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A close-up view of creamy cheeseburger pasta with ground beef and bacon in a rustic bowl.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta: The Ultimate One-Pot Comfort Meal

This Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta is the ultimate weeknight comfort food! An easy one-pot recipe featuring creamy, cheesy sauce, savory ground beef, and crispy bacon. The perfect family-friendly meal that's ready in just 35 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650

Ingredients
  

  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
  • 1 lb lean ground beef 85/15 or 90/10
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups beef broth low-sodium
  • 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 lb short pasta such as rotini, shells, or elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot or Dutch Oven
  • 1 Box grater

Instructions
 

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pot.
  2. Add the ground beef and diced onion to the pot. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  3. Stir in the beef broth, undrained diced tomatoes, ketchup, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer. Stir in the uncooked pasta. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally.
  4. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in half of the crispy bacon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with the remaining bacon before serving.

Notes

Tip 1: For the creamiest sauce, use freshly shredded cheddar cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contains additives that can make the sauce grainy.
Tip 2: Feel free to add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a subtle kick of heat.
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