One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta

Rich and full of flavor, each bite is filled with savory ground beef, gooey cheese and tender noodles coated in a creamy tomato sauce. One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta is both hearty and comforting.

A grown-up version of the classic hamburger helper we grew up on, this dish is sure to be a hit! Comforting and full of robust cheeseburger flavors, even the pickiest of eaters are sure to call this a win.

Perfect for preparing on busy weeknights, this family-friendly dish is ready in just 30 minutes. One Pot Cheeseburger pasta is an ideal recipe for feeding a large crowd of family and friends.

Can’t get enough of these one pot pasta recipes? Then you've got to give our one pot lasagna soup and one pot beef stroganoff a try. You'll be happy you did! Other family favorite dishes you'll love are this easy Boursin and Tomato Pasta, creamy White Lasagna Soup, or comforting Beef Stew!

Jump to:

• 🥫 Ingredients
• 🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Make it Your Own
• 💭 Top Tips
• 🍽 Storing
• 📋  FAQ's
• 📖 Recipe

🥫 Ingredients

Quick and easy to prepare with no real fancy ingredients, this one pot Cheeseburger Pasta is a great alternative to pasta and red sauce or Mac and Cheese.

• 1 Onion, diced
• 2 teaspoon Garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
• 2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 3 tablespoon Tomato Paste
• 3.5 cups Beef Bone Broth
• 1.25 cups Heavy Cream, room temperature
• 1 lb Pasta
• 1.5 cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded

(Scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements and full printable instructions.)

🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions

Firstly in a deep, large skillet sauté the garlic and onion in heated olive oil. Once onions are translucent add the ground beef, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and paprika.

Then cook the ground beef till no longer pink. When fully cooked go ahead and add the tomato paste, beef bone broth and room temperature heavy cream to the skillet.

You want to be careful not to allow the sauce in your one pot Cheeseburger Pasta to boil. A gentle simmer is key to creating a smooth, velvety texture in your sauce. After reaching a simmer add the uncooked pasta to the pan.

Then allow the pasta to cook for roughly 15 minutes or until it is al dente or tender. Once pasta is cooked add in the freshly shredded cheese to your dish.

Make sure to use freshly grated cheese for this recipe. Pre-grated cheese is coated with a powder to help prevent it from sticking. While this is great for storing cheese, it does not allow shredded cheese to melt smoothly. So, when possible ALWAYS grate your own cheese!

Stir in the cheese till fully melted. Lastly, give your one pot Cheeseburger Pasta a good stir then you are ready to serve and enjoy!

👩🏻‍🍳 Make it Your Own

Broth

Feel free to sub beef broth for beef bone broth. While I like the extra protein in bone broth you can definitely sub regular beef broth if you prefer.

Up the Veggies

One thing I love about pasta dishes is how easy they make it to sneak in some veggies. Easily add in diced bell peppers or carrots with the onions if you'd like.

Sautéed mushrooms, zucchini or even eggplant would all taste yummy in this One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta. Get creative and add your favorite veggies for an extra touch! 

Pasta Variations

Any short shaped pasta would work well in your one pot Cheeseburger Pasta. We prefer a corkscrew type of pasta such as Fusilli or Rotini because they hold onto the creamy sauce so well. Cavatappi, Bow Tie or Shell pasta could all be other fun options.

💭 Top Tips

Room Temperature Dairy

Always avoid adding chilled dairy ingredients into warmed pasta when you are cooking. When ingredients like cheese, heavy cream, sour cream or milk are added to warm dishes it is much more likely they will separate or curdle. And no one wants a grainy or broken sauce.

Shred your Own Cheese

Always, always grate your own cheese when cooking. Pre-grated cheese is coated with a powder to help prevent it from sticking together. While this is great for storing shredded cheese, it does not allow for smooth melting. So when possible always grate your own cheese!

Double the Recipe

When I'm thinking ahead I like to double the recipe and freeze half in disposable aluminum pans for an easy meal to pull out and warm later. We also love enjoying it for lunches later in the week.

🍽 Storing

If wanting to freeze One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta the first thing I suggest is under cooking your pasta a little so it is more on the side of al dente. This way when reheated the pasta won't become mushy.

Secondly, after the dish is prepared transfer it to a disposable aluminum pan. Allow the pasta to cool completely before wrapping the dish and popping in the freezer. It will store in the freezer for up to two months.

When ready to enjoy your one pot Cheeseburger Pasta again pull it from the freezer the night before and place in the fridge to thaw. Reheat the next day in the oven till the center of the dish is warm and enjoy!

Keep in mind that when chilled the pasta will absorb some of the sauce. When re-heating you might consider adding a little more heavy cream or broth to keep the dish nice and creamy.

📖 Recipe