Be sure to try my Beefaroni recipe next!
Cheeseburger Pasta
My husband and five year old daughter go crazy for this pasta! First, you’ll fry up some crispy bacon in a skillet. The drippings are reserved and are used to make the roux for the creamy cheddar cheese sauce! The sauce is further enhanced by hints of ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. You can’t taste the hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce outright, they act as subtle flavor enhancers that round out the flavor profile. (And the hot sauce doesn’t make it hot/spicy!)
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions. Cut the bacon into thirds and fry over low heat until crispy. Reserve bacon drippings and set aside. Roughly chop once cooled. Season the ground beef with steak seasoning. Cook and crumble the meat in the same skillet. Drain grease and set aside.
Cook the pasta to al dente and drain once cooked. While the pasta boils, melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously. Add the heavy cream, milk, and chicken broth in small splashes, stirring continuously. Stir in the mustard, ketchup, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low.
Sprinkle in the shredded cheese, stirring continuously to combine. Add the ground beef.
Add the drained pasta and stir to combine. Add the bacon and serve!
What to Add to Cheeseburger Pasta
Diced red onions can be added during the last 5 minutes of cooking the ground beef if desired! Diced tomatoes and/or pickles can also be sprinkled on top at the end. 1-2 teaspoons BBQ sauce can be added with the other condiments as well.
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Leftovers do freeze/reheat well, just be sure not to overcook the pasta. (I always set a timer.)
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This is the skillet– I used in this recipe, (and in 90% of my recipes). It’s pricey, but it conducts heat really well and is oven safe. The size is perfect and the quality is great. Kitchen Shears -I use these to cut the bacon into thirds. This makes it easy to flip and rotate them around the skillet for even cooking. Box cheese grater– Shredding the cheese from a block ensures that it melts smooth and creamy into the sauce. Pinch Bowls– For measuring seasonings/flavor enhancers ahead of time. Pasta Strainer– This is the one I have, it’s a great size.
