Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet

Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet is pure comfort in a pan, cheesy, savory, and so satisfying you’ll want seconds every single time. It brings together all the flavors of your favorite cheeseburger with tender pasta, melty cheese, and a rich tomato sauce that comes together in just one skillet.

Love More Dinner Recipes? Try My Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole or this One Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One-pan wonder – Everything cooks together in a single skillet, which means less mess and fewer dishes to wash
• Kid-approved comfort – It tastes like a cheeseburger and mac and cheese had the most delicious baby
• Ready in 30 minutes – Perfect for those nights when you need dinner on the table fast
• Budget-friendly – Uses simple pantry staples and affordable ground beef
• Endlessly customizable – Add your favorite burger toppings or switch up the cheese

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Skillet Base

• 1 pound (≈450 g) ground beef (or ground turkey for a lighter option)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika (adds a subtle smoky sweetness)
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning

Pasta & Sauce

• 12–16 ounces (340–450 g) pasta (elbows, shells, or rotini work beautifully)
• 1½ cups water or beef broth (broth adds incredible depth)
• 1 (14–15 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste (this is your secret weapon for rich flavor)
• ½ cup milk (whole or 2% for creaminess)
• 1½–2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or cheese blend (don’t be shy—use the full 2 cups if you love it extra cheesy)

Optional Toppings

• Sliced pickles (a must for true cheeseburger vibes)
• Chopped fresh parsley
• Diced fresh tomato
• Extra shredded cheese

Why These Ingredients Work

Ground beef forms the hearty, savory base of this dish, giving you all that classic cheeseburger flavor in every bite. The onion and garlic build a flavor foundation that makes the whole skillet taste like it’s been simmering for hours, even though it hasn’t.

Paprika and oregano add warmth and a hint of complexity without overpowering the familiar comfort-food taste. The diced tomatoes and tomato paste create a rich, slightly tangy sauce that clings to every piece of pasta, while the milk mellows everything out and helps the cheese melt into a creamy, dreamy coating.

And that cheddar cheese? It’s what transforms this from a simple pasta dish into something truly crave-worthy. The pasta itself soaks up all those delicious flavors as it cooks right in the skillet, making every forkful perfectly seasoned.

Essential Tools and Equipment

• Large skillet with a lid (at least 12 inches) – You need room for everything to cook comfortably
• Wooden spoon or spatula – For breaking up the beef and stirring
• Sharp knife and cutting board – For prepping the onion and garlic
• Measuring cups and spoons – To keep things just right
• Can opener – For the tomatoes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Brown the Beef

Heat your large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef along with the chopped onion. Use your wooden spoon to break up the meat into smaller crumbles as it cooks.

Keep stirring occasionally until the beef is nicely browned and the onion has turned soft and translucent, which should take about 6 to 8 minutes. If there’s a lot of excess grease pooling in the pan, carefully drain it off—but a little bit of fat adds flavor, so don’t worry about getting every last drop.

Step 2: Add Aromatics and Season

Toss in your minced garlic along with the salt, pepper, paprika, and oregano. Stir everything together and let it cook for just 30 seconds or so, until your kitchen starts to smell absolutely amazing.

This quick step wakes up the spices and gets the garlic fragrant without letting it burn.

Step 3: Add Pasta & Liquids

Now it’s time to add your pasta directly to the skillet—yes, uncooked pasta! Pour in the water or beef broth, then add the entire can of diced tomatoes with all their juices, plus that tablespoon of tomato paste.

Give everything a good stir to make sure the pasta is evenly distributed throughout the liquid and nothing’s clumped together. The pasta needs to be submerged to cook properly, so spread it out as best you can.

Step 4: Simmer

Bring the whole mixture up to a gentle simmer, then reduce your heat to medium-low and pop the lid on your skillet. Let it cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.

You’ll know it’s ready when the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. If your pasta seems a little too firm and the liquid is gone, add a splash more water and cook another minute or two.

Step 5: Make It Cheesy

Once your pasta is perfectly tender, stir in the milk first—this helps create a creamier base for your cheese. Then sprinkle that beautiful shredded cheddar all over the top.

Stir gently and watch as the cheese melts into every nook and cranny, creating the most gorgeous, gooey sauce. If you’re a cheese lover like me, go ahead and add that extra half cup. You won’t regret it.

Step 6: Serve

Spoon generous portions into bowls or onto plates while it’s still piping hot. Now’s the time to get creative with toppings—scatter some sliced pickles on top for that classic burger tanginess, sprinkle fresh parsley for a pop of color, or add diced tomatoes for freshness.

You Must Know

The key to this recipe working perfectly is making sure you have enough liquid for the pasta to cook through. If you skimp on the broth or water, you’ll end up with crunchy pasta, and nobody wants that.

Stir the skillet every few minutes while it’s simmering—pasta has a sneaky habit of settling on the bottom and sticking if you ignore it. Don’t add the cheese until the very end after the pasta is fully cooked, or it might break and get grainy instead of melting into that silky sauce we’re after.

Personal Secret: I always use beef broth instead of water when I have it on hand. It adds so much more depth and makes the whole dish taste richer and more developed.

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

• Mix your cheeses – Combine sharp cheddar with a bit of mozzarella for amazing stretch and flavor, or throw in some Monterey Jack for creaminess
• Don’t drain those tomatoes – The juice is liquid gold that helps cook your pasta and adds tons of flavor
• Taste and adjust – Before serving, take a little taste and add more salt, pepper, or a pinch of sugar if the tomatoes are too acidic
• Avoid mushy pasta – Check your pasta a minute or two before the timer goes off; it should be just tender, not falling apart
• Let it rest – Give the skillet 2–3 minutes off the heat before serving so the sauce can thicken up slightly
• Brown the beef well – Really let that meat get some color; it adds depth to the whole dish

Flavor Variations & Suggestions

Turn this into Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta by cooking 4–5 strips of chopped bacon first, then using the bacon fat to brown your beef. Crumble that bacon on top before serving.

If you want to sneak in some vegetables, stir in a cup of frozen peas or corn during the last few minutes of cooking, or add some finely diced bell pepper along with the onion at the beginning.

For a spicier kick, add a diced jalapeño with the garlic or stir in a teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce. You can also make this a Pizza Burger Pasta by adding a bit of pizza seasoning and topping with pepperoni slices and mozzarella instead of cheddar.

Want it even more burger-like? Add a tablespoon of yellow mustard and a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the sauce for that classic burger-joint flavor.

Make-Ahead Options

While this dish is best enjoyed fresh from the skillet, you can definitely get a head start on dinner. Brown your ground beef with the onions and seasonings up to two days ahead, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

When you’re ready to make dinner, just reheat the beef in your skillet and continue from the pasta step. You can also make the entire dish ahead and refrigerate it for up to three days. The pasta will absorb more liquid as it sits, so when you reheat it, stir in a splash of milk or broth to loosen it back up.

For freezing, this recipe works beautifully for up to three months. Let it cool completely, portion it into freezer-safe containers, and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating gently on the stovetop with a little extra liquid.

What to Serve With Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet

This hearty skillet is practically a complete meal on its own, but a simple green salad with a tangy vinaigrette cuts through all that rich, cheesy goodness beautifully. Garlic bread or warm, crusty rolls are perfect for soaking up every last bit of sauce.

If you want to add some vegetables to the plate, steamed broccoli or green beans work wonderfully and add a fresh, crisp contrast. My family loves serving this with crisp dill pickles on the side or even a quick batch of pickled cucumbers for that authentic burger experience.

For drinks, keep it casual with iced tea, lemonade, or even cold beer for the adults. And if you’re feeding a crowd, set out a toppings bar with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, pickles, and extra cheese so everyone can customize their bowl.

Allergy Information

This recipe contains several common allergens including dairy (milk and cheese), gluten (pasta), and may contain soy depending on your beef and tomato products.

For a dairy-free version, skip the milk and cheese and use nutritional yeast or a dairy-free cheese alternative, though the texture will be different. To make this gluten-free, simply swap in your favorite gluten-free pasta and check that all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.

If you need to avoid beef, ground turkey, chicken, or even plant-based ground meat work well here—just adjust your seasonings as plant-based options sometimes need a bit more salt and spice. For those with onion or garlic sensitivities, you can use garlic-infused oil and skip the fresh aromatics entirely, though you’ll lose some flavor depth.

Storage & Reheating

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. The pasta will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, so it might look a bit drier than when you first made it—that’s totally normal.

To reheat, add a splash of milk, broth, or even water to the portion you’re warming up, then heat it gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until it’s heated through. You can also microwave individual portions, but add a tablespoon of liquid first and stir halfway through heating.

If you’ve frozen this dish, thaw it completely in the refrigerator overnight before reheating using the same method. The cheese might separate slightly when reheated, but stirring it well usually brings everything back together nicely.

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?

Absolutely! Ground turkey works beautifully in this recipe. Just keep in mind that turkey is a bit leaner, so you might want to add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan before browning it. Season it generously since turkey can be a bit milder than beef.

My pasta isn’t cooking through – what should I do?

If your pasta is still firm after the cooking time and the liquid is all absorbed, just add another ½ cup of water or broth, cover, and let it simmer for a few more minutes. Every stovetop is different, and some pastas absorb more liquid than others.

Can I make this in an Instant Pot?

You can! Use the sauté function to brown the beef and aromatics, then add everything except the milk and cheese. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes with a quick release. Stir in the milk and cheese at the end just like the stovetop version.

The sauce seems too thick – how do I fix it?

Just stir in milk or broth a few tablespoons at a time until you reach your desired consistency. The pasta continues to absorb liquid as it sits, so this is totally normal, especially with leftovers.

Can I add vegetables to this?

Definitely! Frozen peas, corn, diced bell peppers, or even spinach work wonderfully. Add heartier vegetables like peppers with the onion, and stir in quick-cooking ones like peas or spinach during the last few minutes.

💬 Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below! I love hearing how it turned out for you and what toppings your family loved best.