Description
Imagine taking everything you love about a loaded bacon cheeseburger — the juicy beef, crispy bacon, melted cheese, pickles, onions, and that perfect burger sauce — and somehow transforming it into the most indulgent pasta dish you’ve ever encountered. This Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta is basically what happens when comfort food throws all caution to the wind and decides to be absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way. We’re talking seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon bits, tender pasta shells that hold onto all the good stuff, and a creamy cheese sauce that’s been spiked with all those classic burger flavors. It’s the kind of dish that makes you question why you ever bothered with regular pasta when you could be eating a cheeseburger in pasta form. Fair warning: this is dangerously addictive and will probably ruin regular burgers for you.
Ingredients
For the Burger Base:
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (80/20 blend is perfect)
- 8–10 strips thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 lb pasta shells or rotini (shapes that hold sauce well)
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Cheese Sauce:
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 1 cup American cheese, cubed (for ultimate meltiness)
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp pickle juice (trust me on this)
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Loaded Toppings:
- 1/2 cup dill pickles, diced
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced and drained
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 cups iceberg lettuce, chopped
- Extra bacon crumbles for topping
- More shredded cheddar for serving
- 2 green onions, chopped
For the Special Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp pickle juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Instructions
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil.
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining. Don’t rinse the pasta.
In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy.
Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside on paper towels.
Leave about 3 tbsp of bacon fat in the pan (liquid gold for flavor).
Add ground beef to the bacon fat and cook over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon.
Season with Worcestershire, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Cook until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.
Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Remove beef mixture and set aside, but keep the pan with all those beautiful fond bits.
In the same pan, melt butter over medium heat.
Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Slowly pour in milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until thickened, about 5-7 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese until smooth.
Gradually add cheddar and American cheeses, stirring until melted and creamy.
Stir in mustard, ketchup, and pickle juice — this is what makes it taste like a burger.
Season with salt and pepper. If too thick, add pasta water a little at a time.
In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, garlic powder, and onion powder.
This is going on top for that authentic burger sauce flavor.
Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and toss until every piece is coated.
Fold in the beef mixture and about 3/4 of the cooked bacon.
Add diced pickles and mix gently — you want them distributed but not mushy.
Transfer to serving bowls or a large platter.
Top with diced tomatoes, red onion, and chopped lettuce.
Drizzle with the special sauce and sprinkle with remaining bacon crumbles.
Add extra shredded cheese and green onions because we’re going all out here.
Serve immediately while everything is hot and melty.
Notes
Serve with a side of crispy fries or onion rings for the full burger joint experience.
A cold beer or milkshake pairs perfectly with this level of indulgence.
Simple coleslaw on the side helps cut through all that rich, cheesy goodness.
Garlic bread is never a bad idea when cheese sauce is involved.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~720 kcal
- Carbohydrates: ~50g
- Protein: ~35g