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No-Boil One Pan Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Bake | This weeknight dinner recipe is a tasty twist on an American classic, the bacon cheeseburger.  One pan, no pre-cooking the beef, and no boiling the pasta... it all bakes together into the best bacon cheeseburger pasta bake or casserole ever!! | The Chunky Chef | #baconcheeseburger #cheeseburger #pastabake #casserolerecipe #onepanmeal #onepotmeal #weeknightdinnerrecipe
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4.24 from 17 votes

One Pan Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Bake (No Boil)

This amazing bacon cheeseburger pasta bake is made entirely in one pan, and with NO boiling required! The pasta cooks in the pan while it bakes!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 564kcal
Author: The Chunky Chef

Ingredients

  • 3 cups water
  • 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1/3 cup chopped dill pickles (plus more for garnishing, if desired)
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp ground dry mustard
  • 1 1/2 tsp packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 lb lean ground beef (I use 85/15 or 90/10)
  • 3 cups dried, uncooked elbow macaroni pasta (about 12 oz)
  • 6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
  • 6-7 slices American cheese
  • 1/3 cup yellow onion, finely diced (optional)
  • minced fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 475 F degrees.  Lightly spray a 9x13" casserole dish (or other oven safe 3 qt baking pan) with non-stick cooking spray.  Set aside.
  • To a large mixing bowl, add water, tomato sauce, pickles, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt and pepper.  Whisk to combine well.  
  • Using your fingers (I like to wear gloves for this part), crumble beef into small 1/2" pieces and add them to the mixing bowl.  Add in dried macaroni and stir to combine.
  • Pour mixture into prepared baking dish, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 25 minutes.
  • Remove dish from the oven, remove foil, and stir well (don't forget the bottom of the dish and the sides too!).  Top pasta with American cheese slices and crumbled bacon.
  • Leave UNcovered and return to oven to bake another 5-7 minutes, until cheese is melted.
  • Let dish cool 5-10 minutes before serving.  Top with finely minced onion, chopped pickles and/or fresh parsley if desired.  

Notes

TO MAKE USING COOKED GROUND BEEF:
Use a pot that can go from stovetop to the oven (this enameled cast iron buffet pan is my go-to).  Crisp bacon in pan on the stovetop, then remove to a paper towel lined plate.  Add beef and lightly brown (as in, don't cook it 100% all the way through), crumbling as it cooks.  Drain beef.
Continue with recipe instructions as written, with the following exceptions:
  • Don't spray a 9x13" dish, you'll be using the one you cooked the bacon and beef in.
  • No need to crumble the raw beef, you've already cooked it.  Just add in the browned beef at the point the recipe calls for the raw meat.

Nutrition

Calories: 564kcal