One Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni (Printable)

Cheesy beef, bacon, and creamy macaroni combine in one pot for an easy comfort food meal everyone will love.

# Components:

→ Main

01 - 3 cups beef broth
02 - 1/2 onion, diced
03 - 1 pound ground beef
04 - 4 strips bacon, chopped
05 - 3 tablespoons tomato paste
06 - 3 tablespoons tomato ketchup
07 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 3.5 ounces elbow macaroni, uncooked
11 - 7 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
12 - 1/4 cup pickles, chopped (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Finely chop bacon strips and render in a large soup pot over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving rendered fat in the pot.
02 - Add ground beef and diced onion to the pot. Sauté over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat, until beef is fully browned. Drain excess fat from the pot.
03 - Stir in tomato paste, ketchup, yellow mustard, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour in beef broth and mix until integrated.
04 - Bring contents to a boil, add uncooked elbow macaroni, reduce heat to a gentle simmer, and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
05 - Remove the pot from heat. Fold in grated cheddar cheese and reserved crispy bacon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow to stand for several minutes to meld flavors.
06 - Top with extra cheese if desired and cover briefly until melted. Garnish with chopped pickles before serving, if using.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Quick prep with only one pot
  • No need to preboil pasta
  • Delivers classic cheeseburger flavor in a bowl
  • Customizable toppings let everyone make it their own
  • Cheesy creamy and super comforting for all ages
02 -
  • Packed with protein perfect for satisfying hunger
  • Great way to use pantry staples and leftover cheese
  • Can be doubled for a crowd or frozen for later
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese for ultimate melt factor Pre shredded cheese often includes anti caking agents that slow melting
  • Simmer the pasta gently so it absorbs maximum flavor and gets perfectly tender not mushy
  • Save a little bacon fat for drizzling on leftovers to revive smoky richness
  • Do not skip the pickle garnish It adds a bright crunch that cuts through the richness and truly makes the dish pop

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