Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta

The creamy and cheesy pasta dish made all in one skillet has the taste of a cheeseburger - with an abundance of ground beef, onions, tomato sauce and cheddar cheese. Serve some pickles on the side and this Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta is the perfect weeknight dinner.

Skillet dinners are some of my favorite. Why? Less dishes to wash, very easy to prepare and most importantly, you'll have a meal on the table in half an hour. What's not to like? 

Even better, this particular recipe makes use of the ingredients that you probably already have in the house, so you can avoid an unnecessary trip to the grocery store. Bookmark this one, busy mamas! It really does remind me of a juicy cheeseburger, all beefy and cheesy. The smooth and silky sauce brings it all together and fresh herbs always add freshness to any dinner. 

Ingredients for the Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta:

For the most simple version of this dinner, I use some of the most basic pantry ingredients.

Ground Beef - What Other Meat Can You Use?

I like to use sirloin ground beef, which has a lot of flavor but is also pretty lean. I didn't have to drain it at all.

Of course, you can use any ground beef you like, or any ground meat for that matter (ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, ground lamb, etc.).

If you use a ground meat that has more fat content, you may have a lot of drippings. You will need to drain most of it off, or your finished dish will be very greasy.

Onion and Garlic

These aromatic vegetables add additional flavor to the pasta dish and I always have some on hand.

Tomato Sauce

You can use homemade tomato sauce or any store-bought tomato sauce that you like. You can even used canned tomatoes, such as diced tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes. If you use canned tomatoes, make sure to puree them in the food processor or blender first.

Chicken Broth and Milk (Can You Use a Substitute?)

I use chicken broth - you can also use vegetable or beef broth. You can even use water in a pinch, but broth will give the pasta dish much more flavor.

I use whole milk in this recipe. You can also use half and half or heavy cream, which will make the pasta much richer. You can also use alternative lactose free, dairy free milk, like almond milk, coconut milk, etc.

Elbow pasta

Elbow pasta is a classic shape to be used for this recipe. You can also use other medium sized pasta shapes, like fusilli, corkscrew, penne, shells, rigatoni, rotini, etc.

Cheddar Cheese

You can also use any combination or type of cheese that melts well, like colby, jack, provolone, mozzarella, romano, parmesan, gruyere, etc.

Herbs and Spices

I like using both dry and fresh herbs in this recipe. I add dry herbs in the beginning of the cooking process and garnish with fresh herbs right before serving. This will create a depth of flavor and add freshness too.

What Other Ingredients Can Be Used In This Skillet Pasta Dinner?

Go shopping in your fridge and pantry and adjust this recipe to whatever you happen to have on hand.

Use any ground meat or sausage that you like, add bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and any kind of cheese that melts well. To make it really taste like a cheeseburger, add some pickles and serve with some fresh chopped tomatoes. 

How To Make Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta

1. In a 12 inch nonstick skillet, heat oil and then brown the ground beef.
2. Add the onion, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and salt and ground black pepper to taste. Cook until the onions are softened, 5-7 minutes.
3. Pour in the tomato sauce, thyme (you can also use rosemary, oregano), dry herbs and spices to taste. (I like using Italian seasoning, granulated onion and garlic, dry parsley, thyme, oregano, chives, etc.)
4. Also pour in the broth and milk. Cover the skillet and bring everything to a boil.
5. Add the pasta, and cook, UNCOVERED, at medium high heat, for about 10 minutes, until the pasta has absorbed all the liquid and is cooked through. At this point, try the pasta, if it needs to be cooked longer, you may need to add a bit more water, broth or milk.
6. Add the shredded cheese and stir to combine. Serve, garnishing with fresh herbs, like parsley, oregano, etc.

What Type Of Skillet Is Best For This Recipe?

It is important to cook this dish in a 12 inch nonstick skillet. The larger skillet is important because there is more surface area, which will help the sauce to reduce properly. That's also why you have to cook the pasta uncovered. If you leave it covered, some of the liquid will not evaporate and you will be left with a watery sauce.

Freezing and Reheating Cheeseburger Pasta

This dish freezes really well. If you plan to freeze it, undercook the pasta a bit, since it will soften when frozen and then when being reheated.

Freeze the pasta dish in a freezer ziplock bag or in an airtight container for 3-6 months.

To reheat, thaw and then heat up in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop. Add a bit of liquid, when reheating, either water, broth or milk, to loosen up the sauce. You can add a bit more cheese and fresh herbs before serving.

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This is an updated version of the Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta recipe that was published originally on November 6, 2014. The recipe is the same with new photos.