Go Back
A close-up shot of the cheesy ground beef pasta, highlighting the creamy sauce coating every piece of shell pasta.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta: The Ultimate Creamy Recipe

This Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta is the ultimate comfort food mashup. Tender pasta, seasoned ground beef, and crispy bacon are tossed in a rich, velvety cheese sauce for a delicious one-pan meal the whole family will love.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 750

Ingredients
  

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta
  • 1 lb medium pasta shells or rotini, or elbow macaroni
  • 1 lb lean ground beef 85/15 recommended
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
  • 1 cup yellow onion finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 cups beef broth low sodium
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded
  • 4 slices American cheese
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp salt to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet or Dutch Oven
  • 1 Cheese grater

Method
 

  1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of grease in the skillet.
  2. Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the ground beef and cook until fully browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  3. Stir in the beef broth, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Add the uncooked pasta and stir to combine, making sure the pasta is submerged. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente.
  4. Turn off the heat. Slowly pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine. Add the shredded cheddar and American cheese slices. Stir continuously until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  5. Stir in half of the crispy bacon. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining bacon and fresh parsley, if desired.

Notes

Tip 1: For the creamiest sauce, use freshly shredded cheese. Pre-shredded varieties contain additives that can result in a grainy texture.
Tip 2: Feel free to customize with your favorite burger toppings like diced pickles or tomatoes stirred in at the end.