I find so much excitement in creating fun, unique and delicious dishes with untraditional ingredients. But every so often, I develop a craving for an American dish like this one-pot Cheeseburger Pasta recipe! This dish is packed full of delicious and hearty ingredients including nutritional beef broth, sharp cheddar cheese and fermented dill pickle relish.
As a young girl in a middle-class family, we frequently enjoyed the boxed hamburger helper. You, too? Well, allow me to share a recipe that transforms what you ate as a child into a delectable, homemade “hamburger helper” dish, in pasta form!
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Unique Ingredients
- Fermented Cucumber Dill Relish (as opposed to regular store-bought dill pickle relish)
The hamburger flavor in this One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta recipe is really brought to life with Fermented Cucumber Dill Relish. Just like a juicy, summer burger or brat topped with relish is fundamental to a BBQ, the relish brings sour and tangy into the recipe without tasting out of place.
If you aren’t able to make your own Fermented Cucumber Dill Relish, consider supplementing this ingredient with sauerkraut. And as usual, homemade and fermented is always the best option! - Beef Broth (as opposed to beef bouillon)
There’s a pattern here – homemade. Personally, I always opt for home-canned broths over store bought bouillon that has been packed with unnecessary ingredients and stripped of its nutrients. Broth of all sorts is incredible easy to make right from your own kitchen.
Check out Lisa’s Bone Broth recipe here!
Homemade broth is packed full of vitamins, minerals, proteins, collagen, gelatin and so much more. It may benefit digestive health, soothing for sore or achy throats, improve joint health and support skin health. - Banana Pepper (for spice)
Banana Pepper may have taken you by surprise, but it brings the perfect amount of heat into this recipe. It isn’t spicy, but it adds a little heat to each bite. We have banana peppers frozen whole in our freezer.
While many use jalapeños, I’ve found the spice from a hot banana pepper is so much more subtle and less abrupt. You can absolutely use jalapeño, just know that the spice index will vary.
Necessary Equipment to Cook Cheeseburger Pasta
This recipe doesn’t require much equipment. I like to keep things simple! (Hence the “one-pot”)
- 6qt+ Dutch Oven – I prefer to use a cast iron dutch oven, but a non-stick or stainless steel is just fine. Just be sure to add enough oil or butter to avoid sticking.
- Mixing Utensils – I prefer to use wooden mixing spoons. What utensil you use to mix isn’t necessarily important, but be sure to use a non-slotted spoon for serving.
- Cutting Board – I prefer to use a wooden cutting board but any will do.
Tips For Cooking One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Tip #1: One of the most important things to consider when preparing this dish is that you don’t over cook or burn your vegetables during the sautéing process. Especially the garlic. Always add the garlic last and with low heat.
Tip #2: If you’re using any frozen foods, just be aware that frozen vegetables will often have a higher liquid content when thawed out. This may require you to simply dab a paper towel into the mixture to remove excessive liquid.
Tip #3: Don’t overcook your pasta. Whatever pasta you choose to use, be sure to cook al dente. Meaning, your noodles of choice should be firm to the bite, but not crunchy or mushy. Right in the middle.
How To Serve Cheeseburger Pasta
My go-to side dishes for pastas is always sourdough related… I may be biased.
This Sourdough Focaccia recipe includes roaster garlic and rosemary and is sure to be a crowd pleaser! You can also serve a simple slice of sourdough toasted in a skillet with salted butter.
A dish like this One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta has diverse flavor. Keeping the sides simple, such as roasted broccoli or brussel sprouts, fits perfectly. Even simpler, pair this recipe together with a garden side salad.
How To Involve the Whole Family While Cooking
My son’s curiosity in the kitchen has only grown. I’ve had to quickly adapt my kitchen routine to include him.
Thankfully, this recipe has many parts for a 3 year to take part safely! Giving your child a job in the home, especially in an area they enjoy, is crucial in their development and learning their role and identity in the family unit.
In our case, our boy loves to cut up food and pour it into the cookware. Here are a few ways to include your children when preparing this One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta recipe:
- Preparing the Vegetables. Our son was gifted this wonderful set of kid-safe kitchen knives. Cutting vegetables is also a great teaching moment for your children. Talk about the safe ways to hold vegetables while cutting with sharp knives. Also include foods like peppers or onions and their effect on our bodies (spicy and making eyes water; washing hands immediately, etc.).
- Sautéing Vegetables. When preparing the vegetables in the dutch oven, it’s a great opportunity for kids to mix! Because of the high sides, it’s difficult for accidents to happen (i.e. food being accidentally pushed out of the skillet). The heat is normally medium-low during this step, which presents a great opportunity to share about oven safety and hot areas.
- Measuring Spices. One of my son’s favorite things to do in the kitchen is season everything, and yes, I mean everything. I’ve found it to be a great moment to teach about different teaspoon sizes. It’s also been the perfect opportunity to put counting those first numbers (1…2…3…) into action.
One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Equipment
- 1 Dutch Oven 6qt or larger
- 1 Mixing Utensil
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp Olive Oil or Butter
- 1/2 Onion, diced
- 1 Banana Pepper, diced
- 1 Celery Stalk, diced
- 1 lb Ground Pork or Beef
- 5-6 cloves Garlic, minced
- 3 cups Broth or Stock
- 3 cups Water
- 1 tbsp Parsley
- 1/2 tbsp Thyme
- 1/2 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 cups Pasta of your choice (16oz)
- 8 oz Cream Cheese
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese, garnish
- Dill Pickle Relish, garnish
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a 6qt+ dutch oven with 2 tbsp of olive oil or butter. Once melted and shimmering, add the prepared vegetables (1/2 onion, 1 celery stalk, 1 banana pepper). Cook until onions are translucent or browning on the edges.
- Remove the vegetables from the dutch oven and set aside. Add the ground pork (or beef; 1lb) and cook until almost completely browned. Then add the garlic (5-6 cloves, minced) and mix together.
- Add back in the sautéed vegetables, as well as the broth (3 cups) and water (3 cups).
- Add pasta of your choice (3 cups or 16oz) and seasonings (1 tbsp parsley, 1/2 tbsp thyme, 1/2 tbsp garlic powder), as well as the Worcestershire Sauce (1 tbsp). Mix slowly to fully combine.
- Increase the heat to medium-high, cover and allow mixture to come to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once the noodles are al dente (about 5 minutes), add the cream cheese (8oz) and stir until fully combined. Add the lid again and allow mixture to come to a simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
- Serve and top with freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese and dill pickle relish. Enjoy!
Step-By-Step Guide for One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Step One: Melt Butter/Oil and Sauté Vegetables
Add enough butter or oil into the bottom of your dutch oven. Turn the heat up to medium. When the oil is shimmering, add in the onion (1/2 onion, diced), celery (1 stalk celery, diced) and banana pepper (1 medium banana pepper, diced). Sauté until the onions are translucent and starting to brown.
Step Two: Remove Vegetables, Add Meat and Garlic
Remove the vegetables from the dutch oven and set aside. Add in the meat (1lb, ground pork of beef) and cook just until brown. Add minced garlic (5-6 cloves, minced) into the meat as it finishes browning. Be sure the heat isn’t too hot or the garlic cloves may burn.
Step Three: Add Sautéed Vegetables, Liquid, Pasta and Seasonings
Once the meat is browned, add the vegetables back in. As well as the broth (3 cups) and water (3 cups). Turn the heat up to medium-high. Add in the pasta (16oz) and parsley (1 Tbsp), thyme (1/2 Tbsp) and garlic powder (1 Tbsp). Mix together until well combined.
Step Four: Increase Temperature and Bring to a Boil
Cover the mixture with a lid for about 5 minutes while it comes to a boil. Once boiling, stir occasionally to keep any noodles from burning on the bottom.
Step Five: Add Cheese and Continue Stirring
After the noodles are cooked right about al dente, add the cream cheese (8oz). Chop into four sections if it’s easier, otherwise continue to stir the mixture until the cream cheese is fully combined.
Step Six: Garnish and Enjoy!
I love adding real, grated sharp cheddar cheese on top of each dish! But most importantly… the more important ingredient in this recipe – add the dill pickle relish on top of each bowl of pasta. It truly creates the “cheeseburger” taste we’re going for with each bite!
How To Store Cheeseburger Pasta
This One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta is perfect for freezing!
Allow the food to cool first. Placing anything warm or hot directly into the freezer runs the risk of excess moisture and freezer burn. It may also freeze uneven and create an environment at risk for bad bacteria.
Once the food has cooled, store in an airtight container that is freezer-safe. We use freezer-safe gallon bags or glass storing containers with air tight lids.
Store this recipe in the freezer for up to the recommended three months! When you want to enjoy the dish again, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator beforehand. If you don’t have time for that, use a defrosting option before warming again.
This is perfect for expecting mothers, injured or recovering individuals or any meal train for that matter.
This One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta is the perfect crowd pleaser. If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to share with your friends and family, and don’t forget to leave a review below!
ENJOY!
If you’re interested in cooking with sourdough discard, be sure to check out my blog on 25 Sourdough Starter Discard recipes that are perfect for all holidays here!
Blessings,
Courtney Michel
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