Description
This comforting Bowtie Pasta with Creamy Velveeta Beef Sauce is a quick and flavorful weeknight meal. Tender bowtie pasta is coated in a rich sauce made from ground beef, Velveeta cheese, tomatoes with green chilies, and a blend of seasonings, creating a creamy, cheesy dish that’s both satisfying and easy to prepare in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
Beef Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup heavy cream or milk
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Garnish
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the bowtie pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to keep warm.
- Brown the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed to keep the sauce from being greasy.
- Add Seasonings and Tomatoes: Sprinkle the browned beef with paprika, black pepper, salt, and Italian seasoning. Stir in the undrained can of Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies. Let the mixture simmer gently for about 5 minutes to develop flavors.
- Melt the Velveeta Cheese: Reduce the heat to low and add the cubed Velveeta cheese to the skillet. Pour in the heavy cream or milk and stir continuously until the cheese is fully melted and forms a smooth, creamy sauce with the beef and tomatoes.
- Combine with Pasta: Add the cooked bowtie pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat all the pasta with the cheesy beef sauce. Let it cook together for another 2 minutes to blend the flavors and ensure the pasta is warm.
- Serve and Garnish: Remove from heat. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired for a pop of color and freshness. Serve hot and enjoy your creamy, hearty pasta dish.
Notes
- You can substitute the heavy cream with milk for a lighter sauce, but heavy cream will provide a richer texture.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or use spicy Rotel tomatoes.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free bowtie pasta varieties.
