Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Dish (Print version)
A creamy cheeseburger pasta skillet with ground beef, crisp bacon, cheddar, pickles, and a tangy burger-style sauce.
# Ingredients:
For the pasta
01 -
12 oz (340 g) rotini, shells, or cavatappi pasta
02 -
1 tablespoon kosher salt for the pasta water
For the beef and bacon
03 -
8 oz (225 g) bacon, chopped
04 -
1 lb (450 g) ground beef, 85% lean preferred
05 -
1 small yellow onion, diced
06 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
07 -
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
08 -
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 -
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
For the cheeseburger sauce
10 -
3 tablespoons ketchup
11 -
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
12 -
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
13 -
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
14 -
1 cup (240 ml) low-sodium beef broth
15 -
1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
16 -
2 oz (55 g) cream cheese, cubed
17 -
2 cups (225 g) freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
18 -
1/3 cup (50 g) finely chopped dill pickles, plus more for topping
19 -
2 tablespoons sliced green onions, for topping
# Instructions:
01 -
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente, about 1 minute less than the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
02 -
Cook the chopped bacon in a large deep skillet over medium heat until crisp, 7-9 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the skillet.
03 -
Add the ground beef and onion to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking up the beef, until browned and cooked through, 6-8 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
04 -
Stir in the garlic, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle the flour over the beef and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
05 -
Slowly stir in the beef broth and milk. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Reduce heat to low, then stir in the cream cheese and cheddar until smooth.
06 -
Fold in the drained pasta, chopped pickles, and most of the bacon. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time if the sauce is too thick. Top with remaining bacon, extra pickles, and green onions.
# Good to know:
01 -
Use freshly shredded cheddar for the smoothest sauce.
02 -
Cook ground beef to 160°F for food safety.
03 -
Best served hot while the cheese sauce is loose and creamy.