Description
Cheeseburger Pasta is a comforting one-pot meal that combines the flavors of a classic cheeseburger with hearty pasta. Ground beef simmers with aromatic vegetables and tomato sauce, then is combined with macaroni and melted cheese to create a creamy, flavorful dish perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 1 tsp freshly minced garlic
- 2 carrots, finely diced
- 1 celery stalk, finely diced
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes, plus more to taste
- 500 g minced (ground) beef
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sugar
- 60 g tomato paste
- 1 litre beef stock
- 400 g can crushed tomatoes
- 350 g dried macaroni (uncooked; can be substituted with penne or rigatoni)
- 125 ml full-cream (whole) milk
- 250 g freshly grated colby or cheddar cheese
- 75 g freshly grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, to serve
Instructions
- Cook the veggies: Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and salt. The salt will help the vegetables sweat rather than caramelize, ensuring they become soft and fragrant. Cook for 3 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
- Add the beef: Add the minced beef to the pan and cook for another 3 minutes, breaking it up as you go, until the beef is browned evenly.
- Finish the sauce: Stir in the freshly cracked black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, and sugar. Then add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavors.
- Add liquids: Pour in the beef stock and crushed tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a simmer to combine all the flavors.
- Add the macaroni: Add the dried macaroni to the pan, cover with a lid, and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure the pasta cooks evenly. Check the liquid levels; add a little extra stock if necessary.
- Add the cheese: Stir in the full-cream milk along with the grated colby or cheddar cheese. Mix until the cheese has fully melted into the sauce. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Top with mozzarella: Sprinkle the freshly grated mozzarella over the top, cover with the lid, and let it sit for 30 seconds until the mozzarella melts into a gooey layer.
- Serve: Garnish with the chopped flat-leaf parsley for freshness and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Note 1: You can substitute macaroni with penne or rigatoni if preferred; cooking times may vary slightly with different pasta shapes.
- Note 2: If the pasta starts sticking or there is not enough liquid during simmering, add a splash of extra beef stock or water to loosen the mixture.
- Note 3: Adjust liquid by adding milk to loosen the sauce or simmering uncovered for a few minutes if the mixture is too watery before adding cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cheeseburger pasta, one-pot meal, ground beef pasta, creamy pasta, comfort food, kid-friendly dinner
