Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta

I saw this wonderful recipe posted on my bloggy pal Lara's website.  She has such great, easy family recipes that always catch my eye.  When she described this one as pasta that tasted like a hamburger, I knew I had to try it.  Her words didn't disappoint me either. 


I did tweak her recipe to add in some bacon, a liquid-based steak seasoning and a can of tomato sauce to give it a saucey texture.  The end result was amazing!  My husband loved this one and didn't even mind leftovers for two days!  I think you'll enjoy it as well.  It was a quick, simple recipe that I threw together after I came home from work.  Everything was ready in less than an hour.




Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta

Adapted from Recipe Shoebox

(Serves 6)

1 box (12-ounces) of whole wheat pasta - I used penne
1 lb. ground turky meat
1 onion, diced
1 can (14-1/2-oz.) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1/2 cup of shredded or pureed carrots (optional)
2 Tbsp. mustard
3 Tbsp. ketchup
3 Tbsp. dill pickle relish
1 Tbsp. steak sauce (I used A-1)
1/4 tsp. salt or Cajun seasoning
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, reduced fat
1/2 cup of chopped green onions
1/3 cup of bacon bits

Cook your whole wheat pasta according to package directions on the stove.  Grease a large skillet generously with cooking spray.  Brown beef with chopped onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.  Stir in the diced tomatoes, the tomato sauce, pureed (or shredded) carrots, mustard, ketchup, relish, steak sauce, and salt/seasoning.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for about seven minutes. 


Add in your bacon bits and the chopped green onions.  Cook for another five minutes.  Stir in the drained pasta.  Cook for about 3 minutes more. Top with the cheddar cheese.  Remove from heat; stir and serve.


We topped ours with some additional cheese and served them with green beans.

 


Enjoy!   This is a good one!  Thanks again Lara! 

How often do you cook pasta dishes?  I realize that we have some kind of noodle meal at least once a week.  I love it!  We buy the whole grain or whole wheat pasta.  It's so easy to add vegetables to your pasta and sneak in a few purees too.  Tomato sauce can easily hide things like carrots, cauliflower and more.  Think beyond just the meat and red sauce the next time you make pasta dishes.  And if you have any good ones you make, please share them here too!