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A close-up shot of the creamy bacon cheeseburger pasta, showing the rich texture of the cheese sauce and ground beef.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta (The Ultimate One-Pot Recipe)

This Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta is the ultimate one-pot weeknight dinner! It combines savory ground beef, crispy bacon, and a creamy cheddar cheese sauce with tender pasta for a meal the whole family will love. Easy, quick, and delicious!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
  • 1 lb ground beef 85/15 recommended
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 4 cups beef broth low-sodium
  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes undrained
  • 12 oz short pasta such as rotini, shells, or elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper or to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Large Dutch oven or pot
  • 1 Wooden spoon
  • 1 Cheese Grater

Method
 

  1. In a large Dutch oven, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon, leaving about 1 tbsp of grease. Add ground beef and onion, cooking until beef is browned. Drain excess grease.
  2. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  3. Pour in beef broth and undrained diced tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Stir in the uncooked pasta. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally.
  4. Turn off the heat. Slowly stir in the heavy cream. Gradually add the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
  5. Stir in half of the cooked bacon. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining bacon.

Notes

For the creamiest sauce, use freshly shredded cheese from a block.
If the sauce gets too thick while cooking, add a splash of beef broth.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.