Bacon Cheeseburger Mac

Bacon, cheeseburger, and pasta, -- there's not a single one of those we don't love. So when they're combined together in one cheesy and delicious casserole, it's nothing short of fabulous. Bacon Cheeseburger Mac is loaded with ground beef, bacon, cheese, and all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger to create one amazingly hearty and delicious dinner dish.

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Bacon, cheeseburger, and pasta, -- there's not a single one of those words we don't love. So when they're combined together in one cheesy and delicious casserole, it's nothing short of fabulous. And let me tell you, it's always a hit, loved by both the kids and grown-ups alike.

This cheesy and delicious bacon cheeseburger macaroni and cheese is a favorite at our house. It's totally loaded with ground beef, bacon, melty cheese, and all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger. Which makes it one very tasty and hearty dinner dish, for sure.

Bacon Cheeseburger Mac is loaded with ground beef, bacon, cheese, and all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger to create one amazingly hearty and delicious dinner dish.

A combination of diced tomatoes and ketchup in the casserole's sauce help create the base of the classic cheeseburger flavor, while chopped dill pickles drive the cheeseburger flavor home. If you're skeptical about mixing pickles into a casserole, push that skepticism aside. -- The crisp bites of pickle in this Bacon Cheeseburger Mac are truly flavorful and satisfying, accentuating the casserole's full-on cheeseburger taste.

Whip up a pan for dinner, sit back, and watch it disappear. Because Bacon Cheeseburger Mac may just become a favorite at your house, just as it has at ours.

What's to Love About This Recipe?

• Fabulous flavor - Loaded with ground beef, bacon, cheese, and all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger, this tasty dish is also loaded with fabulous flavor.
• Family-friendly - The fabulous bacon cheeseburger flavor is loved by kids and grown-ups alike.
• Feeds a crowd - This is one hearty casserole that offers up about 12 servings.
• Can be made in a smaller batch - The recipe can easily be halved to make a smaller pan.

Bacon Cheeseburger Mac Ingredients:

Bacon Cheeseburger Mac is loaded with full-on bacon cheeseburger flavor. To whip up a pan of this hearty favorite, you'll need:

• Bacon - Cook and crumble your own bacon for best flavor. Pre-cooked real bacon pieces (found near the salad dressings and bacon bits in the grocery store) can be substituted, but the bacon flavor won't be as pronounced.

• Ground beef - A full two pounds of ground beef make this one hearty, loaded casserole.

• Onion - Seasons the ground beef as it cooks.

• Diced tomatoes - Use one 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes, juice and all, to create the base of the casserole's sauce.

• Ketchup - Combines with the diced tomatoes of the sauce, creating the base of the casserole's cheeseburger flavor.

• Dill pickles - Chopped dill pickles help create the casserole's full-on cheeseburger flavor.

• Mustard - Brings a touch of zing to the sauce.

• Worcestershire sauce - Brings deep, rich flavor to the sauce.

• Salt & pepper - Enhances the ingredients' flavor.

• Colby-Jack cheese - A milder-flavored cheese that brings nice, creamy meltiness to the casserole.

• Sharp cheddar cheese - A stronger-flavored cheese that combines nicely with the Colby-Jack. 

• Ziti or penne pasta - These larger-sized noodles stand up well with the casserole's other hearty ingredients.

How to Make Bacon Cheeseburger Mac:

Admittedly, there are a few steps involved in baking up a pan of Bacon Cheeseburger Mac. But, the flavor pay-off is worth it!

To get a pan of Bacon Cheeseburger Mac deliciousness going, start by cooking a package of ziti or penne noodles in salted water, according to their package directions.

While the noodles cook, get started on preparing the casserole's meaty filling. First, in a large skillet, cook up some bacon over medium heat until it's crisp. Once it's cooked, remove the bacon from the skillet to a paper towel-lined plate to let it drain. 

Pour off the bacon drippings from the skillet. Then, in the same skillet, cook some ground beef and onion together until the ground beef is cooked through. Drain off the fat.

Add about 3/4 of the cooked bacon, a can of diced tomatoes (with their juice), some ketchup, chopped dill pickles, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and a bit of pepper. Stir this all together until everything's well combined.

To the meat mixture, add shredded Colby-Jack cheese and cheddar cheese and the cooked pasta. Stir this all together until it's well combined and the pasta is nicely coated in the sauce and cheese.

Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the top with more shredded Colby-Jack cheese and the remaining bacon.

Pop the pan in the oven and bake it up for about 30 minutes until everything's bubbly around the edges and the cheese is melted. 

Let the casserole stand for about 10 minutes before serving, and then you're ready to dig in to the Bacon Cheeseburger Mac deliciousness.  

And dig in you will! -- Because loaded with ground beef, bacon, cheese, and all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger, this is one amazingly delicious dinner dish.

Recipe FAQs:

• Can I substitute pre-cooked real bacon pieces instead of cooking the bacon myself? - Yes, you can. We do, however, recommend cooking and crumbling your own bacon for the best flavor. Pre-cooked real bacon pieces (found near the salad dressings and bacon bits in the grocery store) can be substituted, but the bacon flavor won't be as pronounced.
• Can I use elbow macaroni instead of ziti or penne noodles? - Yes, you can. Substituting elbow macaroni won't alter the flavor of the finished casserole at all. We do like using ziti or penne in this dish because they compliment and stand up well with the casserole's other hearty ingredients.
• This make a huge casserole! Can I cut the recipe in half to make a smaller pan? - Absolutely! This Bacon Cheeseburger Mac recipe can easily be halved to make a smaller batch. You can, however, still bake the halved amount in a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Check out these other tasty comfort food dinners:

• Classic Spaghetti & Meatballs
• Nanna's Baked Spaghetti
• Ground Beef Stuffed Shells
• Baked Mostaccioli
• Quick & Easy Goulash
• Hamburger Noodle Bake
• Meatball Parmesan Casserole
• Chili Cheese Mac
• More main dish recipes

Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

bacon cheeseburger casserole, bacon cheeseburger mac recipe, bacon cheeseburger macaroni and cheese

Main Dishes

American

Yield: about 10-12 servings

Author: Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Bacon Cheeseburger Mac

Bacon Cheeseburger Mac is loaded with ground beef, bacon, cheese, and all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger to create one amazingly hearty and delicious dinner dish.

Prep time: 30 MinCook time: 30 MinInactive time: 10 MinTotal time: 1 H & 10 M

Ingredients

• 10 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1 c. finely chopped onion
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
• 1 c. ketchup
• 1/4 c. chopped dill pickles
• 2 T. mustard
• 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 4 c. shredded Colby-Jack cheese
• 1 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 (16 oz.) package ziti or penne pasta

Instructions

1. Cook pasta in salted water, according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove from skillet to a paper towel-lined plate; let drain. Pour off bacon drippings from skillet.
3. In the same skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium-high heat until ground beef is cooked through. Drain well.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add about 3/4 of the bacon, diced tomatoes (with their juice), ketchup, pickles, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper; stir until well combined.
5. Stir in 2 cups of the Colby-Jack cheese and the 1 cup of cheddar. Stir in cooked pasta until well combined.
6. Pour mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 2 cups Colby-Jack and remaining bacon.
7. Bake at 350℉ for about 30 minutes until bubbly around the edges and cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

TRACEY'S NOTES:

1. This recipe makes a large casserole. The recipe can easily be halved to make a smaller amount. -- You can still use a 9x13-inch pan.
2. Cook and crumble your own bacon for best flavor. Pre-cooked real bacon pieces (found near the salad dressings and bacon bits in the grocery store) can be substituted, but the bacon flavor won't be as pronounced.

Similar Recipes

Easy Baked Mostaccioli (aka: Baked Cheesy Pasta)

Chili Cheese Mac

Hamburger Noodle Bake

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