Cheeseburger Pasta

Cheeseburgers are always an easy go-to when I don’t know what to cook for dinner. They’re easy, quick, tasty and use up many ingredients and condiments I have on hand. So we switched things up and made the same thing in pasta form instead! Enter this cheeseburger pasta recipe. It’s a cheesy pasta made in a skillet that has all of your favorite ingredients mixed in to a delectable sauce, topped and topped with melty cheese. It’s what weeknight pasta dinner dreams are made of!

Ingredients for Cheeseburger Pasta

• Whole wheat penne: Use a short pasta like penne for this recipe. Other short pasta shapes that work well for this one pot cheeseburger pasta include elbows, farfalle, ziti, rigatoni and fusilli.
• Ground beef: Choose a lean ground beef (90% lean) for the base of this recipe.
• Onion: Finely chopped onion is added in to give this pasta recipe that true hamburger taste.
• Diced tomatoes: Tomatoes add acidity to this recipe and also helps loosen up the pasta dish and creates the sauce.
• Dill pickle relish, mustard and ketchup: In true hamburger fashion, condiments are added in to the skillet to give this recipe all of those cheeseburger flavors.
• Steak seasoning and seasoned salt: Because a little extra seasoning on a burger never hurt anyone — and neither on this pasta!
• Cheddar cheese: For topping on this pasta for that true cheeseburger finish.
• Chopped green onions: Optional for garnish. We highly recommend!

Directions

Step 1: Cook the pasta

Cook the pasta according to package directions.

Step 2: Cook the meat

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the beef and onion over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink. Drain the fat. Drain the pasta as well and then add it to the meat mixture.

Step 3: Stir in the sauce

Stir in the tomatoes, relish, mustard, ketchup, steak seasoning and seasoned salt. Bring the sauce to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and let the beef pasta cook uncovered for five minutes.

Step 3: Garnish and serve

Sprinkle the top with cheese and remove the skillet from the heat. Cover and let the cheese melt. Garnish with green onions and serve.

Recipe Variations

• Use ground turkey: For an even leaner cheeseburger pasta recipe, swap out the ground beef with ground turkey.
• Mix in some of the cheese: Stir in some of the shredded cheddar into the cheeseburger pasta skillet before topping with more cheese for an even more melty cheese experience.
• Broil the top: For a crispy finish to your melted cheese, place your skillet underneath the broiler in the oven. Let it sit for three to five minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and crispy to your liking.
• Add bacon: Are you more of a bacon cheeseburger kind of person? Add cooked bacon to your pasta to give it that taste you know and love!

How to Store Cheeseburger Pasta

Cheeseburger pasta will store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three to four days. You can heat this pasta dish in the microwave (add 1 tablespoon of water to your bowl to help loosen up the pasta and sauce), stirring every minute until the pasta and meat is heated through. Or heat it on the stove top!

Can you freeze cheeseburger pasta?

Yes! This cheeseburger pasta recipe can actually freeze well after you cook it. Place portions in freezer-safe airtight containers and freeze up to three months. When it’s time to eat, place it in the fridge to defrost for 24 hours before reheating.

Cheeseburger Pasta Tips

Is cheeseburger pasta a one-pot recipe?

No this cheeseburger pasta isn’t a true one-pot recipe (we cook the pasta in a pot separate from the skillet with the meat). If you want to make it a one-pot meal to save yourself on dishes, cook this meal in a Dutch oven and add some beef broth to your pot when the meat mixture is finished (about 2 cups). Then add in your pasta and let it simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente. Then proceed as usual!

What is the most common cheese on cheeseburger pasta?

We use cheddar on this cheeseburger pasta because it is the most common cheese used for a traditional burger. But feel free to get creative with the different cheese you want to use. Make your cheeseburger pasta your own!

What do you serve with cheeseburger pasta?

Because this one-pot cheeseburger pasta is a hearty meal in itself, choose a lighter side to go with it to contrast from the heavy and savory meal. A simple leafy green salad would do nicely!