Description
Indulge in the ultimate Italian-American comfort food with this Creamy Velveeta Rigatoni with Italian Beef Marinara. Tender rigatoni noodles are smothered in a luscious Velveeta cheese sauce, layered with a robust beef marinara, and baked until gooey and golden. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, family gatherings, or when you need a feel-good meal that delivers big on flavor. This easy recipe combines cheesy pasta, hearty meat sauce, and Italian herbs for a meal that’s both simple and unforgettable. Great for those seeking easy pasta bakes, cheesy dinner ideas, or Italian-inspired comfort food.
Ingredients
16 oz rigatoni pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can (15 oz) crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy cream
12 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)
½ cup reserved pasta water (if needed)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
2. In a skillet, heat olive oil. Sauté onion for 3 minutes until translucent, then add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
3. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10–15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
4. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
5. Add Velveeta cubes to the cream and stir until fully melted and smooth. Thin with pasta water if needed.
6. Stir cooked rigatoni into the Velveeta sauce until evenly coated.
7. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a greased baking dish, layer half the creamy pasta, half the beef marinara, repeat, then top with mozzarella.
8. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
9. Let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Use bronze-cut rigatoni if available for even better sauce grip.
Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick to the marinara.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1180mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 120mg