One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta

Name: One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2.5 lbs ground beef; 2 tbsp yellow mustard; 1/4 cup ketchup; 2 tbsp pickle juice; 1 tbsp dried minced onion; 1 tsp garlic powder; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 4 cups beef broth; 16 oz egg noodles; 1 cup water, if needed; 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese blend; 4 slices cheddar cheese

One-pot cheeseburger pasta is a from-scratch comfort meal that cooks ground beef, pasta, and cheese together in one pot with beef broth and burger-inspired seasonings like mustard, ketchup, and pickle juice.

🌍American 🏷️Cheeseburger pasta 🏷️One-pot meal 🏷️Pasta skillet 🏷️Ground beef Weeknight dinner

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

-0:00

applesauceandadhdonTikTok

Total

30 min

Servings

8

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$26–$43

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by applesauceandadhd

-0:00

applesauceandadhdonTikTok

Ingredients

2.5 lbs ground beef
2 tbsp yellow mustard
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbsp pickle juice
1 tbsp dried minced onion
1 tsp garlic powder
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp tomato paste
4 cups beef broth
16 oz egg noodles
1 cup water, if neededoptional
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese blend
4 slices cheddar cheese

Instructions

1
In a large pot or skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a meat chopper or spoon as it cooks.
2
Once the beef is fully cooked, carefully drain off the excess grease. The creator demonstrates a method of soaking it up with a paper towel.
3
To the cooked beef, add the mustard, ketchup, pickle juice, dried minced onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
4
Stir in the tomato paste, followed by the beef broth. Mix everything together and bring the liquid to a simmer.
5
Add the entire bag of egg noodles to the pot. If the liquid doesn't mostly cover the noodles, add a bit of water.
6
Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium, and let it cook until the noodles are tender and have absorbed most of the liquid, about 10-12 minutes.
7
Turn off the heat. Stir in the bag of shredded cheddar cheese until it begins to melt.
8
Lay the slices of cheddar cheese on top and stir them in as they melt to create an extra creamy sauce. Serve immediately.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef fully and render out fat before adding other ingredients; this builds flavor and helps emulsify the sauce.
Stir in the cheese off heat or on very low heat to prevent it from becoming grainy or separating.
Add pasta directly to the pot uncooked and stir frequently in the first few minutes to prevent sticking to the bottom.
Taste and adjust seasoning at the end—salt, pepper, and extra mustard or ketchup can brighten flavors if needed.

Substitutions

Yellow mustard → whole grain mustard (earthier, grainier texture)
Beef broth → chicken broth (milder burger flavor, still works)
American cheese → cheddar or Velveeta (may not melt as smoothly)
Pickle juice → apple cider vinegar (similar tangy note, adjust to taste)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth or milk to restore creaminess.

Common Questions

Can I use a different type of ground meat?

Ground beef is traditional here and provides the right flavor and fat content. Ground turkey or chicken can work but will yield a leaner result with less savory depth.

What type of pasta works best?

Short pastas like elbow macaroni, ditalini, or small shells work well and absorb the cheese and broth evenly. Long pasta like spaghetti is harder to manage in one pot.

Can I make this ahead?

Yes. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth or milk to loosen the texture, as pasta absorbs liquid when stored.

How do I prevent mushy pasta?

Use the amount of broth specified and stir occasionally but not constantly. Taste the pasta at the lower end of the cooking time; it will continue to soften slightly as it sits.