Description
Craving a quick, cheesy, and hearty comfort meal? This **Creamy Velveeta Spaghetti with Italian Beef Marinara** is your next go-to for an easy dinner idea. Rich tomato sauce with seasoned ground beef gets a creamy upgrade thanks to Velveeta, all tossed with tender spaghetti for the ultimate quick weeknight dinner. Whether you’re looking for new dinner ideas, a cozy comfort food fix, or just a satisfying dish the whole family will devour, this easy recipe is guaranteed to deliver. It’s also a great option for leftovers and makes weeknight meal prep a breeze!
Ingredients
16 oz spaghetti
1 lb ground beef
8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
3 cups marinara sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup reserved pasta water (optional)
1 cup shredded mozzarella (optional, for topping)
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Break it apart and cook until browned, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until soft and translucent, about 4–5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
4. Pour in the marinara sauce. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine and reduce heat to low. Let it simmer for 10–15 minutes.
5. Add the cubed Velveeta cheese to the sauce. Stir until fully melted and the sauce is creamy. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
6. Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet and toss to coat the noodles evenly in the creamy beef marinara sauce.
7. (Optional) Transfer the pasta to a baking dish, top with mozzarella, and broil for 2–3 minutes until bubbly and golden.
8. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
Always cube Velveeta before adding to help it melt evenly.
Reserve pasta water to help loosen the sauce if it thickens too much.
Let the pasta sit for 3–5 minutes before serving—it allows the sauce to cling better.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: quick dinner, cheesy pasta, easy spaghetti, weeknight meal, Velveeta recipes, Italian beef spaghetti