Our Favourite Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe: A 30-Minute Family Meal

We all have those evenings that call for a dinner that’s quick to prepare, deeply comforting, and a guaranteed hit with the entire family. What if you could blend the savoury, classic flavours of a cheeseburger with the heartiness of a pasta dish? Well, that’s exactly what we’re here to share. We’re going to guide you through creating the most flavourful, creamy, and utterly satisfying Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe you’ve ever had.

Step away from the packet mixes. Our from-scratch version captures all the deliciousness you’re after with fresh, wholesome ingredients, and here’s the best part: it’s a one-pan meal. This dish is our go-to for hectic nights, pleasing even the fussiest of eaters, and for those times when only the most comforting, cheesy meal will suffice. Let’s begin!

What Exactly is Cheeseburger Pasta?

Picture the core components that make a cheeseburger so beloved—the perfectly seasoned beef, the rich, tangy sauce, and that glorious melted cheese. Now, imagine those elements reimagined into a beautiful pasta dish. That is the essence of cheeseburger pasta. It’s a rich, savoury, and immensely satisfying meal that manages to be both nostalgic and refreshingly different. Consider it an elevated, homemade take on a classic comfort meal, making it the ultimate hamburger helper copycat, but with so much more flavour and goodness. It is, quite simply, comfort food perfection.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Effortless One-Pan Cooking: The entire dish, from browning the beef mince to simmering the pasta, comes together in one pan. This not only deepens the flavour but also means clean-up is an absolute breeze.
• A Hit with All Ages: This is a recipe the whole family will request again and again. Its cheesy, beefy appeal makes it a kid-friendly pasta that adults find equally irresistible.
• On the Table in 30 Minutes: We designed this recipe with busy weeknights in mind. You can serve up a delicious, home-cooked meal in around half an hour, making it a real game-changer.
• Wonderfully Creamy and Cheesy: We believe in a generous amount of cheese! The sauce is luxuriously smooth and coats every piece of pasta and beef, delivering pure comfort in every bite.
• Simple to Customise: This recipe is incredibly versatile. Feel free to make it your own by adding crispy bacon, stirring in some vegetables, or adding a pinch of chilli for extra warmth.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 500g lean beef mince (ground beef)
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 800ml beef stock (from a cube or fresh is fine)
• 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 300g dried pasta (macaroni, fusilli, or penne work well)
• 250g mature Cheddar cheese, grated
• 100ml single cream or evaporated milk
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Optional for garnish: chopped fresh parsley, sliced gherkins, or crispy onions

How to Make This Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe

Creating this fantastic one pot dinner couldn’t be simpler. We’ve outlined the process in easy-to-follow steps to guarantee a perfect outcome every time. Just follow our lead, and a culinary triumph will be ready in a flash.

1. Brown the Beef Mince: Take a large, deep-sided frying pan or a Dutch oven and place it over a medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and then the beef mince. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and cook it until it’s browned all over. As the Food Standards Agency advises, it is essential to cook mince properly until it is steaming hot throughout with no pink meat remaining. After browning, carefully drain away any excess fat.
2. Soften the Aromatics: Add the finely chopped onion to the pan with the browned mince and cook for about 5-7 minutes, until softened and translucent. Next, stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until you can smell its lovely aroma. This stage is key to building a deep flavour base.
3. Build the Sauce Base: Stir the tomato purée into the pan and let it cook for a minute to enrich its flavour. Now, pour in the beef stock, the tin of chopped tomatoes, the Worcestershire sauce, and the Dijon mustard. Stir everything together thoroughly, making sure to scrape any flavourful browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
4. Simmer the Pasta: Bring the sauce to a gentle but steady simmer, then add the dried pasta. Stir well to ensure all the pasta is submerged in the liquid. Turn the heat down to medium-low, place a lid on the pan, and allow it to simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Give it a stir now and then to stop it from sticking.
5. Add the Creamy, Cheesy Finish: Once the pasta is tender, reduce the heat to low. Pour in the single cream and then add about three-quarters of your grated Cheddar cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese has melted completely, creating a wonderfully smooth and velvety sauce. Season to your liking with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
6. Serve and Enjoy: Dish up the cheeseburger pasta straight away. Garnish with the rest of the grated cheese and, for that authentic cheeseburger touch, a sprinkle of fresh parsley, some chopped gherkins, or a scattering of crispy onions.

Tips for the Perfect Cheesy Beef and Macaroni

To help you take this recipe from wonderful to truly unforgettable, we’ve put together some of our top tips. These simple suggestions can significantly enhance the final taste and texture of your cheesy beef and macaroni.

Selecting the Right Mince

For this recipe, we suggest using lean beef mince with a fat content of around 5-10%. This provides ample flavour without leaving the dish feeling greasy. If you opt for mince with a higher fat percentage, just be sure to drain off the rendered fat well after browning to ensure the sauce stays rich and creamy, not oily.

The Magic of Freshly Grated Cheese

While pre-shredded cheese is a time-saver, it often includes additives to prevent clumping, which can hinder a smooth melt. For the most luxuriously creamy sauce, we always advocate for buying a block of good quality mature Cheddar and grating it yourself just before you need it. The improvement in texture is truly noticeable!

Feel Free to Personalise

This recipe serves as a brilliant foundation for your own culinary experiments. If you love a bacon cheeseburger, why not add some cooked, crumbled bacon as a final touch? To boost the vegetable content, try stirring in some spinach or frozen peas in the last couple of minutes of cooking. A dash of smoked paprika or a few chilli flakes can also introduce a delightful new layer of flavour.

What to Serve with Your Creamy Ground Beef Pasta

This creamy ground beef pasta is certainly a satisfying meal all on its own, but a little something on the side can complete the experience. A simple green salad provides a perfect, crisp counterpoint to the richness of the cheese sauce. We find it goes particularly well with our Classic House Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette, which adds a fresh and zesty contrast. And of course, you can’t go wrong with some warm garlic bread to soak up every last drop of that delicious sauce!

If this style of hearty beef and pasta meal is a favourite in your home, you may also enjoy our recipe for Parmesan Garlic Beef Bowtie Pasta, which offers another wonderful take on family-friendly comfort food.

FAQ

A New Family Favourite Awaits

And there we have it—a straightforward, deeply satisfying, and completely delicious Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe that we’re sure will earn a regular spot in your meal plan. It’s the ideal dinner for those nights when you need a flavourful, comforting meal on the table with minimal fuss, combining the best of two classic dishes in one pan of cheesy, beefy happiness.

We are certain that from the very first bite, you’ll understand why this recipe is so special to us. It’s more than just dinner; it’s a warm, comforting hug in a bowl that the whole family can gather around and enjoy. We would be delighted to hear how you get on with it! Please feel free to leave a comment and a rating below to share your thoughts, or tag us in your photos on social media. Happy cooking!

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 500g lean beef mince (ground beef)
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 800ml beef stock
• 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 300g dried pasta (macaroni, fusilli, or penne)
• 250g mature Cheddar cheese, grated
• 100ml single cream or evaporated milk
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef mince, break it up, and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
2. Add the chopped onion and cook for 5-7 minutes until soft. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in the tomato purée and cook for a minute. Pour in the beef stock, chopped tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Stir well.
4. Bring to a simmer, then add the dried pasta, ensuring it’s submerged. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally.
5. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the single cream and three-quarters of the grated Cheddar until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining cheese and optional fresh parsley or sliced gherkins.

Nutrition (per serving):Calories: 878 kcal, Carbs: 69 g, Protein: 52 g, Fat: 42 g