Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta with Mild Tomato Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A comforting pasta dish mimicking cheeseburger flavors with crispy bacon, ground beef, and a smooth tomato-cheese sauce beloved by kids. This American-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs bacon strips, ground beef, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 American cuisine 550 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook 6 chopped bacon strips until crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving bacon fat in the pan.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef to the bacon fat and cook over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes, breaking it up until browned and cooked through.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 1 small finely chopped yellow onion and 2 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 3 minutes until onions soften and garlic is fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Add 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp salt. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
  5. Step 5: Pour in 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni and 1/2 cup milk. Cover and cook over low heat for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender and sauce thickens.
  6. Step 6: Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and the reserved crispy bacon pieces until cheese melts and coats the pasta. Serve warm.

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