Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

It doesn’t get much tastier than this Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole! This easy weeknight dinner is a great spin on an American classic and cooks in less than 20 minutes.

If you want more, check out our collection of budget ground beef meals to give your wallet a break!

Why this recipe works

This bacon cheeseburger casserole is a real crowd pleaser, it keeps in the refrigerator for a few days and can easily be reheated later on.

Did I mention how simple it is to make? You can throw this together very quickly and have it cooked and ready to serve in less than thirty minutes, and you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry and fridge already. This was just as popular as the John Wayne Casserole and my Shepherd’s Pie I make regularly.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

BEEF – Lean ground beef is our beef of choice. You can substitute for ground chicken, turkey, or pork instead if you’d like.

CHEESE – We recommend grating your own mozzarella and cheddar as fresh shredded cheese doesn’t contain additives and provides a smoother, creamier consistency as opposed to store-bought shredded cheese which can sometimes be grainy when melted.

How to Make Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Cook the bacon first, I prefer to cook it on a sheet pan in the oven until it’s crispy but you can cook it whichever way you prefer. Drain it on paper towels and chop it or break it into small pieces and set aside.
2. Cook your macaroni according to directions on the pack, then drain.
3. While the macaroni is cooking brown the beef in a large skillet until fully cooked. If after cooking the beef has a lot of fat/liquid/juice left you can pour some of that off, I prefer to use lean beef and keep some of the juice as I think it adds to the flavor.
4. Measure the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup into a small bowl or measuring jug and mix well to combine. Place cornstarch in a separate small bowl and add a tablespoon or two of the broth mixture. Stir until well combined then add that mixture to the rest of the broth mixture. Doing it this way will keep the cornstarch from clumping together.
5. Add cooked pasta to the skillet along with the beef broth mixture, stir well to combine beef, pasta, bacon, and sauce.
6. Cook on medium heat until the sauce bubbles and thickens. If it’s too thick for you, thin it out with a little more beef broth.
7. Sprinkle shredded cheeses over the top of the skillet cheeseburger mixture. Cover and cook on very low heat until cheese has melted, about 2-3 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Our readers have had success adding seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, and hamburger seasoning as well as diced onions, green or red bell peppers, and fresh garlic. Red pepper flakes or jalapeno would make a great addition as well for some heat!

To make bacon cheeseburger casserole gluten free, simply substitute gluten-free pasta for regular, make sure the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free, and you are good to go! For those that are dairy free, you can use a shredded vegan cheese substitute instead, it works just as well.

You can store this casserole in an air tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Try adding a little bit of water when reheating to add moisture back to the dish.

Serving Suggestions

Bacon cheeseburger pasta is quick, easy, and takes ingredients you most likely already have on hand to make a delicious weeknight meal that’s budget-friendly and filling.

Looking for more ground beef ideas? See our collection of 90 best ground beef recipes here.

More Dinner Recipes

• Crockpot Roast Beef
• Ground Beef Casserole
• This is my favorite meatloaf recipe in the world.
• Crockpot John Wayne Casserole
• 7 Layer Casserole
• Dorito Casserole
• Ground Beef Stroganoff

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This post originally appeared here on Sept. 4, 2018 and has since been updated with new photos.