Description
This *Creamy Velveeta Linguine with Italian Beef Marinara* is the ultimate comfort food—perfect for those looking for **easy dinner ideas**, a **quick family meal**, or **hearty pasta recipes** that don’t take hours to make. With a luscious blend of creamy Velveeta cheese and savory Italian-style ground beef marinara, it’s everything you love in one satisfying dish. Great for **weeknight dinners**, **leftover-friendly meal preps**, and anyone craving something indulgent yet simple. If you’re hunting for **quick dinners**, **easy recipes**, or **cheesy pasta food ideas**, this one’s a keeper!
Ingredients
16 oz linguine
1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
2 cups marinara sauce
8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt, to taste
Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish
½ cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until translucent.
3. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
4. Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks—about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
5. Pour in the marinara sauce and stir in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes (if using). Simmer on low for 8–10 minutes.
6. Add cubed Velveeta to the skillet. Stir continuously over low heat until melted and creamy.
7. Add the drained linguine to the sauce and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time to loosen the sauce if needed.
8. Serve hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley or basil and extra cheese or chili flakes if desired.
Notes
Cut the Velveeta into small cubes before adding—it melts faster and more evenly.
Use freshly boiled pasta and don’t rinse it; the starch helps the sauce stick better.
A splash of pasta water at the end can make a huge difference in sauce texture—don’t skip it!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 1040mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, beef linguine, Velveeta recipe, easy dinner, quick pasta, cheesy pasta dish