Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet
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Craving a cheeseburger but want an easy weeknight dinner? This Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet delivers all the flavors of your favorite burger—juicy beef, crispy bacon, tender pasta, and melted cheese in one simple, family-friendly meal. Skip the drive-thru and enjoy this quick cheeseburger pasta skillet at home, ready in just 30 minutes.
Looking for more easy beef recipes? Check out my Italian Beef Sandwich, Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes, Vegetable Beef Soup, or Chili Mac.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta
- Burger flavors, no grill required. Enjoy the taste of a classic cheeseburger without the hassle of forming patties.
- Minimal cleanup. Just one pot for pasta and one skillet for the sauce.
- Customizable. Add your favorite burger toppings and condiments to make it your own.
- Perfect for meal prep. This ground beef pasta skillet reheats beautifully for easy lunches or dinners.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Penne pasta (save some pasta water)
- Lean ground beef
- Garlic salt
- Bacon strips, diced
- Tomato paste
- Pasta water or beef broth
- BBQ sauce
- Ground mustard
- Onion powder
- Worcestershire sauce
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Ketchup, yellow mustard, and pickle relish for serving
How to Make a Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet
This cheeseburger pasta skillet comes together quickly:
- Cook pasta until al dente; drain, saving a cup of pasta water.
- Brown beef in a skillet, leaving about a tablespoon of fat for flavor.
- Add pasta, bacon, tomato paste, pasta water (or broth), BBQ sauce, mustard, onion powder, and Worcestershire. Heat through.
- Remove from heat, top with cheddar, and cover until melted.
- Serve with ketchup, mustard, and relish for that classic cheeseburger taste.
When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
How to Store
This bacon cheeseburger pasta keeps well:
Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
TidyMom’s Tips
- Short pasta shapes like penne or elbow macaroni work best.
- Leave some fat from the cooked beef in the pan for extra flavor.
- Scrape up browned bits from the skillet—they add depth to the sauce.
Variations & Additions
- Onion: Add diced yellow onion while browning beef or use onion powder.Sauce: Substitute tomato sauce for tomato paste; reduce pasta water by half.
- Condiments: Try hot sauce, garlic aioli, queso, beer cheese, or avocado cream.
- Spice: Add black pepper, crushed red pepper, or cayenne for heat.
- Relish: Use dill or bread-and-butter relish.
- Broth: Chicken broth works if you don’t have beef broth.
- Bacon: Swap turkey bacon if preferred.
- Meat: Try ground turkey, chicken, or pork for variety.
Kitchen Notes
- Add a splash of water or sauce when reheating to keep it moist.
- For microwave reheating, spread pasta in a ring for even heating.
- Pre-cooked bacon saves time, or cook fresh before adding.
- Pair this one-pan cheeseburger pasta with a green salad, or roasted broccoli for a full meal.
Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet Recipe
A cheesy, bacon-filled pasta skillet that brings all the flavors of a cheeseburger to the table in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked penne pasta (save 1 cup pasta water)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 6 bacon strips, diced * see notes
- 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
- 1 cup pasta water (or beef broth)
- ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Ketchup, yellow mustard and pickle relish for serving
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to directions on the package.
- While pasta cooks, in a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat and drain (I like to save a tablespoon of the meat juice in the pan for flavor).
- Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the beef. Stir in cooked diced bacon, tomato paste, pasta water (or broth), BBQ sauce, ground mustard, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium heat until heated through.
- Move the pan off the heat and sprinkle cheese over the burger mixture and cover (with a lid or foil). Let rest for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve hot with ketchup, yellow mustard and pickle relish on the side for topping (if desired).
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 514Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 858mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 38g
Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used and are just estimates. We encourage, especially if these numbers are important to you, to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
This Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet is quick, comforting, and loaded with flavor. Perfect for weeknight family dinners, it’s cheesy, meaty, and always a hit at the table.
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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