Cheeseburger Pasta
Cheeseburger Pasta is an easy one-pot dinner ready in 30 minutes. A cheesy, beefy pasta with ketchup, mustard, and pickles for big burger flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 small onion (finely diced)
- 5 pickle spears (finely diced)
- 3 oz tomato paste
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 cups water or beef broth
- 16 oz rotini pasta
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 slices American cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef; drain off 90% of the excess grease. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then add diced onions and pickles and cook for 3-4 minutes, until slightly translucent.
- Add tomato paste, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce; stir well.
- Add pasta and 4 cups of water to the skillet. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low, allowing the pasta to simmer for 5-10 minutes (until al dente).
- Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar and the American cheese slices to the skillet and stir well, until cheese is melty and blended. Top pasta with remaining cheddar cheese and (optional) brown the cheese under the broiler for 3-4 minutes, until browned and crispy.
Notes
- Use short pasta like rotini, penne, or macaroni for best sauce hold
- Use block cheese and remove pan from heat before adding to prevent grainy sauce
- Stir pasta often while simmering to prevent sticking
- Cook to just al dente - it finishes in residual heat
- Use beef broth instead of water for better flavor (optional but recommended)
- Add liquid gradually if pasta absorbs the water too fast
- Let rest 2–3 minutes before serving to thicken
- Add a splash of milk or broth when reheating leftovers
- Do not freeze - texture and sauce quality decline
- Add-ins like bacon or jalapeños can be mixed in at the end
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 550kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 28gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 2144mgPotassium: 648mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 663IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 388mgIron: 3mg
