Description
Creamy Velveeta beef bowtie pasta casserole blends hearty ingredients into a comforting family meal. Cheesy layers and savory beef create a satisfying dinner solution you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 8 oz (227 grams) Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 oz (340 grams) bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 1 can (14.5 oz/411 grams) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 can (10 oz/283 grams) Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies), drained
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a rectangular baking dish with cooking spray to prevent adhesion.
- Pasta Preparation: Boil salted water and cook bowtie pasta until al dente. Drain and reserve for later incorporation.
- Meat Foundation: In a large skillet, sauté ground beef and onions in olive oil until beef browns and onions become translucent. Add garlic and cook briefly, then drain excess fat.
- Flavor Development: Introduce diced tomatoes, Rotel, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Simmer the mixture to allow flavors to meld and intensify.
- Cheese Integration: Reduce skillet heat and blend Velveeta and milk, stirring until a creamy, uniform sauce emerges.
- Combining Elements: Fold cooked pasta into the beef and cheese mixture, ensuring complete coating and flavor distribution.
- Baking Sequence: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and crown with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Final Transformation: Bake in the preheated oven until cheese melts completely and edges turn golden and effervescent.
- Serving Presentation: Allow casserole to rest briefly, optionally garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
- Pasta Precision: Cook bowtie pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness when baking, ensuring a perfect texture in the final casserole.
- Grease Management: Thoroughly drain ground beef to avoid a greasy dish, using a paper towel-lined colander for best results.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add Velveeta gradually and stir constantly to create a smooth, creamy sauce without lumps or burning.
- Flavor Customization: Experiment with different spice blends like taco seasoning or add diced bell peppers for extra nutrition and flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 495
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg