FamilyProof

Family-Friendly Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe

By Jeff Misenti

Cheeseburger Pasta with beef, melted cheese, gherkins and pasta
Credit: Adobe Stock
Cheeseburger Pasta with beef, melted cheese, gherkins and pasta. Credit: Adobe Stock

Difficulty Level: easy

10 min Prep
25 min Cook
35 min Total
6 Servings

If you’re looking for an easy family-dinner win, this cheeseburger pasta recipe should top your to-cook list. It’s ridiculously easy to make and fast to cook. The hardest thing is finding Worcestershire sauce in a store, and if you’re shopping somewhere big, that won’t even be hard.

The combination of cheese, ketchup, mustard, ground beef, and gherkins gives it an instantly recognizable cheeseburger taste, while the pasta makes it filling. It’s not quite a one-pan meal, but it’s close, and it’s gooey comfort food that’ll satisfy even the pickiest eaters come dinner time. Check out the ingredients and cooking steps below.

Cheeseburger Pasta Ingredients

  • 12 oz short pasta, such as shells, elbows, or rotini
  • 1 tbsp of olive oil1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp of paprika
  • 1 tsp of Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp of salt
  • 1/2 tsp of black pepper
  • 2 tbsp of tomato paste
  • 1/3 cup of ketchup
  • 2 tbsp of yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups of beef broth
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup of diced gherkins or dill pickles, plus extra for topping
  • 2 tbsp of chopped parsley, optional

Cheeseburger Pasta Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until just al dente.
  2. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or deep pan over medium-high heat.
  4. Add the ground beef to the skillet or deep pan and cook for 7 minutes, breaking it up as it browns.
  5. Add the diced onion and cook for 4 minutes, until softened.
  6. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
  7. Add the paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and tomato paste. Stir well and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
  8. Stir in the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth.
  9. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  10. Add the cooked pasta to the pan and stir until coated in the sauce.
  11. Reduce the heat to low and add the cream cheese. Stir until it melts into the sauce.
  12. Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese and the diced gherkins.
  13. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water if the sauce gets too thick.
  14. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar over the top and cover the pan for 3 minutes, until the cheese melts.
  15. Top with extra diced gherkins and parsley, then serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 610cal
Carbohydrate: 55g
Protein: 34g
Fat: 29g
Cholesterol: 105mg
Sodium: 1120mg