This bacon cheeseburger alfredo pasta turns the flavors of a loaded cheeseburger into a creamy one skillet dinner with penne, ground beef, crisp bacon, Alfredo sauce, and melted cheddar.
The beef and bacon are cooked in one skillet, tossed with the pasta and sauce, and finished with cheddar, chopped pickles, and onions so each bite tastes like a burger with all the toppings. It takes about 40 minutes and serves four, which makes it a good choice for busy weeknights.
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Why This Bacon Cheeseburger Alfredo Pasta Recipe Works
Alfredo sauce takes the place of the bun and sauce here, giving a creamy base that coats every piece of penne. The ground beef brings the burger flavor, and the bacon adds a salty, smoky crunch.
Chopped dill pickles and diced onion go in at the end, so they stay crisp and bright against the rich sauce. They are the detail that makes the dish taste like a cheeseburger and not just a beef pasta.
Because the sauce is already made, the work is mostly browning and tossing, and the pasta cooks in the time it takes to finish the meat.
Ingredients for Bacon Cheeseburger Alfredo Pasta
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 4 oz bacon, chopped
- 1 cup Alfredo sauce, jarred or homemade
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
- 1/2 cup diced onion
Penne. Short tubes catch the sauce inside and out. Fusilli or rigatoni work too.
Ground beef. Lean beef keeps the dish from getting greasy. Cook until browned and no pink remains.
Bacon. Chop it before cooking so it crisps evenly, and keep a spoonful of the fat for browning the beef.
Alfredo sauce. A good jarred sauce saves time, and homemade Alfredo adds fresher flavor. Choose a lower sodium sauce because the bacon and cheese are salty.
Pickles and onions. They provide the tangy crunch that makes this taste like a cheeseburger.
How to Make Bacon Cheeseburger Alfredo Pasta
1. Boil the pasta. Cook the penne in a pot of salted water according to the package directions, about 10 to 11 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Crisp the bacon. Cook the chopped bacon in a large deep skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes until crisp. Move it to a plate and pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat.
3. Brown the beef. Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through at 160 degrees F. Drain any extra fat.
4. Add the sauce. Lower the heat and stir in the Alfredo sauce until the beef is coated and the sauce is warm.
5. Toss with the pasta. Add the cooked penne and bacon and toss until everything is coated.
6. Melt the cheese. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the cheddar until melted.
7. Top and serve. Scatter the pickles and onions over the pasta and serve right away.
How to Serve Bacon Cheeseburger Alfredo Pasta
Serve with a crisp side like air fryer broccoli with Parmesan or air fryer asparagus to balance the richness. Air fryer garlic bread slices are great for scooping up the sauce, and fluffy dinner rolls work just as well. A side salad with a tangy dressing adds a fresh contrast.
How to Store and Reheat Bacon Cheeseburger Alfredo Pasta
Cool within 2 hours and refrigerate in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave with a splash of milk until the pasta reaches 165 degrees F. Keep the pickles and onions separate and add them fresh. Freezing is not recommended because cream sauces can separate.
Tips and Variations for Bacon Cheeseburger Alfredo Pasta
Salt carefully. Bacon, cheddar, pickles, and jarred Alfredo are all salty, so skip added salt and taste at the end.
Use a deep skillet. A large, deep skillet or Dutch oven gives you room to toss the pasta without spilling.
Drain the fat. Leave about a tablespoon of fat in the pan for flavor and discard the rest to keep the sauce from turning greasy.
Save pasta water. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. A splash loosens the sauce if it thickens.
Try other cheese. Pepper Jack, American, or Colby Jack all work in place of cheddar.
Lighten it up. Use ground turkey and turkey bacon for a leaner dish. Cook the turkey to 165 degrees F.
Add burger toppings. Diced tomato, shredded lettuce, and a drizzle of mustard or ketchup make it taste even more like a burger.
Check the temperature. Cook ground beef to 160 degrees F, as shown in the FDA safe minimum internal temperature chart, and use a thermometer to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bacon Cheeseburger Alfredo Pasta
How do you make bacon cheeseburger alfredo pasta creamy without it getting greasy?
Drain most of the beef and bacon fat, use a good Alfredo sauce, and stir in the cheddar off the heat.
Can I make bacon cheeseburger alfredo pasta ahead of time?
You can cook it a day ahead and refrigerate it. Reheat with a splash of milk and add the pickles and onions fresh.
What pasta is ideal for bacon cheeseburger alfredo pasta?
Penne, rigatoni, fusilli, and shells all hold the sauce well. Cook it a minute short of the package time if you plan to reheat.
Can I use homemade Alfredo sauce?
Yes. Homemade Alfredo gives a fresher flavor and lets you control the salt.
Can I add vegetables?
Yes. Spinach, mushrooms, or sauteed peppers work well. Stir them in just before the cheese.
Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Alfredo Pasta
Equipment
- Large deep skillet
- Large pot
- Colander
- Cutting board
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 4 oz bacon chopped
- 1 cup Alfredo sauce jarred or homemade
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup dill pickles chopped
- ½ cup onion diced
Instructions
Cooking
- Pasta. Boil the penne 10 to 11 minutes and drain.
- Bacon. Crisp the chopped bacon in a deep skillet 6 to 8 minutes, set aside, and leave 1 tbsp of fat in the pan.
- Beef. Brown the beef 7 to 8 minutes until it reaches 160 degrees F and drain extra fat.
- Sauce. Lower the heat and stir in the Alfredo sauce.
- Toss. Add the penne and bacon and toss to coat, then stir in the cheddar off the heat.
- Top. Top with the pickles and onions and serve right away.
