Description
A comforting and cheesy pasta dish featuring bowtie pasta and savory ground beef in a creamy Velveeta cheese sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil (if beef is lean)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 6 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella (optional for extra gooeyness)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a mild kick)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water (as needed for creaminess)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Extra Parmesan (for garnish)
- A sprinkle of smoked paprika or black pepper (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil pasta: Start by boiling your bowtie pasta in a large pot of salted water until it’s al dente—this usually takes about 8–10 minutes. Remember to reserve about ½ cup of that starchy pasta water before draining the rest.
- Cook ground beef: In a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, and season it generously with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for about 6–7 minutes until the beef is fully browned and crumbly, stirring occasionally.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add the butter and let it melt. As it sizzles, toss in the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant—about 30 seconds. Pour in the heavy cream, stirring gently. Add the Velveeta cubes; keep stirring until they’re fully melted and the sauce is silky smooth.
- Combine pasta and beef: Add the cooked bowtie pasta to the skillet and toss until they’re thoroughly coated. Gently fold in the cooked ground beef, ensuring everything is well mixed. If the sauce looks a bit too thick, gradually add some of the reserved pasta water until you achieve your desired creaminess.
- Serve it up: Plate the creamy bowtie pasta topped with generous portions of beef. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, grated Parmesan, and a dash of smoked paprika or black pepper for extra flavor.
Notes
This dish is easily customizable – feel free to add vegetables or swap the beef for turkey or meat alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: pasta, beef, comfort food, cheesy, Velveeta, quick meal