Description
Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Bake brings together all the comfort flavors of your favorite burger in one delicious casserole. Melted cheese, crispy bacon, and seasoned ground beef combine to create a satisfying meal that will have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 packet bacon, diced
Pasta and Cheese:
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 2 cups mild cheddar cheese, shredded
Seasonings and Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon dill relish
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Boil 12 ounces penne pasta according to package directions at a rolling boil for 8-9 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Crisp 1 packet diced bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Add ½ diced yellow onion and 2 pounds ground beef to the same skillet. Cook for 6-7 minutes, breaking meat into small crumbles until no pink remains. Drain excess fat completely.
- Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon onion powder over the meat. Stir thoroughly to distribute seasonings.
- Pour 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon dill relish, 8 ounces tomato sauce, and ½ cup heavy whipping cream into the skillet. Mix until sauce coats the meat evenly.
- Fold 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese and half the crispy bacon into the meat mixture until cheese starts to melt.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet and gently combine all ingredients until pasta is well-coated.
- Transfer mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese and bacon on top.
- Bake at 350°F for 7-10 minutes until cheese melts completely and edges become bubbly.
Notes
- Toast the bacon until it reaches a deep golden crisp for maximum flavor and texture crunch.
- Drain meat thoroughly to prevent a greasy final dish and ensure the sauce stays rich but not oily.
- Choose full-fat dairy like heavy cream and real cheddar for the most authentic cheeseburger taste and creamy consistency.
- For a lower-carb version, replace pasta with spiralized zucchini or cauliflower rice to keep the classic burger profile while reducing carbohydrates.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 667 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg