Description
A delicious and comforting dish that combines the flavors of a classic cheeseburger with creamy pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 450 g (1 lb) ground beef
- 170 g (6 oz) thick-cut beef bacon, sliced into 2 cm (3/4 in) pieces
- 340 g (12 oz) short pasta (fusilli, shells, or rotini)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp (30 g) tomato paste
- 1 tbsp (15 g) Dijon mustard
- 480 ml (2 cups) low-sodium beef or chicken broth
- 240 ml (1 cup) half-and-half or whole milk
- 170 g (6 oz) sharp cheddar, grated
- 60 g (2/3 cup) grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: 2 tbsp (8 g) chopped pickles or 1 tbsp (15 ml) pickle brine
Instructions
- Cook beef bacon in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes until crispy, reserving 2 tbsp fat, then set bacon aside.
- Brown ground beef in the same skillet for 5 minutes, breaking it up.
- Add onion and garlic, cooking until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and mustard, then add broth and milk, simmering for 10 minutes.
- Cook pasta in salted water according to package instructions, draining one minute early and reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Combine pasta with sauce, cheeses, and beef bacon, stirring over low heat until creamy, about 3 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with more beef bacon or pickles if desired.
Notes
For extra flavor, add diced tomatoes or jalapeños to the sauce. Use various cheeses for unique tastes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg