Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta tastes way better than the box and is healthier, too. Kids and adults love this easy one-pot meal.
Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
When the work day has been long and supper is an afterthought, this one skillet recipe with all the flavors of a bacon cheeseburger is a life saver.
Having a busy week seems to be the norm these days. And I know many people default to grabbing the box of Hamburger Helper so they don't have to gather a bunch of special ingredients to make a crowd-pleasing comfort food.
I would like to encourage you to give this homemade version a try. Your whole family will be impressed with the beefy, creamy pasta dish that comes together in mere minutes.
This great recipe is a cinch to make. Throw a simple green salad next to it and you have a complete meal.
This Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet has no special ingredients or techniques. Heck! For this easy dinner, you only need one skillet. No need to even boil and drain pasta.
Ingredients
- Bacon, chopped and drained on paper towels
- Ground Beef--I used leftover browned beef from Sloppy Joe Sliders, but you can also used ground turkey, ground pork, or ground chicken
- Ketchup
- Dijon Mustard
- Hot Sauce, optional
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Seasoned Salt--I used Lawry's Seasoning Salt
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
- Macaroni Noodles--I used small shells, but elbow macaroni works great
- Beef Broth--I use water and Beef Bouillon
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Garnish with your favorite cheeseburger toppings such as dill pickles, chopped onion, barbecue sauce, slices of American cheese, bacon strips, etc.
How to Make Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook bacon. Using a slotted spoon remove the cooked bacon and set aside and pour bacon grease out of the skillet.
- Add the lean ground beef and cook beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink and browned. Discard drippings, if needed, and return the cooked ground beef to the pan.
- Reduce heat to low and add the ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, seasonings, noodles, and beef broth to the pan and stir well to combine.
- Simmer for 12-15 minutes until the noodles are cooked al dente.
- Remove pan from heat and stir in the sour cream.
- Top with the shredded cheese until well combined. Heat on low for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Top with crispy bacon and other garnishes of choice and serve.
Top Tips
Brown your burger until it is just starting to crisp leaving brown bits on the bottom of your skillet. This is where the flavor comes from.
Use a high-quality beef bouillon paste and water in place of broth for ease.
Storage
Allow the chili to cool before putting it in shallow airtight containers and storing up to 3-5 days.
Store in a freezer bag or container and store for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost slightly before reheating in the microwave, skillet, or oven. Be careful not to overcook the noodles.
Substitutions and Variations
Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta--Add jalapenos, green chilis, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, and/hot sauce to the basic recipe to spice yours up.
Add-ins to Try-Add additional tomato sauce if you want more tomato flavor. A splash of Worcestershire sauce for some interest.
Gluten-Free Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta--Substitute gluten-free pasta, if desired.
Something Else to Try
If you're looking for other super fast, one pot, easy recipes to get a delish meal on your dinner table, consider trying--
- Quick Korean Bulgogi
- Cheesy Kielbasa Hash Brown Casserole
- Sloppy Joe Sliders
- Easy Creamy Pesto Gnocchi
Did You Try This Recipe?
Lastly, if you made Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta following this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a 5-star rating!
I love hearing from you! I'll do my best to respond to each comment.
And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag @laughingroostereats on Instagram and hashtag it #laughingroostereats! Seeing your photos is our favorite thing!
Food Safety
- Wash hands before cooking
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- See more guidelines at USDA.gov
Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta
Ingredients
- 5 slices Bacon chopped
- 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
- 1 Tablespoon Ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Hot Sauce optional
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Seasoned Salt
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 cups Elbow Macaroni Noodles or small pasta of any shape
- 2 ½ cups Beef Broth or water and Beef Bouillon
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- 2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook the bacon. Set aside and pour bacon grease out of skillet.
- Add the ground beef and cook over medium-high heat until no longer pink and browned. Discard drippings, if needed, and return cooked ground beef to the pan.
- Reduce heat to low and add the ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, seasonings, noodles and beef broth to the pan and stir well to combine.
- Simmer for 12-15 minutes until the noodles are cooked al dente.
- Remove pan from heat and stir in the sour cream.
- Top with the shredded cheese until well combined. Heat on low to melt the cheese.
- Top with cooked bacon and serve.
Denise says
I am definitely trying this one. I make cheeseburger meatloaf because it's the only one my kids will eat, but this looks really good and easy.
Angie shireman says
Made this for supper! My family loved it! Very simple and quick to make!
Denise Alexander says
Tried this tonight. I made no changes or additions, it was very good. Kenny loved it!