Bacon cheeseburger pasta is a delicious, indulgent dish that combines all the savory goodness of a bacon cheeseburger with the comforting texture of pasta. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for those who crave the flavors of a classic burger but want something a little more unique and filling. It’s creamy, cheesy, and loaded with crispy bacon, making it a perfect weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
To start, ground beef is browned in a skillet, seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and then mixed with finely chopped onions for added flavor. The beef is cooked until it’s fully browned, and the natural juices released from the meat help form the base of the dish. Once the beef is cooked, a bit of tomato paste is added for richness, along with a dash of Worcestershire sauce for depth and a hint of tanginess that mimics the flavor profile of a cheeseburger.
Next, pasta- usually penne, rotini, or any shape that can hold onto the sauce – is boiled until tender and then added to the skillet with the beef mixture. The pasta is tossed in the rich beef sauce, ensuring each bite is packed with flavor. A generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese is stirred in, creating a creamy, gooey texture that ties everything together.
The final touch is the crispy bacon, which is cooked separately until golden and crumbled over the top of the pasta. This adds an irresistible crunch and a smoky flavor that perfectly complements the richness of the cheese and beef.
Bacon cheeseburger pasta can be served as is, but it’s also great with a side of garlic bread or a fresh green salad to balance the richness. This dish combines the best of both worlds – pasta and cheeseburgers – into a hearty, flavorful meal that’s perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta shells or any pasta of choice
- 6 slices bacon chopped
- 1 lb ground beef lean
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1/2 cup cream cheese softened
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the skillet.
- Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in the milk, cream cheese, 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheese melts and the mixture is smooth.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to combine with the sauce. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese and cooked bacon.
- Serve immediately, garnished with additional toppings if desired.
This was a huge hit with the family! The kids asked for seconds. Definitely making it again. 😍
I’m not sure about combining pasta with cheeseburgers. Seems kinda weird, right? But it did taste okay in the end.
Tastes so good, but I think I added too much cheese. Next time I’ll listen to the recipe better. 😅
10/10 would recommend! Super easy and fast for a weeknight dinner! Yum!
Bacon and cheese! YUMMY! I just used whatever pasta I had, and it turned out great! 10/10!
I tried it too! But I used too much cheese, it was like a cheese explosion! Still yummy though.
Is this really how you make pasta? Seems like too many cheeses. I’m skeptical.
I think the cheeses make it super creamy! But if you’re not into it, just cut back on one. 🙂
This recipe is awesome! I’m always looking for new pasta ideas. I added some jalapeños for kick. Yum! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was AMAZING! I made it for my family and they devoured it. Totally a keeper!
This was AMAZING! I never thought pasta could taste like a cheeseburger. So delicious!
BEST. DINNER. EVER!! My kids loved it and it was so easy. Thanks for sharing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was sooo good! My kids devoured it. Will make again!
Bacon + cheese = heaven! I can’t get over how good this was! Yum!
Totally agree! This recipe is a game changer! 😍
Sounds like too many ingredients! Can I just use ragu?
Way too heavy for my taste. Delicious, yes, but I felt like I needed a nap after. If you like comfort food, though, you’ll love it.
I think I used too much cream cheese, it was super thick. Next time I’ll cut back.
Really? People like this? I didn’t think it would work but it kinda did. Weird.
Too much cheese for my taste but it looked good. My brother loved it tho.
It was okay, but my husband thought it was too cheesy. It’s a burger but in pasta?
Made it for dinner last night and everyone went back for seconds. I used penne and it still worked great. The sauce got super smooth.
That’s awesome! Penne is a great call—glad it stayed silky and smooth. Did you use the full 1/2 cup cream cheese? Mine gets extra creamy when I keep it on low so it doesn’t break.
I’m skeptical about the cream cheese/milk ratio but it ended up working! Next time I’ll use extra pepper because I like a kick.
I was skeptical about mixing pasta with bacon and cheese, but wow it surprised me! Kids love it.
So glad to hear that! It really is a hit with kids. My family can’t get enough of it either!
Too much work for a pasta. I mean, just boil the noodles and throw on some sauce!
This is such a fun mash-up—bacon + cheddar always wins. The sauce came out creamy and the worcestershire gave it that “burger” vibe I was hoping for.
I tried it but mine was kinda thick/grainy. I think I cooked it too hot? Also I used mozzarella by accident lol—still tasty though. Would try with extra milk next time.
Yes!! I made this last night and the Worcestershire really does make it taste like a cheeseburger. My sauce was super creamy too—10/10 comfort food.
This pasta is AMAZING! I couldn’t believe how cheesy and delicious it was. My kids devoured it!
This recipe is a keeper in our house! My best friend can’t eat gluten but I still made it and everyone loved it!
So glad to hear that! This recipe is super flexible. My kids loved it too!
Bacon pasta. That’s all I got. 😅
Honestly that’s enough 😂 Bacon pasta sounds like an instant win.
I followed the steps, but it turned out kind of salty. Next time I’ll use less bacon or maybe reduce the black pepper. Still tastes comforting like a cheesy burger in pasta form.
Ah bummer—salty happens with bacon + cheddar. Next time try draining off more bacon fat (or only use a tiny drizzle instead of that ~1 tbsp drippings), and go light on pepper/Worcestershire since that can add a salty punch too. Glad it still felt comforting though!
I tried this and it didn’t wow me. The beef was fine, but the sauce tasted more like “cheesy milk” than a burger. Maybe I’m missing something.
Maybe you needed to use more cheddar? I always do like 2 cups cheese so it doesn’t taste like milk lol. Also did you drain the beef fat? If there was extra milk then it’ll be watery.
I get what you mean—this one is definitely more “cheesy creamy” than classic burger-y. Next time, I’d add a splash more Worcestershire (or even a tiny bit of mustard) and cook the sauce a minute longer on low so it thickens and tastes less milky.
My pasta was done, but I waited too long to toss it in the sauce and it thickened up. Still good—just loosened with a splash of milk at the end.
I dont know about adding cream cheese, seems weird. I might skip that next time.
This was soooo good! My kids even ate it, and they are the pickiest!
Wow, that’s awesome! It’s so hard to please picky eaters. I gotta try this recipe for my kids too!
Bacon and cheeseburger is like two of my fave things in one! Love it!!!
I made this for my husband and he loved it. But I think it was a little too greasy with all the bacon. Next time I’ll use less bacon.
Eh, it’s ok. I thought it would be better honestly, maybe too creamy.
Easy to make, but I felt like it was missing something. Maybe some spice or veggies would help.
So easy to make! I used turkey bacon to make it healthier, and it turned out great! Definitely making again.
The flavor was great, but I found it a bit salty depending on your bacon/cheddar. Also I wish the recipe mentioned how long to cook the sauce on low—mine took longer than expected.
Glad you liked the flavor! For the saltiness—yeah, bacon/cheddar really changes that. I’ve started using reduced-sodium cheddar when I can, and I add a pinch of salt only if needed. Also totally agree on the sauce timing; the recipe says “low heat until smooth” but doesn’t give a window. Mine usually takes about 5–8 minutes once the milk is warmed and the cream cheese starts melting—if it goes longer, it can get pretty thick/salty depending on the cheese. Hope that helps!
Too salty for my taste. Maybe less bacon would be better?
How can you even call this pasta? It’s more of a bacon bomb with a side of pasta. Still good tho.
Too many ingredients! Can’t someone just make a Mac’n’cheese without all this fuss? 🤷
I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes a little extra effort is worth it! 😋 Bacon and cheese? Yes, please!
Honestly, I think it sounds delicious! But yeah, if you want quick Mac’n’cheese, maybe stick with the box. 🧀
I dunno… it sounds like a weird mix of things. Pasta and bacon? Really? I think I’ll pass.
Yummy! But I added hot sauce for a kick! 🔥🌶️
Eh, didn’t turn out how I thought. Pasta and bacon just don’t mix like this. Not for me.
Bacon + cheese = love! This dish is just fantastic, nothing can go wrong with it.
Not bad but a bit too rich for my taste. Maybe less cheese next time?
I usually don’t cook pasta sauces with cream cheese, but this melted really smoothly. The texture was perfect and my kids went back for seconds.
Mine clumped slightly even though I stirred constantly. I think my cream cheese was too cold when it went in. Still tasty though—just not as silky.
Just made this and it turned out pretty ok, although my pasta got a bit mushy. Maybe cook it less next time? ⭐⭐⭐
Pretty solid comfort food. I followed the steps but my sauce turned a little thick after simmering too long—next time I’ll warm the milk more and maybe add a splash more.
I dunno, my pasta ended up too cheesy. Next time I’ll use less cheese.
Bacon and beef? Yes please! I used turkey bacon and it was still bomb!
Bacon and cheese in pasta? Sounds good, but isn’t that kinda heavy? 😅 Maybe I’ll try it with turkey instead?
Yeah, it might be heavy but it’s sooo good! 😍 I don’t think turkey could do it justice. Just go for it!
I dunno about swapin’ turkey for bacon. Bacon makes everything better! But, you do you, I guess.
Not bad, but I felt like it needed more seasoning. Also I accidentally used 2x milk because I misread the cup—still edible though lol.
This is dangerously good. The Worcestershire + cheddar combo tastes exactly like a bacon cheeseburger, just in pasta form. I did add pickles on top and it was even better.
OMG this looks so good! Can’t wait to try it this weekend! 😋
Not my thing. I prefer marinara sauce with my pasta, but my husband loved it.
I’m skeptical about Worcestershire in pasta, but surprisingly it works. It tastes like a burger without being weird.
Really easy to follow! I used leftover steak instead of bacon and it was still yum! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Okay but… shells? I used penne and it was fine. I think any pasta works. Pretty solid weeknight meal.
Idk… shells are like the only ones that catch the sauce for me. Penne always feels a bit off, like it don’t get coated enough. But if you say it’s fine then maybe I’ll try it again.
Yeah! I’ve used penne before and it totally works here. Honestly any pasta shape holds the creamy cheeseburger sauce—just toss well and you’re good. Weeknight win.
Woah, this is just a heart attack waiting to happen! Can someone tell me if it’s worth the calories? 🥴
If you make it right, it can be worth it! Just enjoy it in moderation! 😋
Not bad at all, but I had to add a splash more milk because mine got a little thick when the cheese melted. Flavor was solid though—bacon + cheddar is always a win.
Why cream cheese AND cheddar? Feels overkill. The sauce was tasty but a bit heavy, and I could only eat a small portion. Maybe good for hungry people I guess.
I think the idea is cool but my bacon drippings part got messy—too much fat stayed in. Also I didn’t stir constantly so the sauce clumped a little. Still edible, just not pretty.
Eh, it was okay. Maybe I’m just not a fan of cream cheese in pasta? Not for me.
Couldn’t get it fully smooth on low heat—mine turned a bit grainy. I whisked more and it fixed itself, but still not perfect.
So easy. Done in like… an hour. Delicious!
Bacon drippings only 1 tablespoon?? I used more because I’m not wasting the flavor. Turned out amazing. Would absolutely make again.
Totally agree—bacon fat is basically flavor gold. I’m glad it turned out amazing for you! I’ve been tempted to use a bit more too.
I dunno, your instructions are a bit confusing. Do I really need to drain the beef? Seems wasteful. ⭐⭐
Tried this last night—so good. The Worcestershire makes it taste way more “burger-y” than I expected. Sauce was creamy and clung to the pasta. Would definitely make again.
Not gonna lie, it felt like a weird Franken-recipe at first, but it totally hit. Kids loved it, and the bacon bits make it fun.
Followed it pretty much exactly and it turned out great. Next time I’ll use a little more garlic and maybe add some pickles on top for extra burger feel.
I did this once and it was kinda bland, but I think I underdid the salt. Also I used “garlic powder” and it tasted like nothing lol—next time I’ll add real minced garlic and maybe a splash more Worcestershire.
Glad it worked for you! The garlic/pickle idea sounds legit—would totally push it toward that classic burger vibe. I might try exactly that next time.