Description
If you’re craving a comforting, cheesy pasta dish that’s easy enough for weeknights but satisfying enough for Sunday dinner, this Creamy Velveeta Spaghetti with Italian Beef Marinara hits all the marks. It blends hearty ground beef, rich marinara sauce, and creamy Velveeta cheese into a luscious spaghetti dish everyone will love. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner ideas, a kid-friendly recipe, or a new easy recipe for pasta night, this one’s a keeper. It’s perfect for potlucks, leftovers, and cozy nights in—simple, bold, and totally irresistible.
Ingredients
16 oz spaghetti
1 lb ground beef
8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
2 cups marinara sauce
1 small onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 cup shredded mozzarella (optional, for topping)
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup pasta water.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and brown the ground beef over medium heat. Break it into crumbles and cook until no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
3. Add the diced onion to the beef and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute.
4. Stir in the marinara sauce, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
5. Add the Velveeta cubes to the skillet and stir until fully melted and smooth. Keep heat on low to avoid separation.
6. Add the cooked spaghetti and toss to coat in the creamy sauce. Add pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen.
7. (Optional) Transfer to a baking dish, top with shredded mozzarella, and broil 2–3 minutes until bubbly and golden.
8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Cube the Velveeta before adding to the sauce—it melts more evenly and quickly.
Reserve pasta water to help loosen the sauce if it gets too thick.
For extra flavor, add a splash of red wine when simmering the marinara.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop + optional broil
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: cheesy pasta, Velveeta spaghetti, quick dinner, kid-friendly dinner, creamy marinara