade cheese sauce using sharp cheddar and cream cheese for a more natural flavor profile.
- Transform this into a gluten-free meal by using gluten-free pasta and replacing flour with cornstarch in the cheese sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg