Ever wish you could eat a bacon cheeseburger with a fork without looking like a complete savage? Well, your prayers have been answered. This Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Bake is basically everything you love about a loaded cheeseburger, but in pasta form and baked until it’s all bubbly and golden on top. We’re talking ground beef cooked with onions, crispy bacon bits, tender pasta, and enough cheese to make your cardiologist weep (but in a good way). It’s comfort food that doesn’t require any napkins, feeds a small army, and somehow manages to sneak some veggies in there too. Your kids will lose their minds over this, and honestly, so will you.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- All the cheeseburger flavor, zero burger-flipping required
- One dish, minimal cleanup (your future self says thanks)
- Feeds 6-8 people without breaking the bank
- Perfect for potlucks because it travels like a champ
- Leftovers are somehow even better the next day
- Kid-approved but sophisticated enough for adults
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
For the Pasta Base:
- 1 lb penne or rotini pasta
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 for maximum flavor)
- 8 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Sauce That Ties It All Together:
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup (don’t judge, it’s genius)
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
For the Cheese Situation:
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
For the Toppings:
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced pickles
- Extra bacon bits
- Special sauce (recipe below)
For the Special Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
Let’s Do This
Step 1: Get Your Pasta Game On
Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Cook pasta according to package directions until just shy of al dente (it’ll finish cooking in the oven). Drain and set aside.
Step 2: Bacon Makes Everything Better
In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on paper towels.
Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan (this is where the magic happens).
Step 3: Brown That Beef
Add ground beef to the same skillet and cook over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it goes.
When the beef is about halfway done, add the diced onion and cook until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, about 8-10 minutes total.
Add garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Sauce It Up
In a bowl, whisk together tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
Pour this sauce into the skillet with the beef and let it simmer for 5 minutes to meld all those flavors.
Step 5: Make It Creamy
In another bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth.
Add 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Mix until combined.
Step 6: Assembly Time
In your greased baking dish, layer half the pasta, then all the creamy cheese mixture, then the beef mixture, then the remaining pasta.
Top with the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, plus most of the crispy bacon (save some for garnish).
Step 7: Bake It ‘Til You Make It
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving (this prevents lava-hot cheese burns).
Step 8: Make It Look Like a Real Cheeseburger
While it’s cooling, make your special sauce by whisking together mayo, ketchup, pickle relish, and mustard.
Top each serving with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, pickles, extra bacon bits, and a drizzle of special sauce.
Serving Suggestions
This is basically a complete meal, but you could serve it with a simple side salad or some garlic bread if you’re feeling fancy.
A cold beer pairs perfectly with this comfort food masterpiece.
Switch It Up
Make It Lighter: Use ground turkey instead of beef and reduce the cheese by half.
Add Some Veggies: Sneak in some diced bell peppers or mushrooms with the onions.
Spice It Up: Add some diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the meat mixture.
Make It Smokier: Add a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the sauce.
Go Fancy: Use a mix of aged cheddar and gruyere for the cheese.
Make-Ahead Tips
You can assemble this entire dish up to a day ahead and just bake it when you’re ready.
The components can be prepped separately and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Leftovers keep for 4-5 days in the fridge and reheat beautifully in the microwave.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I use a different pasta shape? A: Absolutely! Any short pasta works — penne, rotini, shells, even bow ties. Just avoid long noodles like spaghetti.
Q: Can I make this without bacon? A: You can, but why would you want to? If you must, add some smoked paprika for that smoky flavor.
Q: Will this freeze well? A: Yes! Freeze it before baking for up to 3 months. Just thaw overnight and bake as directed (might need an extra 10 minutes).
Q: Can I make individual portions? A: Sure! Divide everything between 6-8 ramekins and reduce the baking time to about 20 minutes.
Q: What if I can’t find cream cheese? A: You can use all sour cream, or even substitute with ricotta cheese for a different but still delicious result.
Print
Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Bake
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Ever wish you could eat a bacon cheeseburger with a fork without looking like a complete savage? Well, your prayers have been answered. This Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Bake is basically everything you love about a loaded cheeseburger, but in pasta form and baked until it’s all bubbly and golden on top. We’re talking ground beef cooked with onions, crispy bacon bits, tender pasta, and enough cheese to make your cardiologist weep (but in a good way). It’s comfort food that doesn’t require any napkins, feeds a small army, and somehow manages to sneak some veggies in there too. Your kids will lose their minds over this, and honestly, so will you.
Ingredients
For the Pasta Base:
- 1 lb penne or rotini pasta
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 for maximum flavor)
- 8 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Sauce That Ties It All Together:
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup (don’t judge, it’s genius)
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
For the Cheese Situation:
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
For the Toppings:
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced pickles
- Extra bacon bits
- Special sauce (recipe below)
For the Special Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Cook pasta according to package directions until just shy of al dente (it’ll finish cooking in the oven). Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on paper towels.
Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan (this is where the magic happens).
Add ground beef to the same skillet and cook over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it goes.
When the beef is about halfway done, add the diced onion and cook until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, about 8-10 minutes total.
Add garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper.
In a bowl, whisk together tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
Pour this sauce into the skillet with the beef and let it simmer for 5 minutes to meld all those flavors.
In another bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth.
Add 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Mix until combined.
In your greased baking dish, layer half the pasta, then all the creamy cheese mixture, then the beef mixture, then the remaining pasta.
Top with the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, plus most of the crispy bacon (save some for garnish).
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving (this prevents lava-hot cheese burns).
While it’s cooling, make your special sauce by whisking together mayo, ketchup, pickle relish, and mustard.
Top each serving with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, pickles, extra bacon bits, and a drizzle of special sauce.
Notes
This is basically a complete meal, but you could serve it with a simple side salad or some garlic bread if you’re feeling fancy.
A cold beer pairs perfectly with this comfort food masterpiece.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~580 kcal
- Carbohydrates: ~42g
- Protein: ~28g