Cheeseburger Pasta takes everything you love about classic burger flavors and marries it with the goodness of cheesy pasta! It’s stick-to-your-ribs comfort food that the whole family loves. Such an easy one pot recipe that’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Enjoy more of our family favorite pasta recipes like Homemade Hamburger Helper, Lasagna Roll Ups and One Pot BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pasta!
Table of Contents
- Why we love this Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe:
- Cheeseburger Pasta Ingredients:
- How to make Cheeseburger Pasta
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to store Cheeseburger Pasta
- The best way to reheat leftover pasta
- Can I freeze Cheeseburger Pasta?
- Serving suggestions:
- More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love:
- One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe Recipe
This easy Cheeseburger Pasta dish might just be my new favorite hybrid meal! It takes everything you love about burgers (like pickles and ketchup) and combines it with cheesy, tender pasta shells.
If you have kids sitting at the dinner table, congrats! You’ve just discovered their new favorite dinner recipe. Don’t be too surprised when they request this cheesy pasta recipe for dinner over and over… and over again.
I never mind fulfilling that request! This beefy pasta comes together in one pan in just half an hour, so it’s never a hassle to toss it together.
Why we love this Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe:
- 30 Minute Meal: Yes! This easy Cheeseburger Pasta recipe comes together in just 30 minutes, which is wonderful when you don’t have a ton of time to play around with on a busy weeknight.
- Versatile: There are so many different ways you can customize this dinner recipe. Scroll down to check out some suggestions.
- Kid Friendly: There’s nothing more kid friendly than burgers and cheesy pasta!
- One Pot: Easy to toss together and even easier to clean when it’s all said and done.
Cheeseburger Pasta Ingredients:
- Ground Beef: I like to use lean ground beef, that way I don’t need to drain any excess fat. If your ground beef does render a lot of fat, be sure to drain it before proceeding to the next step.
- Broth: I always recommend using a low sodium broth and adding salt if needed. If you’re starting with salted broth, you may want to omit the additional sprinkle of salt.
- Cream: I use heavy cream for a rich flavor and thick sauce. You can use a lighter cream or milk, but lower fat dairy has the risk of curdling and will create a thinner sauce.
- Ketchup, Mustard, Relish and Pickles: These are classic burger toppings that I love! Feel free to add or remove as you like. The ketchup, mustard and relish are in such small amounts that they add flavor but you won’t really taste them.
- Cheddar Cheese: For the best flavor and smooth consistency, consider grating the cheese yourself.
- Onion: A white or yellow onion will both work just fine here.
- Tomato Paste: Don’t swap this with any other tomato ingredient! You need it to create the richest flavor.
- Garlic: Add more or less depending on your personal preferences.
- Paprika: You can swap this with smoked paprika for a little extra flavor.
How to make Cheeseburger Pasta
Take a quick look at just how simple this ground beef pasta recipe is! For more details on the step by step process, just scroll all the way down to the recipe card.
- Cook the ground beef and onions.
- Stir in tomato paste, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper and paprika.
- Add beef broth, ketchup, relish and cream. Bring to a simmer over high heat.
- Add uncooked pasta, stir, cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring often, until pasta is al dente. Stir in cheese until melted. Taste and serve.
Variations and Substitutions
- Vegetables: Feel free to bump up the veggie content! Chopped mushrooms, peppers or shredded carrots work well in here – just add them with the ground beef and onion. This is a great way to sneak veggies onto your little one’s plate!
- Ground Beef: You can swap this with ground chicken, ground turkey or ground pork.
- Heavy Cream: For a lighter sauce, use half and half instead.
How to store Cheeseburger Pasta
Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
The best way to reheat leftover pasta
To reheat, add a splash of water or broth to individual portions and pop them in the microwave and zap it for 30-45 seconds at a time, stirring each time it stops, until warmed all the way through.
The pasta soaks up moisture as it sits, so this ensures it is saucy and not dry!
Can I freeze Cheeseburger Pasta?
Yes! Just note that frozen pasta will be notably softer once defrosted and reheated.
To freeze Cheeseburger Pasta, let it first fully cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Allow it to slowly thaw in the fridge prior to reheating.
Serving suggestions:
Cheeseburger Pasta is a pretty hearty meal, so consider plating it next to a veggie side like Air Fryer Broccoli or Roasted Vegetables! For even more cheesy goodness, check out Cheesy Baked Asparagus.
More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love:
- Cheese Cannelloni — restaurant quality baked pasta!
- One Pan Chicken Meatballs with Orzo — simple and full of flavor.
- Gnocchi with Sausage, Spinach and Tomatoes — a lighter gnocchi dish that’s still hearty!
- Baked Mostaccioli Pasta — prep ahead meal for busy weeknights!
One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small onion (finely diced)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 3 cups low sodium beef broth
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 3 cups pasta shells (about 210 grams)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- sliced pickles, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. If it is not a non-stick skillet, add a drizzle of oil or non stick spray.
- Add ground beef and onion and cook, stirring, until beef is browned and onion is softened.
- Stir in tomato paste, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper and paprika and cook 1 minute.
- Add beef broth, ketchup, relish and cream and bring to a simmer over high heat.
- Add uncooked pasta, stir, cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring often, until pasta is al dente.
- Stir in cheese until melted. Taste and serve.
Notes
- Ground beef: I also use lean ground beef so there is not usually a need to drain the fat. If you find there is a lot of fat left over after cooking, you can drain it before continuing. You can also swap this with ground pork, chicken or turkey.
- Vegetables: feel free to bump up the veggie content! Chopped mushrooms, peppers or shredded carrots work well in here — just add them with the ground beef and onion.
- Broth: I always choose low sodium broth and add salt as needed. If you’re starting with salted broth, you may want to omit the salt and add as needed when serving.
- Cream: I use heavy cream for a rich flavor and thick sauce. You can use a lighter cream or milk, but lower fat dairy has the risk of curdling and will make a thinner sauce.
- Ketchup, mustard, relish and pickles: These are classic burger toppings and you can add or remove as you like. The ketchup, mustard and relish are in such small amounts that they add flavor but you will not really taste them.
Nutrition Information
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