Western Mac & Cheeseburger Pasta

Submitted by rpgaymer

"A western version of the Mac & Cheeseburger pasta that I posted earlier. This tastes like a Western Whopper from Burger King!"

 

• Ready In: 35mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 141.74 g bacon, chopped
• 453.59 g lean ground beef
• 2.46 ml salt
• 0.61 ml black pepper
• 2.46 ml garlic powder
• 9.85 ml Worcestershire sauce
• 226.79 g macaroni or 226.79 g shell pasta
• 14.79 ml butter
• 59.14 ml plain yogurt
• 236.59 ml sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 14.79 ml sesame seeds
• 118.29 ml French-fried onions
• 1-2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 59.14 ml pickle, finely chopped
• barbecue sauce, to taste

directions

1. Over medium-high heat, fry the bacon until the fat renders and the bacon becomes crispy (transforming into bacon bits), about 8-10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, set aside and let drain on a paper towel.
2. Using the bacon fat still in the pan, brown the ground beef. When meat is no longer pink, drain and then add salt, pepper, garlic powder & Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 2-3 more minutes, or until beef is cooked to your liking. I like making it kind of crispy, so I cook longer. Set aside and keep warm.
3. In a large saucepan, cook your pasta according to package directions. Al dente is best as you don't want the mac & cheese mushy. Once pasta is done, drain but do not rinse.
4. Return the warm pasta to the saucepan, and immediately add the butter, yogurt, and cheese. Stir until everything is well-melted, then fold in the reserved ground beef.
5. Put pasta in bowls, and top with sesame seeds, bacon, fried onions, tomatoes, and pickles. Drizzle with a generous amount BBQ sauce.

Reviews

[sheepdoc]

I haven't had a fast food burger in eons, but my kids told me it tasted just like the Burger King burger. It was really tasty. I used minced garlic and didn't have any sesame seeds otherwise made as directed. Made for Rookie Recipe tag Fall 2013.