Our Go-To Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet Recipe

We all have those evenings when the thought of preparing an elaborate dinner feels impossible. The day has been long, the family is hungry, and you need a meal that is straightforward, requires very little washing-up, and is guaranteed to be a hit with everyone. It’s a common weeknight dilemma, but we have a delicious solution that we’re certain you’ll turn to time and time again.

Allow us to introduce our wonderfully simple Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet Recipe. This dish is a nod to the nostalgic boxed meals of the past, but elevated with fresh ingredients and a much richer flavour. It masterfully brings together hearty beef mince, perfectly cooked pasta, and a luxuriously creamy cheese sauce, all in a single pan. This isn’t just another dinner; it’s a dependable, crowd-pleasing meal designed for modern, busy lives.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One-Pan Perfection: We adore recipes that keep things simple, and that includes the clean-up. As everything cooks together in one skillet, you’ll be left with minimal washing-up afterwards.
• Ready in 30 Minutes: On those days when you’re short on time, this meal is a true lifesaver. You can have a warm, satisfying dinner on the table in about half an hour.
• Family-Friendly Flavour: With its classic blend of beef, pasta, and cheese, this dish has a universal appeal that pleases both young and old. It’s the essence of comfort food.
• Utterly Customisable: Consider this recipe your starting point. It’s incredibly easy to adapt by adding vegetables, trying different cheeses, or even introducing a little spice.
• Budget-Friendly Ingredients: This meal relies on common and affordable ingredients, proving that you can create something incredibly tasty without a hefty grocery bill.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 large Onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 500g Lean Beef Mince
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano
• 1 tsp Dried Basil
• 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 800ml Beef Broth or Stock
• 400g tin Chopped Tomatoes
• 2 tbsp Tomato Purée
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 250g Dried Macaroni or other short pasta
• 200g Mature Cheddar Cheese, grated
• 50g Mozzarella Cheese, grated
• Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper, to taste
• Fresh Parsley, chopped (for garnish)

How to Make Our Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet Recipe

Putting together this delightful ground beef pasta is wonderfully easy. Because it’s a one-pan dish, the pasta soaks up all the delicious, savoury notes from the beef and sauce as it simmers. Just follow these steps for a perfect meal every time.

1. Begin with the Flavour Base: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over a medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until aromatic.
2. Brown the Mince: Introduce the lean beef mince to the skillet. Break it apart with a wooden spoon and cook until it is evenly browned, which should take around 5-7 minutes. If there’s a lot of excess fat, carefully drain it away.
3. Add the Seasoning: Sprinkle in the dried oregano, basil, and smoked paprika. Stir and cook for another minute to allow the spices to become fragrant, which adds a lovely depth of flavour to the dish.
4. Create the Sauce: Pour in the beef broth, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well, making sure to scrape any flavourful browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the entire mixture to a gentle simmer.
5. Cook the Pasta: Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet, stirring to ensure it is mostly covered by the liquid. Lower the heat to medium-low, place a lid on the skillet, and allow it to simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Give it an occasional stir to stop it from sticking.
6. Make it Cheesy: After the pasta is cooked and has absorbed most of the liquid, remove the skillet from the heat. Scatter in the grated cheddar and mozzarella, and stir gently until the cheese has melted into a smooth, decadent sauce.
7. Finish and Serve: Taste the dish and season with salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and serve immediately while it’s wonderfully hot and cheesy.

Tips for the Perfect Skillet Dinner

To help you take your cheesy hamburger pasta from great to truly exceptional, we’ve gathered a few simple pointers. These small details can make a significant difference!

Choosing Your Mince

For this recipe, we find that lean beef mince (with about 10-15% fat) works best. It provides a rich flavour without making the sauce overly greasy. If you use mince with a higher fat percentage, just be sure to drain off the excess oil after browning. As noted by BBC Good Food, getting a good brown on your meat is key to developing a deep, savoury foundation for any recipe.

The Best Pasta for a One-Pot Meal

When making a skillet dinner of this kind, you need a pasta shape that will happily cling to the sauce. We find that short, robust shapes are perfect. Macaroni is our top choice, but small shells, fusilli, or penne are also excellent alternatives. We love macaroni for this dish, but other shapes perform just as well, much like the penne we use in our very popular Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe. Just remember to check the cooking instructions on the packet and adjust the simmer time if needed.

Grating Your Own Cheese

If you’re aiming for that perfect, gooey cheese pull, we wholeheartedly recommend grating your own cheese from a block. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain additives to prevent clumping, which can hinder how smoothly they melt. A mix of a sharp, tangy cheddar and a mild, stretchy mozzarella offers the ideal balance of flavour and texture.

Customising Your One-Pot Hamburger Helper

What we love most about this dish is its versatility. It serves as a wonderful template for you to get creative in the kitchen. Here are some of our favourite ways to mix things up:

• Add Vegetables: Easily increase the nutritional content by adding some greens. A few handfuls of fresh spinach can be stirred in at the end until wilted, while frozen peas or sweetcorn can be added in the final 5 minutes of cooking. You could also sauté diced peppers or mushrooms along with the onion at the start.
• Make it Creamy: For an even more indulgent sauce, stir in a couple of tablespoons of double cream or cream cheese at the same time as the grated cheese.
• Give it a Spicy Kick: If you enjoy a little heat, add 1/2 teaspoon of red chilli flakes when you add the dried herbs. A few dashes of your preferred hot sauce would also work nicely.
• Try Different Meats: This recipe is equally delicious when made with turkey mince or even spicy Italian sausage meat (casings removed). There are countless fantastic one-pot meals, and if you’re seeking another simple weeknight option, our Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls are a brilliant choice.

FAQ

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Weeknight Meal

So there you have it – our simple, satisfying, and utterly delicious Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet Recipe, which we believe is destined to become a staple in your meal plan. It provides all the comforting flavours your family loves without any of the usual hassle, making it the ideal answer to the daily “What’s for dinner?” question. It’s a testament to the fact that a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal can be on the table in under 30 minutes with very little fuss.

Why not give it a go? Grab your skillet and ingredients, and get ready to whip up a dinner that your family will request again and again. We’re sure you’ll enjoy this easy recipe just as much as we do.

Have you made our Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet Recipe? We would be delighted to hear from you! Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts or any creative twists you added.

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 large Onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 500g Lean Beef Mince
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano
• 1 tsp Dried Basil
• 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 800ml Beef Broth
• 400g tin Chopped Tomatoes
• 2 tbsp Tomato Purée
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 250g Dried Macaroni
• 200g Mature Cheddar Cheese, grated
• 50g Mozzarella Cheese, grated
• Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
• Fresh Parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft, then stir in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
2. Add the beef mince to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned. Drain any excess fat.
3. Stir in the dried oregano, basil, and smoked paprika. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant to deepen the flavour.
4. Pour in the beef broth, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together and bring to a simmer.
5. Add the uncooked macaroni, ensuring it’s mostly submerged. Cover the skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
6. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the grated cheddar and mozzarella until they melt into a smooth, creamy sauce.
7. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 815, Carbs: 59 g, Protein: 52 g, Fat: 35 g