Pin it
Make this Easy Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet when you want quick comfort food. Mix beef and pasta in one pan with lots of cheese. Tastes like your favorite burger but in a creamy pasta dish. Perfect for busy nights when you need dinner fast.
Why Make This
One pan means less cleanup. Quick and easy after work. Kids and grown-ups both like it. Use what's in your kitchen - it's hard to mess up. Even picky eaters ask for seconds. Makes dinner the easy part of your day.
What You Need
- Onion: Chopped small
- Ground Beef: Not too fatty
- Garlic Powder: Easy flavor
- Flour: Makes sauce thick
- Paprika: Adds good taste
- Beef Broth: Low salt kind
- Milk: Whole works best
- Salt and Pepper: To taste
- Rotini Pasta: Holds sauce well
- Sharp Cheddar: Gets melty good
How to Make It
- Start Meat:
- Cook beef, onion, garlic powder till brown. Drain fat.
- Make Sauce Base:
- Put flour and paprika on meat. Stir and cook 2 minutes.
- Add Liquid:
- Pour in broth and milk. Stir well. Add salt and pepper.
- Cook Pasta:
- Put pasta in when liquid bubbles. Cover part way, cook 18 minutes till soft.
- Add Cheese:
- Mix in cheese till melty. Top with parsley if you want.
Good Comfort Food
Perfect after long day - warm and filling. Everything cooks in one pan, saves time. Creamy cheese sauce coats every bite. Like having a burger and pasta at once.
Making It Taste Good
Brown meat well - makes it taste better. Onions get sweet when cooked right. Flour and paprika make sauce rich. Cooking pasta in broth gives more flavor. Simple stuff makes good food.
About the Pasta
Pasta cooks right in the sauce - no extra pot needed. Rotini catches all the good stuff in its twists. Sauce gets thick as pasta cooks. Each bite has meat, cheese, and sauce.
All About the Cheese
Sharp cheddar makes it taste best. Put cheese in at end so it melts smooth. Try different cheese if you want - mix them up. More cheese on top makes it extra good.
Pin it
Make It Your Way
Use turkey instead of beef to make it lighter. Like it spicy? Add red pepper. Want more veggies? Throw some in. Makes good leftovers too - just warm up slow.
Quick Tips
Stir now and then so nothing sticks. Keep heat low once pasta's in. Add bit more milk if too thick. Let sit few minutes before serving. Good with garlic bread on side.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Rather use turkey?
Works just as good. Bit less fat maybe. Season it more though. Cook it gentle like. Stays nice and moist.
- → Need it without wheat?
Get special pasta. Watch your spices too. Rice pasta works nice. Corn kind's good too. Cook time might change.
- → Want more veggies?
Peppers cook nice. Add some mushrooms. Squash works good too. Cut em all same size. Cook with the meat.
- → Can't have milk stuff?
Use plant milk instead. Fake cheese melts okay. Watch it don't break. Might need more salt. Still tastes good.
- → Keeping leftovers?
Box it up tight. Good three days cold. Heat slow and low. Add splash of milk. Stir while warming.
- → Getting too dry?
Keep some pasta water. Add bit more milk. Don't cook too long. Lid helps lots. More sauce works too.
- → Taking it places?
Keep it warm wrapped. Heat up there maybe. Bring extra cheese. Take some milk too. Pack it deep.
- → Need it faster?
Buy cut veggies. Use quick pasta. Have cheese ready. One pan does it. Clean as you go.
- → Making big batch?
Double works fine. Need bigger pan though. Watch pasta water. Might take longer. Stir more often.
- → Want more flavor?
Add more spices. Try some garlic. Hot sauce works. Even pickles help. Mix cheese kinds.
- → Pasta not cooking?
More water helps. Keep lid on tight. Stir now and then. Check heat's good. Might need more time.
- → Sauce too thin?
Cook bit longer. Less water next time. Add more cheese. Stir more often. Let it sit some.
Conclusion
Like this? Try burger bake next. Same good stuff plus bacon on top.