What if you could capture all the iconic, crave worthy flavors of a juicy cheeseburger; the savory beef, melty cheese, tangy pickles, and special sauce; and turn it into the easiest one pot pasta dinner of your life? This Cheeseburger Pasta is exactly that genius mashup! It’s a creamy, cheesy, family friendly skillet meal that comes together in one pan and is ready in just 30 minutes. Get ready for a dinner that’s fun, nostalgic, and so delicious that it’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One Pot Wonder: Pasta cooks right in the flavorful sauce, meaning incredible taste and minimal cleanup.
- All the Burger Vibes: Every bite delivers the classic flavors of a cheeseburger in a cozy pasta form.
- Weeknight Hero: Ready in 30 minutes flat, making it a lifesaver on busy evenings.
- Kid Approved Magic: This is the dinner that will make even the pickiest eaters clean their plates.
Ingredients for Cheeseburger Pasta
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 green bell peppers, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups beef broth
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 8 oz short pasta (like elbow macaroni, rotini, or shells)
- ½ cup chopped dill pickles
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions for Making Cheeseburger Pasta
1Brown the Beef: Heat the vegetable oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until it’s browned and cooked through.
2Sauté the Veggies: Add the chopped onion, sliced bell peppers, and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for another 5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
3Create the “Special Sauce” & Cook the Pasta: Pour in 2 ½ cups of the beef broth (reserve the rest), ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika. Stir everything together and bring to a simmer.
Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet, stirring to submerge it in the liquid. Bring back to a simmer, then cover and reduce the heat to medium-low.
Cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid. If the pan looks too dry before the pasta is cooked, add the remaining ½ cup of broth.
4The Cheesy, Pickle Finish: Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat. Stir in the chopped pickles and the softened cream cheese until the cream cheese is fully melted and creates a creamy sauce.
5Melt the Cheese & Serve: Preheat your broiler. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the pasta.
Place the skillet under the broiler for 2-4 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. (If your skillet isn’t oven safe, simply sprinkle the cheese on top, cover with a lid for a minute off the heat until melted).
Let it cool for a minute, then serve directly from the skillet!
One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 2 green bell peppers sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups beef broth divided
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 8 oz short pasta elbow, rotini, etc.
- ½ cup chopped dill pickles
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Brown ground beef for 5-7 mins.
- Add onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook 5 mins until softened.
- Stir in 2 ½ cups broth, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire, and paprika. Bring to a simmer.
- Add uncooked pasta. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 12-15 mins until pasta is tender. Add remaining broth if needed.
- Turn off heat. Stir in pickles and cream cheese until melted.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Broil for 2-4 mins until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve.
Notes
- Pasta Choice: Any short pasta that cooks in about 10-12 minutes works perfectly.
- Pickles are Key: Don’t skip the pickles! They add the essential tangy crunch that makes it taste like a real cheeseburger.
- Broiler Watch: If using the broiler, keep a close eye on it as cheese can go from golden to burnt very quickly.
