One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
This one-pot cheeseburger pasta is a homemade version of Hamburger Helper made with lean ground beef, cavatappi, and sharp cheddar. It's ready in 25 minutes with just one skillet to clean!
Servings: 6
Calories: 424kcal
Equipment
- 12 inch Cast Iron Skillet with a lid
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 90/10
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 cups dry cavatappi pasta or macaroni noodles
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles with a wooden spoon, until cooked through. Drain off the fat and return the beef to the skillet.
- Add the beef broth, milk, pasta, ketchup, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine, making sure the pasta is mostly covered by the liquid.
- Bring to a boil and give it a stir. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the cheddar until melted and smooth. Let the pasta rest for a few minutes to thicken, then serve.
Notes
- Cheese: Grate your own cheddar from a block for the smoothest sauce, and always stir it in off the heat.
- Heat: Keep the pasta at a low simmer once it's covered. A hard boil can scorch the bottom and leave the pasta unevenly cooked.
- More burger flavor: Stir 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard in with the broth and milk, and stir 2 tablespoons of dill pickle relish in with the cheese.
- Swaps: Ground turkey works in place of beef. Small shells or rotini can replace the cavatappi.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of milk.
Nutrition
Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1021mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g