0 from 15 votes
One Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni
This cheeseburger macaroni recipe is made in one pot for a fast, easy, kid-friendly, and comforting weeknight dinner! It's ready in just 30 minutes.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 620 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 4 strips Bacon cut into small pieces
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons tomato ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped pickles optional
Instructions
- Cut the bacon up (use kitchen shears to do this quickly) and add it to a soup pot/Dutch oven. Fry it over medium-high heat until crispy (about 10 min). Transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate but leave the bacon fat in the pot.
- Add the ground beef and onion to the pot. Cook it, breaking it up with your spoon as you go along, until browned (about 8 minutes). Spoon out most of the excess fat.
- Stir in the tomato paste, ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.
- Once it's boiling, add in the macaroni. Reduce the heat so it's not boiling like crazy (a rapid simmer is good). I cooked mine over medium heat. Let it cook uncovered until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed (about 13-15 minutes). Stir it every couple of minutes so nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot.
- Take the pot off the heat and stir in the cheddar and cooked bacon (I reserve some for topping the bowls). Season with salt & pepper as needed, and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb more of the liquid (if needed) and for the flavors to meld more. If you want to have a layer of cheese on top, stir in about 3/4 of the cheese and then sprinkle the rest on top and cover the pot so it melts faster.
- Serve with the chopped pickles if using.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Serves 4-6 depending on how much people eat/what else you serve it with.
- Troubleshooting tip: As with any one pot pasta, ingredients, pots, and stoves vary. If you're running out of liquid (like it's close to sticking and burning) when you still have a while to go before the macaroni is cooked, add in more broth or water, 1/2 cup at a time. The pasta will soak up the sauce quite quickly, so if it seems too liquidy, just wait a little bit longer.
Nutrition Information
Calories
620kcal
(31%)
Carbohydrates
28g
(9%)
Protein
48g
(96%)
Fat
34g
(52%)
Saturated Fat
18g
(90%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
12g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
144mg
(48%)
Sodium
1576mg
(66%)
Potassium
859mg
(25%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
835IU
(17%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
452mg
(45%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 620
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 620kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 28g | 9% |
| Protein | 48g | 96% |
| Fat | 34g | 52% |
| Saturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 144mg | 48% |
| Sodium | 1576mg | 66% |
| Potassium | 859mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 835IU | 17% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 452mg | 45% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.