🛒 Ingredients
12 oz pasta (rotini, penne, or shells)
1 lb ground beef
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella (optional, extra cheesy!)
¾ cup milk or heavy cream
¼ cup beef broth
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp black pepper
Salt, to taste
Optional toppings: chopped pickles, green onions, extra bacon, sesame seeds
👩🍳 Instructions
Cook the pasta
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Cook the bacon
In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels. Leave about 1 tbsp bacon fat in the pan.
Brown the beef
Add ground beef and onion to the skillet. Cook until beef is browned and onion is soft. Drain excess fat if needed. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
Make it saucy
Stir in ketchup, mustard, paprika, pepper, milk (or cream), and broth. Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
Cheese it up
Lower heat and stir in cheddar and mozzarella until melted and creamy.
Combine
Add cooked pasta and crispy bacon. Toss until everything is well coated.
Serve
Top with pickles, green onions, or extra cheese if you like!
💡 Tips
Swap ground beef for ground turkey if you want it lighter
Add diced tomatoes for a juicy burger twist
Love spice? Add a pinch of chili flakes or hot sauce 🌶️