Description
This Cheeseburger Pasta Salad combines the flavors of a classic cheeseburger with a refreshing pasta salad. Featuring fusilli pasta tossed with seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar cheese, pickles, cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce, and a creamy burger-inspired dressing, this dish is perfect for a quick lunch, potluck, or casual dinner. Ready in just 20 minutes and serving 8, it's a delicious, flavorful meal that’s easy to prepare and sure to satisfy.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 oz fusilli bucati corti pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons reserved pasta water
Ground Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Add-ins
- 3/4 cup pickles, finely diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, shredded
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
Dressing
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup creamy French dressing
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the fusilli pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta, transfer it to a sheet pan, and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil to prevent sticking. Allow it to cool.
- Heat Skillet and Brown Beef: Meanwhile, heat a heavy-bottomed skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add the ground beef and brown it for 4-5 minutes on each side before breaking it apart with a spatula or meat masher.
- Finish Cooking Beef: Continue cooking the ground beef for another 5-6 minutes until it is fully cooked and no longer pink. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, mixing to combine.
- Add Cheese to Beef: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and cook while stirring until the cheese melts and is fully incorporated with the beef. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, creamy French dressing, reserved pasta water, sweet pickle relish, granulated sugar, garlic powder, and turmeric. Stir well. If the dressing is too thick, thin it out by adding a tablespoon of pasta water at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta and cooked ground beef mixture. Pour in the dressing and toss well to coat everything evenly.
- Add Fresh Ingredients: Mix in diced pickles, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded romaine lettuce, and finely diced red onion. Toss gently to combine all elements thoroughly.
- Serve: Serve immediately as a chilled or room temperature salad, or refrigerate for an hour to meld flavors. Enjoy your flavorful cheeseburger pasta salad!
Notes
- Use a heavy-bottomed skillet or cast iron pan for even browning of the beef.
- Reserve pasta water to help thin the dressing and help it adhere better to the pasta.
- Allow the beef mixture to cool before combining with other ingredients to prevent wilting the lettuce.
- Feel free to substitute romaine with iceberg or other crisp lettuce varieties.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to taste for more or less spice.
- For a lower-fat version, use lean ground beef and reduced-fat cheese and mayonnaise.
- This salad can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours, but adding lettuce just before serving preserves crispness.
