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If there's one thing I enjoy making, it's a good comfort food recipe that doesn't require me to spend all day in the kitchen. And this Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni is exactly that kind of meal.

Now, everybody loves a good cheeseburger, and everybody loves a good bowl of macaroni and cheese. So I figured, why not bring those two things together and throw some crispy bacon into the mix?

And that's exactly what we're doing with this recipe.

We're taking seasoned ground beef, tender elbow macaroni, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon and combining everything into one skillet.

And the best part? We're cooking the macaroni right in the beef broth, so you don't even need a separate pot to boil the pasta.

That's what I like about this dish. It's simple, filling, and packed with flavor.

I start by cooking my bacon until it's nice and crispy. I want those little pieces of bacon to add some crunch and smoky flavor to the finished macaroni.

Then I brown the ground beef, breaking it into smaller pieces as it cooks.

Once the beef is browned, I season it with garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and a little salt.

And I'm also adding Worcestershire sauce.

Now, that Worcestershire sauce is one of those ingredients that might not seem like much, but it adds a deep, savory flavor that really brings out the taste of the beef.

Next, I'm adding the uncooked elbow macaroni and beef broth directly into the skillet.

And here's where things get interesting.

Instead of boiling the pasta in plain water, we're allowing it to cook in that seasoned beef broth.

As the macaroni cooks, it absorbs some of that beef flavor, and the starch from the pasta helps create a sauce that clings to every piece.

Once the macaroni is tender, I lower the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese.

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni served on a white plate, featuring tender elbow macaroni coated in melted cheddar cheese sauce with seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon pieces, and fresh parsley.

And this is when the whole dish starts coming together.

The cheese melts into the remaining broth, coating the ground beef and macaroni in a rich, cheesy sauce.

Then I fold in some of that crispy bacon, saving a little to sprinkle over the top.

Because when you're making Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni, you want to taste the bacon.

I finish everything with a little fresh parsley for some color, and that's it.

You've got yourself a skillet full of cheesy, beefy, bacon-loaded macaroni.

And what I really like about this recipe is that you don't need a long list of ingredients to make something delicious.

We're using everyday ingredients that most people already have in their kitchen.

It's also one of those recipes that works well when you're trying to feed a family without spending a lot of money.

You can serve it straight out of the skillet, put it in a bowl, or pair it with a simple side salad.

And if you've got kids who love cheeseburgers and macaroni and cheese, I think this is one they'll enjoy.

This is the kind of meal I like to make when I want something hearty, flavorful, and easy.

So if you're looking for a simple dinner idea that brings together the flavors of a bacon cheeseburger and creamy macaroni and cheese, give this Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni a try.

Because sometimes the best meals are the ones that keep things simple but don't sacrifice flavor.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

One-pot convenience: Everything comes together in one skillet, making cleanup easier.
Loaded with cheeseburger flavor: Ground beef, cheddar cheese, bacon, and Worcestershire sauce create a rich, savory combination.
Budget-friendly: Uses simple ingredients that are easy to find at most grocery stores.
Family-friendly: Combines two popular comfort foods into one filling meal.
Easy to customize: Add vegetables, different cheeses, or your favorite burger toppings.
Great for leftovers: Reheats well with a splash of milk or broth.
Perfect for busy weeknights: You can have a satisfying dinner ready in approximately 35 minutes.

Recipe Variations

1. Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni

Add diced onions, chopped pickles, and a drizzle of burger sauce after cooking for a flavor closer to a loaded cheeseburger.

2. Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni

Add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, diced jalapeños, or a few dashes of hot sauce for some heat.

3. Extra Cheesy Cheeseburger Macaroni

Use a combination of sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, and mozzarella for an even cheesier pasta dish.

4. BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni

Stir in ¼ cup of your favorite barbecue sauce for a smoky, sweet, and savory variation.

5. Mushroom Swiss Cheeseburger Macaroni

Add 1 cup sautéed mushrooms and replace half the cheddar with shredded Swiss cheese.

6. Cheeseburger Macaroni With Tomatoes

Stir in ½ cup drained diced tomatoes or ¼ cup ketchup for a tangy, tomato-based cheeseburger flavor.

7. Turkey Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni

Replace ground beef with ground turkey and use turkey bacon for a lighter variation. Add a little oil when browning the turkey if needed.

8. Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni

Add ¼ cup heavy cream or 2 ounces cream cheese when stirring in the cheddar for an extra creamy sauce.

Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni

Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni is a hearty one-pot dinner made with seasoned ground beef, tender elbow macaroni, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon. Cooked in savory beef broth and finished with a creamy cheese sauce, this easy comfort food recipe brings together the flavors of a bacon cheeseburger and homemade macaroni and cheese.

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Total Time 30

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
6 slices bacon cooked and chopped
2 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
4 cups low-sodium beef broth as needed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt or to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper
Fresh parsley for garnish optional

Instructions

Place 6 slices of bacon into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook forapproximately 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until crispy. Remove thebacon from the skillet and transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate. Oncecooled slightly, chop or crumble the bacon into small pieces. Reserveapproximately 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease in the skillet and discard theremaining grease.
Add 1 pound of ground beef to the skillet over medium heat. Using awooden spoon or spatula, break the beef into small pieces. Cook forapproximately 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully browned andcooked through. Drain excess grease if necessary.
Add the following seasonings to the browned ground beef: 1 teaspoongarlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon blackpepper, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together untilthe ground beef is evenly coated. Allow the seasonings to cook forapproximately 1 minute.
Add 2 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni directly into the skillet with theseasoned ground beef. Pour in 3 cups of the beef broth, reserving the remainingcup. Stir until everything is combined and the macaroni is mostly submerged.
Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow themacaroni to simmer for approximately 10–12 minutes, or according to the pastapackage, until tender. Stir frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking tothe bottom of the skillet. Add more of the reserved beef broth as needed. Themacaroni should be tender, with a small amount of thickened liquid remaining inthe skillet.
Reduce the heat to low. Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir gentlyuntil the cheese melts and coats the macaroni and ground beef. For an extracheesy version, add another ½ cup of cheddar. If the mixture becomes too thick,add a small splash of beef broth or milk.
Add approximately three-quarters of the chopped bacon to the skillet. Stiruntil evenly distributed throughout the macaroni. Reserve the remaining baconfor garnish.
Turn off the heat and allow the macaroni to rest for approximately 2–3minutes. This gives the sauce a chance to thicken and cling to the pasta. Tasteand adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Sprinkle the remaining crispy bacon over the top. Garnish with freshlychopped parsley, if desired. Serve immediately while the macaroni is hot andcheesy. Enjoy!

Video

Recipe Tips

My biggest tip is to control the amount of broth as the macaroni cooks.

Since we're cooking the pasta directly in the skillet, the macaroni absorbs the broth as it softens.

Start with approximately 3 cups of beef broth and add more as needed.

You want enough liquid for the pasta to cook, but you don't want a large amount of broth remaining when it's time to add the cheese.

Also, make sure you reduce the heat before stirring in the cheddar cheese. Adding cheese while the mixture is boiling can cause it to separate or develop a grainy texture.

For the smoothest sauce, use freshly shredded cheddar instead of packaged pre-shredded cheese.

Keyword bacon cheeseburger casserole, bacon cheeseburger macaroni, cheeseburger macaroni, macaroni recipe

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Recipe Variations