Okay, so imagine your favorite bacon cheeseburger had a baby with a bowl of pasta. Weird? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely. This is comfort food that doesn’t apologize for what it is — ground beef, crispy bacon, melted cheese, and pasta all hanging out in one glorious, messy bowl. It’s like someone took everything good about a burger joint and said “screw the bun, let’s make this a pasta situation.” Your kids will lose their minds over this, and honestly, so will you. It’s the kind of dinner that makes everyone forget they had a bad day.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s basically a cheeseburger you can eat with a fork
- One pot, minimal cleanup (your future self says thanks)
- Bacon AND ground beef because why choose?
- Cheesy, saucy, and ridiculously satisfying
- Ready in 30 minutes or less
- Leftovers taste even better the next day
- Kid-approved, adult-obsessed
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
For the Pasta Base:
- 12 oz penne or rigatoni (something that can hold all the good stuff)
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend hits different)
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Sauce Magic:
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard (trust me on this)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for those who like it spicy)
The Cheese Situation:
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
The Finishing Touches:
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup crispy bacon bits (from above, plus extra if you’re feeling it)
- Dill pickle slices (because burgers need pickles)
- Extra cheese for topping (obviously)
Let’s Do This
Step 1: Pasta Time
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
Step 2: Bacon First (Always)
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes.
Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Leave about 2 tbsp of bacon grease in the pan.
Step 3: Beef It Up
Add ground beef to the same pan with the bacon grease. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks.
Season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 4: The Flavor Base
Add diced onion to the beef and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
Stir in garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Step 5: Sauce It Up
Stir in diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne.
Let it simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavors get acquainted.
Step 6: Cheese Heaven
Lower heat to medium-low. Add cream cheese and heavy cream, stirring until smooth.
Gradually add the cheddar and mozzarella, stirring until melted and creamy.
If the sauce looks too thick, add some reserved pasta water a little at a time.
Step 7: Bring It All Together
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until everything is well coated.
Stir in most of the crispy bacon, saving some for topping.
Taste and adjust seasoning — more salt? More mustard? You’re the boss.
Step 8: Serve and Devour
Plate it up and top with remaining bacon, sliced green onions, and extra cheese.
Serve with pickle slices on the side because we’re keeping it authentic.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a simple side salad to balance out all that cheesy goodness.
Garlic bread for dipping because carbs on carbs is a lifestyle.
Cold beer or a vanilla milkshake if you’re really committing to the burger joint vibe.
Switch It Up
Go Turkey: Use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter version.
Spice It Up: Add jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, and hot sauce.
Veggie Boost: Throw in some diced bell peppers or mushrooms with the onions.
Different Cheese: Try a mix of gouda and sharp cheddar for a more complex flavor.
Breakfast Vibes: Add a fried egg on top and call it brunch.
Make-Ahead Tips
Cook the pasta ahead and store covered in the fridge — just reheat when ready to serve.
The meat mixture can be made a day ahead and reheated before adding the cheese.
Bacon can be cooked in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Leftovers keep for 3-4 days in the fridge. Add a splash of milk or cream when reheating.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I make this in a slow cooker? A: Kind of! Brown the meat and bacon first, then add everything except the cheese to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 2-3 hours, then stir in cheese and cooked pasta at the end.
Q: What if I don’t have heavy cream? A: Milk works, or even half-and-half. You might need to add a little cornstarch to thicken it up.
Q: Can I freeze this? A: The pasta might get a little mushy, but the flavors are still great. Freeze for up to 3 months and reheat gently.
Q: How do I keep the cheese from getting gritty? A: Keep the heat low when adding cheese and add it gradually. If it does get gritty, a splash of pasta water usually fixes it.
Q: Can I make this gluten-free? A: Absolutely! Just use your favorite gluten-free pasta. Everything else is naturally gluten-free.
Print
Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Okay, so imagine your favorite bacon cheeseburger had a baby with a bowl of pasta. Weird? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely. This is comfort food that doesn’t apologize for what it is — ground beef, crispy bacon, melted cheese, and pasta all hanging out in one glorious, messy bowl. It’s like someone took everything good about a burger joint and said “screw the bun, let’s make this a pasta situation.” Your kids will lose their minds over this, and honestly, so will you. It’s the kind of dinner that makes everyone forget they had a bad day.
Ingredients
For the Pasta Base:
- 12 oz penne or rigatoni (something that can hold all the good stuff)
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend hits different)
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Sauce Magic:
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard (trust me on this)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for those who like it spicy)
The Cheese Situation:
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
The Finishing Touches:
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup crispy bacon bits (from above, plus extra if you’re feeling it)
- Dill pickle slices (because burgers need pickles)
- Extra cheese for topping (obviously)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes.
Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Leave about 2 tbsp of bacon grease in the pan.
Add ground beef to the same pan with the bacon grease. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks.
Season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
Add diced onion to the beef and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
Stir in garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Stir in diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne.
Let it simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavors get acquainted.
Lower heat to medium-low. Add cream cheese and heavy cream, stirring until smooth.
Gradually add the cheddar and mozzarella, stirring until melted and creamy.
If the sauce looks too thick, add some reserved pasta water a little at a time.
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until everything is well coated.
Stir in most of the crispy bacon, saving some for topping.
Taste and adjust seasoning — more salt? More mustard? You’re the boss.
Plate it up and top with remaining bacon, sliced green onions, and extra cheese.
Serve with pickle slices on the side because we’re keeping it authentic.
Notes
Serve with a simple side salad to balance out all that cheesy goodness.
Garlic bread for dipping because carbs on carbs is a lifestyle.
Cold beer or a vanilla milkshake if you’re really committing to the burger joint vibe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~650 kcal
- Carbohydrates: ~48g
- Protein: ~32g