Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta

If you love pasta and you love a juicy, good old-fashioned bacon cheeseburger, then just wait until you try this ultimate comfort food crossover: bacon cheeseburger pasta. This hearty dish combines tender pasta with ground beef, crispy bacon and loads of gooey cheese. It’s all smothered in a savory barbecue sauce that perfectly captures the essence of the classic bacon cheeseburger. Best of all, it doesn’t take much time to prepare, ensuring that you’ll have an easy, crowd-pleasing meal that’s perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients for Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta

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• Pasta: This recipe calls for uncooked penne, but you can substitute any of your favorite shapes—including spiral, elbow or long-haired linguini pasta—for penne.
• Ground beef: Use lean ground beef for a lighter beef flavor, or sub ground turkey or chicken for the beef to use even leaner proteins.
• Bacon: Dice six strips of your favorite bacon; applewood-smoked bacon would be delicious here.
• Condensed tomato soup: Use one can of undiluted condensed tomato soup (you’ll be adding a 1/2 cup of water to this recipe, too).
• Shredded cheddar cheese: We love the sharp flavor of cheddar cheese, but you can use mozzarella, provolone, Swiss or any other shredded cheese of your choice.
• Optional: For additional, saucy flavor, consider using your favorite barbecue sauce with prepared mustard as well.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the pasta

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Cook the pasta according to package directions.

Step 2: Brown the beef

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Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the beef over medium heat until it’s no longer pink; drain the grease and set the beef aside.

Step 3: Cook the bacon, then add the beef and pasta

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In the same skillet, cook the bacon until it’s crisp. Remove it with a slotted spoon and transfer it to paper towels to drain. Discard the drippings. Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet. Stir in the soup, water, beef and bacon, and heat the mixture through.

Step 4: Add the cheese

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Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle the pasta with cheese. Cover the pot and let it stand for two to three minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve the bacon cheeseburger pasta with barbecue sauce and mustard, if desired.

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Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Variations

• Add cheeseburger toppings: While this might sound unusual, trust us: add your favorite cheeseburger toppings as a garnish. This includes chopped onions, green peppers, mushrooms and even pickles.
• Make lasagna: Layer the cheeseburger and bacon portion of this recipe, along with barbecue sauce and cheese, over layers of lasagna pasta. Bake it as you would a traditional lasagna. Make sure to smother each layer with plenty of cheese.

How to Store Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta

Store any leftovers in the fridge. Once cooled, transfer the pasta to an airtight container with a lid, or cover it with storage wrap or aluminum foil. Enjoy it within three to four days.

How do you reheat bacon cheeseburger pasta?

Reheat leftovers by adding a bit of sauce to a saucepan along with the pasta and meat. Cover the pan and stir occasionally until the pasta is heated through. Add cheese. You can also reheat bacon cheeseburger pasta in the microwave, covering the top and cooking it until it’s heated through, about two minutes.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Tips

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How do I keep burger meat from drying out?

The key to keeping burger from drying out is to slightly undercook it. Cook until almost all pink is gone, remove it from the heat and allow it to finish cooking. This will keep the burger tender and moist.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes, you can make this recipe gluten-free by subbing out the regular pasta for your favorite gluten-free brand. Make sure the other prepared ingredients used are also gluten-free, such as the barbecue sauce and the condensed tomato soup.

What should I serve with bacon cheeseburger pasta?

We love this dinner with a buttered dinner roll and a side of crunchy, fresh salad. This is a heavier meal, so you don’t need much as a side.