Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Alfredo Pasta
Combining two comfort food powerhouses — cheeseburgers and Alfredo pasta — this crowd-pleasing fusion dish layers smoky bacon, savory beef, and rich cheeses into a creamy, flavorful one-pot masterpiece. Perfect for family dinners or indulgent weekend meals.
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Skillet or Dutch Oven
- Slotted Spoon
Ingredients
Pasta Base
- 16 oz penne pasta or any short pasta
- 4 strips thick-cut bacon diced, preferably applewood smoked
- 1 lb lean ground beef 80/20 ratio for best flavor
- 1 medium yellow onion diced (about 1 cup)
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- salt and black pepper to taste
Alfredo Sauce
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter European-style preferred
- 2 cups heavy cream room temperature
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
Garnish
- 2 Roma tomatoes diced
- 1/4 cup pickles finely chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion finely diced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- additional cheddar cheese for topping
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the pasta in generously salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. Drain but do not rinse.
- Step 2: In a large skillet, cook diced bacon until crispy (5-7 minutes). Remove and set aside, reserving bacon fat.
- Step 3: Brown ground beef in the bacon fat (5-6 minutes), breaking it into small pieces. Add diced onion and cook until translucent, then stir in garlic, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Step 4: Lower heat to medium-low. Add butter, then stir in heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, add cheeses gradually, and stir until melted. Adjust thickness with pasta water if needed.
- Step 5: Add pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Fold in bacon (reserve some for garnish). Let simmer 1-2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Step 6: Transfer to serving dish. Top with diced tomatoes, pickles, red onion, parsley, remaining bacon, and extra cheddar. Let rest 3-5 minutes before serving.
Notes
To reheat, add a splash of milk and warm gently. For a leaner version, use turkey bacon and ground turkey. Vegan? Try plant-based cheese, cream, and ground 'meat'.