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

Scale

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

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.

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