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!
Loved the creamy texture, but I had to add a splash more milk because it got a bit thick while simmering. Next time I’ll keep an eye on the low heat.
Totally agree on the creamy texture! I also found it thickened up fast on me—adding a little extra milk during the low-heat simmer fixed it. Great call keeping the heat low.
Hmm I’m not sure I’d call it “creamy” if it turns thick like that… I followed it and had to keep adding milk too. Maybe my cream cheese was colder? Still pretty tasty though, bacon helps.
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.