Description
Looking for the ultimate comfort food that’s both easy and crowd-pleasing? This Creamy Velveeta Linguine with Italian Beef Marinara hits the sweet spot. Velvety cheese-coated linguine is topped with a rich, slow-simmered beef marinara sauce, creating a fusion of creamy and savory that’s hard to beat. Perfect for easy dinner nights, family meals, or cozy food ideas, this recipe delivers big flavor with simple ingredients. Whether you’re into quick dinner ideas, crave cheesy pasta, or need a hearty dinner, this one brings it all together.
Ingredients
12 oz linguine pasta
1 tablespoon salt
8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
0.5 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon butter
0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Pinch paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
24 oz jar marinara sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Optional: chopped fresh basil or parsley
Optional: grated Parmesan cheese
Optional: crushed red pepper flakes
Optional: sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Sauté onions until translucent, then add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
3. Add ground beef and cook until browned and slightly crispy.
4. Stir in tomato paste, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and red pepper flakes. Simmer on low for 15–20 minutes.
5. In a separate saucepan, melt Velveeta with milk over low heat, stirring constantly. Add butter, black pepper, and paprika.
6. Toss cooked linguine with cheese sauce, adding pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
7. Plate the creamy linguine, then top each serving with generous spoonfuls of beef marinara.
8. Garnish with fresh herbs, Parmesan, or chili flakes if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Use good-quality marinara for better flavor results.
Reserve some pasta water to adjust the cheese sauce texture as needed.
Don’t overcook the pasta—al dente holds up better under creamy sauces.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approx. 1/6th of recipe)
- Calories: 630
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 1150mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: cheesy pasta, comfort food, beef marinara, creamy linguine, easy dinner, Velveeta recipe, dinner ideas