Description
This One Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni is a comforting and flavorful dish combining crispy bacon, savory ground beef, and tender elbow macaroni all cooked together in one pot. Infused with classic cheeseburger flavors from tomato paste, ketchup, mustard, and cheddar cheese, it’s a quick and easy meal perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 4 strips bacon (cut into small pieces)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1/2 medium onion (chopped)
- 1/4 cup chopped pickles (optional)
Condiments and Seasonings
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons tomato ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pantry
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: Cut the bacon into small pieces using kitchen shears for ease. Add the bacon pieces to a soup pot or Dutch oven and fry over medium-high heat until crispy, about 10 minutes. Transfer the cooked bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the bacon fat in the pot.
- Brown the beef and onions: Add the ground beef and chopped onion to the pot with the bacon fat. Cook, breaking the beef up with a spoon, until browned and onions are softened, about 8 minutes. Spoon out most of the excess fat from the pot.
- Add flavorings and broth: Stir in the tomato paste, tomato ketchup, yellow mustard, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Cook the pasta: Once boiling, add the uncooked elbow macaroni. Reduce heat to maintain a rapid simmer and cook uncovered until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 13-15 minutes. Stir every few minutes to prevent sticking.
- Add cheese and bacon: Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the grated cheddar cheese and cooked bacon pieces, reserving some bacon for topping if desired. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the dish sit for a few minutes to absorb more liquid and meld flavors. For a cheesy top layer, stir in 3/4 of the cheese, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, and cover to help it melt.
- Serve: Serve the cheeseburger macaroni hot, optionally topped with the reserved cooked bacon and chopped pickles for added flavor and crunch.
Notes
- Use kitchen shears to quickly cut bacon into small pieces before cooking.
- Adjust the salt carefully, as bacon and cheese already add saltiness.
- Stir frequently when cooking pasta to avoid it sticking to the pot.
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use vegetable broth, substituting ground beef with plant-based crumbles.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
