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Creamy Velveeta Beef Bowtie Pasta Recipe

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4.6 from 91 reviews

Creamy Velveeta Beef Bowtie Pasta is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender ground beef simmered in a flavorful tomato-based sauce, enriched with creamy Velveeta cheese and heavy cream, all served over perfectly cooked bowtie pasta. This dish combines savory, cheesy goodness with an Italian-inspired blend of spices, making it a perfect weeknight dinner that’s both easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious.

Ingredients

Meat and Vegetables

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

Tomato and Broth

  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 2 cups beef broth

Seasonings

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Pasta and Dairy

  • 1 pound bowtie pasta (Farfalle)
  • 16 ounces Velveeta cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Garnish

  • Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare ingredients: Gather all the ingredients. Finely dice the yellow onion, mince the garlic, and cut the Velveeta cheese into 1-inch cubes. Set up a large pot or Dutch oven for cooking the beef and sauce, and another large pot ready for boiling the pasta.
  2. Brown the beef and sauté aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and brown thoroughly while breaking it apart until no pink remains. Drain excess fat. Add diced onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Add liquids and seasonings, then simmer: Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, dried Italian seasoning, black pepper, and salt. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then lower the heat to maintain a low simmer. Cover partially and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to deepen the flavors.
  4. Cook the pasta: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the bowtie pasta and stir immediately to prevent sticking. Cook until al dente according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta thoroughly and do not rinse it.
  5. Melt the Velveeta and add cream: Lower the heat on the sauce pot to the lowest setting. Add all the cubed Velveeta cheese to the sauce and stir continuously until fully melted and the sauce is smooth and velvety. Stir in the heavy cream until incorporated. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes as needed.
  6. Combine pasta with sauce: Add the drained bowtie pasta directly into the creamy beef sauce. Toss gently to ensure each piece of pasta is coated evenly. If the sauce seems too thick, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water and stir until the desired consistency is achieved.
  7. Serve and garnish: Serve the Creamy Velveeta Beef Bowtie Pasta immediately while hot. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired. This dish pairs excellently with a crisp green salad or warm crusty bread for a complete meal.

Notes

  • Be sure not to rinse the pasta after draining to allow the sauce to cling better.
  • Adjust the amount of salt and red pepper flakes to your personal taste preference for seasoning and spiciness.
  • Reserve pasta water is key to adjusting sauce thickness without diluting the flavor.
  • Velveeta cheese provides a smooth melt, but you can substitute with processed cheese if unavailable.
  • This dish reheats well and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Find it online: https://mealsbykate.com/creamy-velveeta-beef-bowtie-pasta-recipe/