Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta turns familiar burger-night flavors into a creamy one-pan dinner. Ground beef, bacon, cheddar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce coat cooked rotini or penne in a simple milk sauce that comes together without a separate pot.
The recipe serves 4 and takes 30 minutes: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook. Have the pasta cooked before starting the skillet so it can enter as soon as the sauce thickens.
Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Ingredients
Gather 1 pound ground beef, 2 cups cooked rotini or penne, ½ cup crumbled cooked bacon, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 cup whole milk. For the quick sauce, measure ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup ketchup, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce. Salt and pepper complete the seasoning.
These amounts make 4 servings. The pasta measurement is for pasta that has already been cooked, and the bacon should also be cooked and crumbled before the skillet begins.
If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like Mac Cheese Bacon Burger Rolls.
How to Make Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta
- Brown 1 pound ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles, then drain excess fat.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup flour over the beef and stir until no dry flour remains.
- Slowly whisk in 1 cup whole milk. Add ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until the sauce thickens.
- Add 2 cups cooked pasta, ½ cup cooked bacon, and most of the 1 cup cheddar. Stir until hot and melted.
- Remove from the heat and serve with the remaining cheese and optional extra bacon.
For food-safety guidance while cooking, use the USDA safe minimum temperature chart.
Prepare the Pasta and Bacon First
Brown the Ground Beef
Stir Flour Directly Into the Beef
Build the Cheeseburger Sauce
Fold In Pasta, Bacon, and Most of the Cheese
Finish Off the Heat
Texture and Timing Checks
Storage and Gentle Reheating
Conclusion
Brown and drain 1 pound ground beef over medium heat. Stir in ¼ cup flour, slowly whisk in 1 cup whole milk, then add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Fold in 2 cups cooked pasta, ½ cup bacon, and most of 1 cup cheddar. When melted, remove from heat and finish with the remaining cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Should the two cups of pasta be measured before or after cooking?
Measure 2 cups of cooked rotini or penne. Cook and drain it before beginning the final skillet steps.
- → How long should the milk sauce simmer?
Simmer it for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until it thickens.
- → When is the cheddar added?
Stir most of the 1 cup cheddar in with the pasta and bacon, then use the remainder as the final topping.
- → How many servings does this recipe make?
The stated quantities make 4 servings.