Description
Comfort meets convenience in Velveeta Beef Bowtie Pasta Casserole, a crowd-pleasing dish that combines hearty beef, tender pasta, and creamy cheese. Rich flavors meld together, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 1 pound ground beef
Pasta and Cheese:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 8 ounces (227 grams) Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 can (10 ounces/283 grams) Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies), drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking vessel with a light coating of grease.
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook bowtie pasta until it reaches perfect tenderness, then carefully drain and reserve.
- In a spacious skillet, warm olive oil over medium temperature. Introduce ground beef and diced onions, browning the meat while softening the vegetables.
- Add minced garlic and sauté until aromatic, then eliminate any excess rendered fat from the pan.
- Incorporate diced tomatoes, Rotel, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and paprika into the meat mixture. Allow the components to meld and simmer briefly.
- Reduce the skillet’s heat and introduce Velveeta cubes with milk, stirring continuously until a smooth, velvety cheese sauce develops.
- Gently fold the cooked pasta into the cheese-infused meat mixture, ensuring each pasta piece receives a luxurious coating.
- Transfer the combined mixture to the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Generously scatter shredded cheddar cheese across the surface of the casserole.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake until the cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest and settle for several minutes before serving.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Customize Pasta Choice: Swap bowtie pasta with gluten-free or whole wheat varieties for dietary preferences without compromising the casserole’s rich, comforting texture.
- Control Cheese Meltability: Let Velveeta cubes sit at room temperature before adding to create smoother, faster-melting cheese sauce that coats pasta evenly.
- Reduce Sodium Smartly: Cut salt and use low-sodium Rotel or diced tomatoes to manage overall dish sodium content while maintaining delicious flavor profile.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare casserole up to 24 hours in advance, cover tightly, and refrigerate – simply bake when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1160 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg