Easy Cheeseburger Pasta

This Easy Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe is made with hamburger and pasta in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce made with tomatoes and pickles for the ultimate fusion of cheeseburger flavor! It all comes together in one pan in only 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy parents looking for easy weeknight meals.

As a wild game chef and recipe developer, I’m always experimenting with new ways to turn everyday ingredients into something fun, fast, and full of flavor. This burger and pasta dish was born out of two key inspirations: summer break and dill pickles.

My wife and daughter are huge fans of pickles. We go through jars like most families go through paper towels.

Now that my 9-year-old is out of school for the summer, I wanted something easy that we could cook together - something she’d genuinely love and that we could whip up without making a mess of the whole kitchen.

This Easy Cheeseburger Pasta is a one pan meal, made in half an hour, with all the craveable flavors of a juicy cheeseburger stirred into a bowl of creamy pasta.

Why We Eat Ground Venison vs. Ground Beef

I used ground venison for this burger and pasta dish, which is my go-to. It’s lean, flavorful, and a great way to use what’s already in the freezer. But if you don’t have any on hand, lean ground beef will work as well.

I'm a hunter and angler, so we get all of our meat from the woods, not the grocery store. Ground venison isn’t just delicious - it’s a powerhouse of nutrition that puts beef to shame! If you’re looking for a lean, high-protein option, venison is the way to go. With 80% less fat than beef and fewer calories than skinless chicken, it’s a game-changer for anyone who wants to eat healthier without sacrificing flavor. A 3.5-ounce serving of cooked venison delivers a whopping 28 grams of protein, beating out chicken’s 25 grams, while only packing 1.8 grams of fat - far lower than beef’s 13.2 grams or chicken’s 5.2 grams. That means you get all the muscle-building benefits of protein without the extra fat weighing you down.

Venison is also naturally rich in iron and essential B vitamins, supporting energy levels and overall wellness. Whether you’re making burgers, or chili, or spaghetti, swapping beef for venison is an easy, flavorful way to fuel your body right.

Why You'll Love This Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe

• Done in 30 minutes: Quick enough for a weeknight dinner.
• One pot = less mess: Everything cooks in one pot, even the pasta.
• Big flavor payoff: It tastes like a cheeseburger in pasta form.
• Family favorite: Kids and adults alike will devour it.
• Venison-friendly: Perfect if your freezer is stocked from last fall’s hunt.

Ingredients For This One Pot Meal

The ingredient list is short and sweet. You probably have most of these on hand already.

• Ground venison or beef: Venison gives this dish a rich flavor.
• Onion and olive oil: These build the base for big flavor.
• Garlic powder and smoked paprika: Adds a little depth and smokiness.
• Tomato sauce and pickles: Classic burger flavors become stars of the sauce.
• Pasta shells or macaroni: Small shapes soak up the sauce perfectly.
• Half and half + cheddar: For that creamy, cheesy finish

How to Make This Hamburger and Pasta Recipe

This one pot cheeseburger pasta recipe is as easy as it gets. Just follow these steps and dinner’s ready in no time.

1. Sauté the onion:
Add the olive oil and diced onion to a Dutch oven or enameled cast iron skillet. Sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes.

2. Brown the meat:
Add the ground venison and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until it’s browned and cooked through and the onion is soft - about 5 more minutes.

3. Add flour:
Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture. Stir and cook for 1 minute.

4. Stir in liquids:
Add the broth and tomato sauce. Stir until everything is well combined.

5. Add pasta and butter:
Stir in the uncooked pasta and 2 Tablespoons of butter. It’s okay if the liquid doesn’t fully cover the pasta.

6. Simmer with lid on:
Cover the skillet and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir to loosen any pasta stuck to the bottom, replace the lid, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened.

7. Finish with cheese and pickles:
Remove from heat. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, chopped dill pickles, and remaining 1 Tablespoon of butter. Let it cook for 2 more minutes, until everything is melted and warmed through.

8. Serve:
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy.

Got Leftovers?

• Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Reheat: Gently on the stovetop with a few Tablespoons of broth to loosen it up.

Saucy burger and pasta dishes like this one can freeze fairly well, so if you’re cooking for yourself this would make a good cook-and-freeze-for-later recipe. However, if you’re not a fan of the texture change you get with leftover pasta noodles, you may not be a fan.

Try These Other Hamburger and Pasta Recipes

If you are looking for more burger and pasta recipes using some of that ground venison in your freezer, check out these family favorites all tested and approved by my wife and our 9-year-old daughter:

• Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese
• Venison Bolognese
• Venison Spaghetti
• Venison Ravioli Soup

Come Deer Hunting in North Dakota

If you are headed our way for North Dakota deer season, check out the North Dakota Game & Fish Department website. And if you want me to come along with you as your camp cook, photographer, or butcher, you can find out more details here.

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