Description
Cheeseburger Pasta Salad combines all the flavors of a juicy cheeseburger—savory beef, cheddar cheese, pickles, fresh veggies, and a creamy burger-inspired dressing—tossed into a hearty pasta salad. Perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or weeknight dinners, this chilled dish is fun, flavorful, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
8 oz whole wheat pasta
1 small onion, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 lb ground beef
1 tbsp olive oil
½ cup chopped cherry tomatoes
¼ cup chopped red onion
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup chopped pickles
½ cup shredded lettuce
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 ½ tbsp ketchup
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, toss with olive oil, and set aside to cool.
- In a skillet over medium heat, sauté chopped onion and garlic with salt and pepper until softened.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess oil and let cool.
- Chop cherry tomatoes, red onion, pickles, and lettuce.
- Mix mayonnaise and ketchup in a small bowl to make the burger sauce dressing.
- Once cooled, combine pasta with about 1 ½ cups of the beef mixture.
- Add tomatoes, red onion, pickles, lettuce, and cheddar cheese. Toss well.
- Pour in the burger sauce dressing and stir to coat.
- Chill for 30 minutes or serve immediately.
Notes
- For a lighter option, swap beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Use American cheese for a more classic cheeseburger taste.
- Add avocado chunks or jalapeños for extra flavor twists.
- Keep dressing separate until serving if preparing ahead.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop & Tossed
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
