Loaded Cheeseburger Rigatoni
Loaded Cheeseburger Rigatoni: melted cheese, pickles, tomato sauce, and crispy bacon. A quick, delightful meal loved by kids.
August 2025 update: I first shared this recipe for Cheesburger Rigatoni in Janauary 2024. I made up my mind to make this skillet next week so I wanted to freshen up the post for you. I’ll add pictures when I make it next week.
👩🍳Cheeseburger Rigatoni
My kids have always been big fans of hamburger helper. I think part of the appeal is that it’s easy for them to make on their own, but let’s be honest—it’s really about the mix of hamburger, cheese, and pasta. That combo never gets old. I wanted to put together a homemade version that was just as quick but had way more flavor, and that’s how this Cheeseburger Rigatoni came to be. It’s got all the cheesy, meaty comfort of the boxed stuff, but with fresh ingredients and a fun cheeseburger twist. Around here, it’s one of those recipes that disappears fast because everyone loves it.
Cheeseburger Rigatoni is a hearty pasta dish made with ground beef, sausage, and bacon in a creamy cheese sauce. The rigatoni holds onto the sauce perfectly, while chopped pickles and fresh tomatoes add a tangy, fresh bite that brings the whole dish together. It has the familiar flavors of a cheeseburger in a warm, homemade pasta dinner.
I think you will enjoy it as much as we do.
🛒 Recipe Ingredient List
🥣 Step-by-Step: How to Make Cheeseburger Rigatoni
Start by bringing a big pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni until it is just tender. Drain it well and set it aside. If you want to keep it from sticking, you can toss it with a little bit of oil, but that is optional.
While the pasta cooks, set a large skillet over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook until the pieces are browned and crispy, then scoop them out with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel. Leave a couple spoonfuls of the bacon fat in the skillet because it will add a lot of flavor. Add the chopped onion and cook until it softens and turns translucent, stirring often so it does not burn.
Add the ground beef and sausage to the skillet with the onions. Break the meat apart with a spoon and cook until everything is browned and no longer pink. If there is extra grease, carefully spoon it off. Stir in the tomato paste and mustard until the meat is coated and let it cook for about a minute to blend the flavors.
Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture and stir it in until it disappears. This helps thicken the sauce later. Pour in the milk slowly while stirring so it stays smooth. Add the garlic powder and onion powder, then let the sauce simmer until it starts to thicken, which should take about five to seven minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the shredded cheese a handful at a time until it is melted and creamy.
Add the rigatoni to the skillet and stir until every piece of pasta is coated in the sauce. Mix in the chopped pickles and tomatoes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Top everything with the crispy bacon and give it one last stir before serving.
Love this recipe? Spread the love by leaving a star review or dropping a comment below! I’d really love to hear what you think. If this recipe hit the spot for you, you’d be helping me out big time by sharing it on Pinterest or Facebook!
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them (It won’t cost you extra, promise). This helps support my work and allows me to continue creating content. Rest assured, I only recommend products I personally use and love. Thank you for your support!
Loaded Cheeseburger Rigatoni
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces rigatoni pasta (cooked according to package directions)
- 4 slices bacon
- ½ cup onion (chopped)
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ pound ground sausage
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1½ cups pepper jack (or cheddar or combination, shredded)
- ½ cup dill pickles (chopped)
- ½ cup tomatoes (chopped)
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook Rigatoni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Cook 4 slices chopped bacon until crispy. Set aside.
- Add ½ cup onion and cook until transluscent.
- Add 1 pound ground beef and ½ pound ground sausage. Brown ground beef in skillet until no longer pink. Add 6 ounces tomato paste and 1 tablespoon yellow mustard.
- Add 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add 3 cups whole milk, ½ teaspoon garlic powder and ½ teaspoon onion powder. Heat until sauce begins to thicken, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add 1½ cups pepper jack, stirring until cheese is fully melted.
- Add rigatoni, ½ cup dill pickles and ½ cup tomatoes and stir until fully coated. Season with salt and pepper
Substitutions
Storage
Nutrition
FAQs
Why do you add flour to the meat mixture?
The flour works as a thickener for the cheese sauce. Without it, the sauce would be thinner and might not cling to the pasta as well. Cooking it for a minute before adding milk also gets rid of any raw flour taste.
Do I really need the pickles?
The pickles give it that classic cheeseburger flavor, but you can swap them for pickled jalapeños if you like spice, or skip them if you want it more like a cheeseburger mac and cheese.
Can I bake this into a casserole?
Yes. Pour everything into a greased baking dish, sprinkle on extra cheese and maybe some breadcrumbs, and bake at 375°F until bubbly and golden on top.
Serving Suggestions
Cheeseburger Rigatoni is rich and cheesy, so it pairs best with lighter, fresh sides that balance it out. A simple green salad with a tangy vinaigrette is a perfect contrast to the creamy pasta. Garlic bread or toasted baguette slices are always a hit for scooping up the extra sauce.
For toppings, set out bowls of chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, and extra pickles so everyone can dress up their bowl like a loaded burger.
More Skillets To Make
If you love this Cheeseburger Rigatoni, you’ll probably have fun trying some of my other comfort food favorites. My Sweet Potato Cheeseburger Skillet has all the flavor of a cheeseburger but skips the pasta, making it a hearty one-pan meal that’s a little lighter but still cheesy and satisfying. Another go-to in our house is my One-Pan Baked Chicken and Wild Rice Skillet. It’s loaded with juicy chicken thighs, hearty wild rice, and fresh tarragon for a cozy dinner that practically makes itself in the oven.
For breakfast or brunch, I can’t get enough of my Goat Cheese Breakfast Skillet. It’s piled high with crispy potatoes, veggies, eggs, and of course plenty of cheese—it works for any meal of the day. If you’re craving something bold, the Fiesta Breakfast Hash with Chorizo and Eggs is smoky, cheesy, and packed with crispy potatoes, perfect for when you want something big and filling. And if you ever have leftover corned beef, my Corned Beef Hash and Eggs is the way to go—just toss it with potatoes, onions, and a few fried eggs for a meal that feels like diner-style comfort at home.